2 Chronicles chapter 1

Solomon asks the LORD God for wisdom.

 


 

SOLOMON ASKS THE LORD GOD FOR WISDOM

 

VERSE 1. Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and made him exceedingly great.

was firmly established. The NIV translation says Solomon son of David “established himself.”

Solomon actively brought about his own destiny. He was not a passive spectator. He established himself over his kingdom.

In our own lives, we are called to do. To act.

We are called to Action-Faith.

the LORD his God was with him. Young Solomon was wise. He applied himself to building his kingdom. And he was successful.

Why was he successful? It was because the LORD God was with him.

In our own lives, we can press ahead when we understand ourselves to be walking with God.

the LORD. When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.

God. The Hebrew word is אֱלֹהִ֑ים (“Elohim”).

 

VERSE 2. Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households.

Solomon spoke to all Israel. This is a massive gathering.

 

VERSE 3. Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which the LORD’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness.

went to the high place that was at Gibeon. The entire nation goes on a holy pilgrimage.

God’s Tent of Meeting was there. The great bronze altar is still located in Gibeon.

 

VERSE 4. But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

David had brought God’s ark up. The Ark of the Covenant is in Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 5. Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the LORD’s tabernacle; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.

 

VERSE 6. Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

offered one thousand burnt offerings. This is a massive offering.

 

VERSE 7. That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”

God appeared to Solomon. This took place in a dream:

1 Kings 3:5. In Gibeon, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”

Ask for what you want me to give you. We are to commanded to ask! Read more »

 

VERSE 8. Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.

 

VERSE 9. Now, LORD God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

 

VERSE 10. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”

give me. Solomon asks the LORD God.

wisdom. The Hebrew word is khokmah. It refers to discernment and judgment.

knowledge. The Hebrew word is madda. It means practical know-how in everyday affairs.

 

VERSE 11. God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor yet have you asked for long life; but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,

 

VERSE 12. therefore wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, and none after you will have.”

I will give you riches, wealth, and honor. Riches and wealth and honor are not necessarily opposed to the ways of the LORD God.

In our own lives, whether God bless us in those ways or not, we are called to be thankful.

 

VERSE 13. So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.

 

VERSE 14. Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

one thousand four hundred chariots. Solomon acquires 1,400 chariots.

twelve thousand horsemen. Solomon acquires 12,000 charioteers.

 

VERSE 15. The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

 

VERSE 16. The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.

 

VERSE 17. They imported from Egypt then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. They also exported them to the Hittite kings and the Syrian kings.

six hundred pieces of silver. The pieces of silver were probably shekels. So 600 pieces would be about 13.2 pounds or 6 kilograms of silver.

a horse for one hundred fifty. The pieces of silver were also probably shekels. So 150 pieces would be about 3.3 pounds or 1.5 kilograms of silver.

Syrian kings. Or “Aramean” kings.

 


next chapter »

« previous chapter
(1 Chronicles chapter 29)


2 CHRONICLES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Mount Moriah, The Cloud of Glory

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.