1The solemn offering of Solomon at Gibeon. 7God appeareth unto him there by night, and leaveth to his choice what blessing to ask: he asketh wisdom, to which God addeth riches and honour. 13Solomon's forces and opulence.
1AND Solomon the son of David 1wasa strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God 2was with him, and magnified him 3exceedingly.
1 That is, took courage, observing his lawful choice to the crown, the joined consent of the people, and the general peace of the land, and the removal of all hindrances thereof.
a 1 Kings 2:46.
2 See Gen. 21 on verse 22.
3 Hebr. upward. Also 1 Chron. 22:5; 23:17; 29:25. The meaning is, that He has lifted him up as on high in respect of greatness of estate, honor, peace and wealth.
2Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to 4every governor in all Israel, the 5chief of the fathers.
4 Understand by this name those who, among others, excel in nobility, reputation and high offices.
5 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 1, where they are called the chief of the fathers. Or, princes.
3So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, wentb6to the high place that was at 7Gibeon; forc there was 8the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.
b 1 Kings 3:4.
6 Called a great high place, 1 Kings 3:4. See the annotation.
7 A city in the tribe of Benjamin. See 1 Kings 3 on verse 4.
c 1 Chron. 16:39; 21:29.
8 That is, the holy tabernacle, of which see Exodus 26; likewise Lev. 1 on verse 1.
4But the ark of God hadd David brought up from 9Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
d 2 Sam. 6:2, 17; 1 Chron. 16:1.
9 A city in the tribe of Judah. See Joshua 9:17; Judges 18:12; 1 Sam. 7:1. The native country of the prophet Urijah, Jer. 26:20.
5Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleele the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, 10he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought 11unto it.
e Exod. 38:1.
10 Not at Jerusalem, where the ark was, but at Gibeon, where the tabernacle stood.
11 Namely, the brasen altar, to offer upon it, according to God’s command, Lev. 17:3, 4. Other, sought him, namely, the Lord.
6And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar 12before the LORD, which was 13at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
12 See Lev. 1 on verse 3.
13 Also Lev. 1:5.
7¶In that night 14did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
14 Namely, in a dream, 1 Kings 3:5. Of the appearance of God by means of dreams, see Gen. 20 on verse 3; Gen. 28 on verse 12.
8And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, andf hast made me to reign in his stead.
f 1 Chron. 28:5.
9Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: forg thou hast made me king over a people 15like the dust of the earth in multitude.
g 1 Kings 3:7.
15 See Gen. 13 on verse 16.
10Giveh me now 16wisdom and knowledge, that I may 17go out and come in before this people: for who 18can 19judge this thy people, that is so great?
h 1 Kings 3:9, 11, 12.
16 See the difference between these two gifts 1 Kings 3 on verse 12.
17 See the exposition of this phrase Num. 27 on verse 17; Deut. 31 on verse 2.
18 See 1 Kings 3:9.
19 That is, govern; so in the following verse. See Judges 2 on verse 16.
11And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine 20heart, 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:
20 That is, the desire and purpose of thine heart.
12Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, 21such as nonei of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
21 Compare herewith 1 Kings 3:12, and the annotation thereon. Other, which happened not so to the kings that have been before thee, neither shall happen so after thee.
i 1 Kings 3:13; 1 Chron. 29:25; 2 Chron. 9:22.
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.
14And Solomon gatheredj chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the 22chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
j 1 Kings 4:26; 10:26; 2 Chron. 9:25.
22 That is, wherein the chariots were disposed, and which had good pasture for the horses.
1523And 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.
23 See 1 Kings 10 on verse 27; 2 Chron. 9:27.
1624And Solomon had horses broughtk out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
24 See the exposition of this verse, and the next in 1 Kings 10 on verse 28 and 1 Kings 10 on verse 29.
k 1 Kings 10:28; 2 Chron. 9:28.
17And 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.