2 Chronicles 1: Solomon at Gibeon, and God's answer
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Solomon is firmly established in his kingdom and calls all Israel's leaders to go with him to the high place at Gibeon, where God's Tent of Meeting and the bronze altar are. He offers a thousand burnt offerings there, and that night God appears to him and tells him to ask for what he wants. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to judge the people, and God gives him that and promises riches, wealth and honor as well. The chapter ends with Solomon back in Jerusalem, his chariots, horsemen, silver and gold, and the horses brought from Egypt.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 3 of the 17 verses: in verse 7 he appears to Solomon at night and says "Ask for what you want me to give you", and in verses 11 and 12 he answers Solomon's prayer (verse 11 begins with the narrator's "God said to Solomon", and his words run on into verse 12). Solomon speaks in verse 2 (reported, not quoted) and in verses 8 to 10, where he prays to God; those are his own words, not in gold. The rest is the narrator. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Solomon the son of David was firmly established in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and made him exceedingly great.
In plain English: Solomon the son of David made himself strong over his kingdom (or: was firmly established in it), and Yahweh his God was with him and made him very great.
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2Solomon 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.
In plain English: Solomon spoke to all Israel: to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the families (literally: the fathers).
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3Then 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 Yahweh’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness.
In plain English: Then Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place at Gibeon, for God's Tent of Meeting was there, which Moses, Yahweh's servant, had made in the wilderness.
Good to know: says Yahweh's tabernacle, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, and puts Zadok the priest and his brothers there. Verse 4 of this chapter says the ark was in a tent in Jerusalem. The text does not say more about why they were in two places.
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4But 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.
In plain English: But David had brought God's ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
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5Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before Yahweh’s tabernacle; and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there.
In plain English: The bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there in front of Yahweh's tabernacle (the Hebrew says "he put" it there). Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there (word for word: sought it, or: sought him).
The Hebrew words: Word for word the Hebrew says that Bezalel made the bronze altar, "he put" it before Yahweh's tabernacle, and Solomon and the assembly "sought it" (the small ending on the word can also be read "him"). The verb is darash, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship". The text does not say who put the altar there or what "it" is, and "him" would mean they sought Yahweh.
How it is translated: This Bible says "were seeking counsel there". Word for word it is "sought it".
What changes: "Seeking counsel" says they came there to ask God something. "Sought it" says only that they sought it, and the text does not say what "it" is. "Sought him" says they sought Yahweh.
Good to know: names "Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur", with the same father and grandfather. says the altar of burnt offering was made of acacia wood and that he overlaid it with bronze.
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6Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
In plain English: Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, the one at the Tent of Meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
Good to know: The text says it plainly: Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting. also says Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings, at Gibeon, "on that altar".
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7That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for what you want me to give you.”God speaks
In plain English: That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for what you want me to give you."
Good to know: says Yahweh appeared to Solomon at Gibeon "in a dream by night; and God said". This verse says "That night, God appeared to Solomon and said to him" and does not say it was a dream. This verse says "God"; 1 Kings 3:5 says "Yahweh" first and then "God".
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8Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
In plain English: Solomon said to God, "You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
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9Now, Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Now, Yahweh God, let your promise (literally: word) to David my father be established, for you have made me king over a people as many as the dust of the earth.
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10Now 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?”
In plain English: Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of yours?"
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11God 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,God speaks
In plain English: God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you did not ask for riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and did not even ask for long life (literally: many days), but asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king,
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12therefore 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.”God speaks
In plain English: therefore wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will give you riches, wealth and honor, such as none of the kings before you had, and none after you will have."
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13So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
In plain English: So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
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14Solomon 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.
In plain English: Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he placed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
Good to know: has the same numbers: one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, kept in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
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15The 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.
In plain English: The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as common as the sycamore trees in the lowland (Hebrew: the Shephelah), for abundance.
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16The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
In plain English: The horses that Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue (or: in droves; see the note). The king's traders took them from Kue (or: in droves) for a price.
The Hebrew word: "Kue" is this Bible's spelling of a Hebrew word, miqveh, which the dictionary gives as "something waited for... also a collection, i.e. (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove". The word is in this verse twice and in twice, written there with a different last letter.
How it is translated: This Bible reads it as a place name, "Kue", in this verse. reads the word there as "droves": "The king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price".
What changes: As a place, the horses came from Egypt and from Kue. As "droves" (a collection of horses), they came from Egypt and the king's traders took them in droves for a price. The text does not say which.
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17They 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.
In plain English: They brought a chariot up from Egypt, and sent it out, for six hundred pieces of silver (the Hebrew says "six hundred silver"), and a horse for one hundred fifty. In the same way they sent them out through their own hand to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram (Syria).
Good to know: The Hebrew says "six hundred silver" and "fifty and one hundred" with no unit; this Bible adds "pieces of silver". says "six hundred shekels of silver" for a chariot and "one hundred fifty shekels" for a horse, and exports them to "all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria".
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