1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness.

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

16 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

17 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

Commentary

Verse 1

McArther Bible Commentary
This section continues from 1 Chronicles and covers the rule of Solomon (c. 971-931 B.C.; cf. 1 Kin. 2Ch 1:3-11). The major theme is Solomon's building God's temple in Jerusalem for the purpose of centralizing and unifying the nation in the worship of God.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 2:12 1 Kings 2:46 1 Chronicles 29:25 1 Chronicles 29:30 2 Chronicles 32:23

Verse 2

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Spake - Concerning his intention of going to Gibeon, and that they should attend him thither.
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 28:1 2 Chronicles 1:3

Verse 3

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:4, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
McArther Bible Commentary
Gibeon. See notes on 1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 21:29. The tabernacle remained at Gibeon while the ark resided in Jerusalem, waiting for the temple to be built. tabernacle. Built in the days of Moses, this tent was where God met with the people (cf. Exo 25:22; Exo 29:42-43; Exo 40:34-38). The center of worship was there until the temple was built (cf. 2Ch 1:6).
Bible Cross References
Exodus 36:8 1 Kings 3:4 1 Kings 8:4 2 Chronicles 1:13

Verse 4

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:4, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The ark - He separated the ark from the tabernacle, and brought it to Jerusalem, where he intended to build a more noble and lasting habitation for it.
McArther Bible Commentary
Kirjath Jearim. See note on 1Ch 13:5.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 9:17 2 Samuel 6:17 1 Chronicles 15:25 2 Chronicles 5:2 2 Chronicles 6:2

Verse 5

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:4, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Sought - Sought the Lord and his favour by hearty prayers and sacrifices in the place which God had appointed.
McArther Bible Commentary
Bezalel. The Spirit-enabled craftsman who built the bronze altar for the tabernacle (cf. Exo 31:1-11; Exo 38:1-2).
Bible Cross References
Exodus 31:2 Exodus 31:9 Exodus 38:1

Verse 6

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:4, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 3:4 1 Kings 8:5

Verse 7

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-9, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
McArther Bible Commentary
The account is paralleled in 1Ki 3:5-15. Every king of Israel needed to heed God's instructions recorded in Deu 17:14-20.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 3:5 1 Kings 9:2

Verse 8

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-9, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
To reign, &c. - Give me the spirit of my father David, that Israel may not suffer by the change. The eminency of those that went before us, and the obligation that lies upon us, to keep and carry on the good work they were engaged in, should quicken our prayers for wisdom and grace, that we may do the work of God in our day, as faithful as they did in theirs.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 3:6 1 Chronicles 28:5

Verse 9

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-9, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
McArther Bible Commentary
Your promise. A reference to the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 13:16 Genesis 22:17 Genesis 28:14 2 Samuel 7:12

Verse 10

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-9, Vol. 2, p. 1025.
EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
McArther Bible Commentary
Solomon had agreed with his father (cf. 1Ch 22:5; 1Ch 29:1) on his need for wisdom, and that is what he sought from God (cf. 1Ki 3:3-15; Pro 3:15; Jas 1:5).
Bible Cross References
Numbers 27:17 2 Samuel 5:2 1 Kings 3:9 1 Chronicles 22:12 Proverbs 8:15

Verse 11

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 3:11 2 Chronicles 1:12

Verse 12

EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on 1 Kings 3:5-15, Vol. 2, p. 1026.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Neither &c. - Those that make this world their end, come short of the other, and frequently of this too. But those who make the other world their end, shall not only obtain that, but shalt have as much as is convenient of this world in their way.
Bible Cross References
1 Chronicles 29:12 1 Chronicles 29:25 2 Chronicles 9:22 Nehemiah 13:26 Ecclesiastes 5:19

Verse 13

Bible Cross References
2 Chronicles 1:3 2 Chronicles 1:14

Verse 14

McArther Bible Commentary
1Ki 10:14-29 and 2Ch 9:13-28 also extol Solomon's wealth.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 4:26 1 Kings 9:19 1 Kings 10:26 2 Chronicles 9:25

Verse 15

Bible Cross References
Luke 19:4 Deuteronomy 17:17 1 Kings 10:27 1 Chronicles 27:28 2 Chronicles 9:27

Verse 16

McArther Bible Commentary
Keveh. Possibly Cilicia.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 17:16 1 Kings 10:28 2 Chronicles 1:17 2 Chronicles 9:28 Song of Solomon 1:9

Verse 17

McArther Bible Commentary
six hundred shekels. Assuming a shekel weighs four-tenths of one ounce, this represents fifteen pounds of silver for one chariot. one hundred and fifty. Assuming the weight is in shekels, this would be about three and three-fourth pounds of silver. Deu 17:16 warned against the king's amassing horses. the Hittites. People, once expelled from Palestine, who lived north of Israel and northwest of Syria.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 10:29 2 Chronicles 1:16 2 Chronicles 2:1 Song of Solomon 1:9