2 Chronicles 1

1 Now Solomon [the peaceful one] son of David [the beloved king] established [strengthened, confirmed] himself securely [firmly, in a strong position] over his kingdom [royal authority, dominion], and the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] his God [Elohim, the supreme one] was with [together, in accompaniment] him and highly [exceedingly, to a high degree] exalted [magnified, lifted up] him. word study 2 Then Solomon [the king of peace] spoke to all [every single one] Israel, to the commanders [leaders, captains] of thousands [a large company] and of hundreds [a military unit], to the judges [rulers, governors], and to every [each and every] leader [prince, ruler] in all [the entirety of] Israel—the heads [chiefs, fathers] of the families [households, fathers’ houses]. word study 3 And Solomon [the king of peace] and the whole assembly [congregation, gathering] went to the high place [elevated area, cultic platform] at Gibeon [a Levitical city, el-Jib] because it was the location [site, place] of God’s [Elohim, the supreme God] Tent of Meeting [tabernacle, sacred dwelling], which Moses [the servant leader] the servant [slave, bondservant] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] had made [constructed, fashioned] in the wilderness [desert, uninhabited land]. word study 4 Now David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had brought the ark [a box or chest, the Ark of the Covenant] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God] from Kiriath-jearim [city of forests, a place in Palestine] to the place he had prepared [established, set up] for it, because he had pitched [stretched out, spread out] a tent [a nomad’s home, the tabernacle] for it in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the chief city of the united kingdom]. word study 5 But the bronze [brazen, made of copper] altar [place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] made by Bezalel [in the shadow of God, skilled artisan] son of Uri [fiery, passionate], the son of Hur [personal name, chief assistant], was in Gibeon [city in Israel, significant for worship] before the tabernacle [portable place of worship, where God met with the Israelites] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God, the supreme Creator]. So Solomon [king of Israel, successor of David] and the assembly [congregation, group of people gathered together] inquired of Him [sought, asked, worshiped] there. word study 6 Solomon [the king of peace] offered sacrifices there [in that place, at the appointed time] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] on the bronze [made of copper] altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] in the Tent [a portable dwelling, the tabernacle] of Meeting [a sacred assembly, a time of worship], where he offered [caused to ascend, presented] a thousand [a large number, a multitude] burnt offerings [steps or stairs, leading up to God, completely consumed by fire]. word study 7 That [same, specific] night [of darkness, adversity] God [Elohim, the supreme Provider] appeared [was seen, revealed Himself] to Solomon [the king of Israel] and said [spoke, commanded], “Ask [inquire, request], and I will give [bestow, grant] it to you [as a gift, a blessing]!” word study 8 Solomon replied to God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]: “You have shown [demonstrated, made evident] much loving devotion [great kindness, mercy, lovingkindness] to my father David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel], and You have made [appointed, established] me king [ruler, sovereign] in his place [stead, position, underneath]. word study 9 Now, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] God [Elohim, the supreme God], let Your promise [word, covenant] to my father [ancestor, progenitor] David be fulfilled [established, confirmed]. For You have made me king [ruler, leader] over a people [nation, multitude] as numerous [like the dust, innumerable] as the dust [dry earth] of the earth [land, territory]. word study 10 Now [at this time, in this moment] grant me wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] and knowledge [intelligence, understanding], so that I may lead [go out and come in before, govern] this people [nation, community]. For who [what person, which one] is able to govern [judge, rule with justice] this great [large, populous] people [nation] of Yours [belonging to You]?” word study 11 God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] said to Solomon, “Since this [matter, situation] was in your heart [mind, will, and emotions] instead of requesting [asking for, seeking] riches [wealth, treasure] or wealth [material possessions, abundance] or glory [honor, recognition] for yourself or death [destruction, punishment] for your enemies [those who hate you]—and since you have not even requested [asked for, sought] long life [many days, a prolonged existence] but have asked [requested, sought] for wisdom [prudence, discernment] and knowledge [intelligence, understanding] to govern [judge, rule over] My people [nation, community] over whom I have made you king [ruler, leader]— word study 12 therefore [divine] wisdom [skill and prudence] and knowledge [intelligence and understanding] have been granted [given and entrusted] to you. And I will also give [bestow and provide] you riches [abundance of wealth] and wealth [treasures and possessions] and honor [glory and recognition] unlike [beyond comparison] anything given to the kings [rulers and monarchs] before you or after you [in the past or in the future].” word study 13 So Solomon [the king of peace] went to Jerusalem [the city of peace] from the high place [cultic platform, elevation] in Gibeon [a Levitical city] before the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, sacred space], and he reigned [ruled, advised] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 14 Solomon [the king of peace] accumulated 1,400 chariots [vehicles for war, royal carriages] and 12,000 horses [cavalry, horsemen], which he stationed [placed, settled] in the chariot cities [cities of royal carriages, military outposts] and also with him [in his presence, under his authority] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital]. word study 15 The king [ruler, monarch] made silver [precious metal, wealth] and gold [valuable treasure, riches] as common [plentiful, abundant] in Jerusalem [city of peace, capital] as stones [rocks, pebbles], and cedar [strong, durable wood] as abundant [plentiful, numerous] as sycamore [fig tree, common in Israel] in the foothills [lowlands, Shephelah, region near the coast]. word study 16 Solomon’s [king of Israel, successor of David] horses [chariot horses, swallows] were imported [brought out, received] from Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and Kue [a source, collection of things]; the royal [king’s, related to a king] merchants [traders, travelers] purchased [took, got] them from Kue [at a price, for a reward]. word study 17 A chariot [war-carriage, vehicle for transportation or warfare] could be imported from Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] for six hundred shekels [pieces of silver, a unit of currency] of silver [a valuable metal, often used for payment], and a horse [swallow, a type of animal, often used for chariots] for a hundred and fifty [3-3/4 pounds of silver]. Likewise [so, thus], they exported them to all [every, the entire group] the kings [royal rulers, monarchs] of the Hittites [descendants of Heth, a people group] and to the kings of Aram [a region, also known as Syria, and its people, the Arameans]. word study