2 Chronicles 1

Solomon begins his reign with God’s blessing and leads Israel to worship at Gibeon. There God offers him anything he asks, and Solomon asks for wisdom to govern God’s people. God grants it and adds riches and honor, and the chapter closes with a picture of Solomon’s growing wealth and military strength.

2 Chronicles 1:1

Solomon’s kingdom was firm, but the Chronicler says the real reason: the LORD his God was with him. His strength was not his own achievement. God’s presence made him secure and lifted him high.

BSA: established (“strengthened, confirmed”): His throne was made firm, and the account credits God’s help for this. exalted (“magnified, lifted up”): God Himself raised Solomon’s standing, so the greatness was a gift.

See also: 1 Chronicles 29:25.

2 Chronicles 1:2

Solomon gathers the whole range of Israel’s leaders: military commanders, judges and family heads. He begins his reign by leading the nation together toward worship, not by acting alone.

BSA: heads (“chiefs, fathers”): These were the heads of households, the natural leaders of each family line.

2 Chronicles 1:3

The assembly goes to Gibeon because the Tent of Meeting, made by Moses in the wilderness, was there. The Chronicler stresses that this worship was properly rooted in what God had commanded through Moses.

BSA: high place (“elevated area, cultic platform”): Here it is a place of worship that was lawful at this time because the tabernacle stood there.

See also: Exodus 40:34-35.

2 Chronicles 1:4

The ark was not at Gibeon. David had brought it up from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem and set a tent for it there. So worship was temporarily split between two places, the ark in one and the altar in another.

See also: 2 Samuel 6:12-17.

2 Chronicles 1:5

The bronze altar made by Bezalel, the craftsman of Moses’ day, stood at Gibeon. Solomon and the people sought the LORD there. The old altar still served God’s people, linking Solomon to the faith of the wilderness generation.

BSA: inquired (“sought, asked, worshiped”): The word means more than asking a question; it means seeking God with the whole heart.

See also: Exodus 31:1-5.

2 Chronicles 1:6

Solomon offers a thousand burnt offerings. A burnt offering was given wholly to God, with nothing kept back. The scale shows how great his devotion was at the start of his reign.

BSA: burnt offerings (“completely consumed by fire”): The whole animal went up in smoke to God, a picture of total dedication.

Hebrew: עֹלוֹת (olot, H5930) — “offerings that go up.” The Hebrew name comes from the word for going up, because the sacrifice rose in smoke toward God.

See also: Leviticus 1:3-9.

2 Chronicles 1:7

That night God appears to Solomon with an open offer: ask, and I will give. It is a remarkable invitation. God meets a worshiper who has come to Him in sacrifice and offers to give whatever he requests.

BSA: Ask (“inquire, request”): God invites Solomon to speak his desire freely, as a child asks a father.

See also: 1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 7:7.

2 Chronicles 1:8

Solomon begins by remembering God’s faithful love to David, not by naming his own need. His kingship is a gift, a result of God’s kindness to his father. Humble thanks comes before his request.

BSA: loving devotion (“great kindness, mercy, lovingkindness”): This is God’s steadfast, covenant love, which keeps its promises.

Hebrew: חֶסֶד (chesed, H2617) — “steadfast love, loyal kindness.” It describes love that stays faithful to a promise, not a passing feeling.

2 Chronicles 1:9

Solomon asks God to make good on His word to David. The people are as countless as dust, a echo of the promise to Abraham. Solomon sees the size of the task and leans on God’s own promise.

BSA: promise (“word, covenant”): He is appealing to what God had solemnly pledged, not to his own merit.

See also: Genesis 13:16; 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

2 Chronicles 1:10

Here is the actual request: wisdom and knowledge for leading. Solomon admits that no one is able to govern such a great people alone. Knowing his own weakness, he asks for what he needs to serve them.

BSA: lead (“go out and come in before, govern”): It pictures a leader walking in front of the people in all their daily comings and goings. wisdom (“skill, prudence, or good judgment”): Wisdom here is practical skill for living and ruling well.

Hebrew: חָכְמָה (chokmah, H2451) — “wisdom, skill.” The word is also used of skilled craftsmen, so it means practical ability to do things well, not only knowing facts.

See also: James 1:5; Proverbs 2:6.

2 Chronicles 1:11

God is pleased by what was in Solomon’s heart. He did not ask for riches, honor, victory over enemies or a long life, which are the things most rulers want. He asked for what would let him serve God’s people.

BSA: heart (“mind, will, and emotions”): God looks at what the whole inner person truly desires, not only at the words spoken.

See also: 1 Samuel 16:7.

2 Chronicles 1:12

God gives the wisdom requested and adds what was not requested. Riches and honor come as a bonus, greater than any king before or after. The pattern is that seeking God’s purposes first leads to blessing beyond what we ask.

BSA: granted (“given and entrusted”): The wisdom is a gift placed in his care to be used for others.

See also: Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 3:20.

2 Chronicles 1:13

Solomon returns from Gibeon to Jerusalem and takes up his reign. The encounter with God sends him back to the work of governing. He leaves the place of worship ready to serve with what God had given.

BSA: reigned (“ruled, advised”): His rule is described as true governing and counsel, not merely holding the title.

2 Chronicles 1:14

The Chronicler now shows the fruit of Solomon’s blessing: a large force of chariots and horses, kept in special cities and in Jerusalem. This shows how strong and secure the kingdom had become. Readers may recall that the Law warned kings about multiplying horses.

BSA: chariots (“vehicles for war, royal carriages”): Chariots were the main military power of the age and signal national strength.

See also: Deuteronomy 17:16; 1 Kings 10:26.

2 Chronicles 1:15

Silver and gold became as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as common as sycamore. It is a vivid way of saying that God fulfilled His word about riches. Wealth poured into the city in great abundance.

BSA: common (“plentiful, abundant”): What was normally precious had become everyday and easy to find.

See also: 2 Chronicles 9:27.

2 Chronicles 1:16-17

Royal merchants bought chariots and horses from Egypt and Kue, and sold them on to the Hittite and Aramean kings. The prices are given as a record of Solomon’s prosperous trade. The kingdom grew rich as a trading center between nations.

BSA: imported (“brought out, received”): Horses and chariots were brought out of Egypt and into Israel through organized royal trade. merchants (“traders, travelers”): These were trusted royal agents who carried on trade for the king.

See also: 1 Kings 10:28-29.