2 Chronicles 1

ANd Solomon the son of David was strengthned Or, established, after his Seditious Brother Adonijah and his Partisans were suppressed; and he was received with the universal Consent and Joy of his Princes and People. in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake To wit, concerning his Intention of going to Gibeon, and that they should attend him thither, as the next Verse shows. unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governour in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

So Solomon and all the congregation with him, went to the high place Upon which the Tabernacle was placed; whence it is called the great high Place, 1 King 3. 4. 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 Kirjath-jearim, to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem He separated the Ark from the Tabernacle and brought it to Jerusalem, because there he intended to build a far more noble and lasting Habitation for it..

Moreover, the brazen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he Either Moses mentioned v. 3. or Bezaleel here last named, by the Command and Direction of Moses: or David, who may be said to put it there, because he continued it there, and did not remove it, as he did the Ark, from the Tabernacle. put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it i. e. Sought the Lord and his Favour by hearty Prayers and Sacrifices in the Place which God had appointed for that Work, Levit. 17. 3, 4..

And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the LORD, which i. e. Which Altar. But that he had now said v. 5. and therefore would not unnecessarily repeat it. Or rather, who: and so these Words are emphatical, and contain a Reason why Solomon went thither, because the Lord was there graciously present to hear Prayers and receive Sacrifices. was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it.

In that night After those Sacrifices were offered. did God appear In a Dream, of which see the Notes on 1 King. 3. 5, &c. unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed 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,

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 What one Man is sufficient to govern so numerous a People.?

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 i. e. The taking away of their Lives., neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thy self, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

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.

Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place Or, from the High-place: for the Hebrew prefix Lamed, which commonly signifies to, is sometimes put for the Latin de, which signifies from. that was at Gibeon, to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

And Solomon gathered chariots Of this and the three following Verses see the Notes on 1 King. 10. 26, &c. 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.

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

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

And they fetcht 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.