2 Chronicles 1:1-11

Context

The Lord Gives Solomon Wisdom

1:1 Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,¹ for² the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.

1:2 Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families. 1:3 Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center³ in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God⁴ was located there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 1:4 (Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.⁵ 1:5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the Lord’s tabernacle.⁶ Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him⁷ there.) 1:6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.

1:7 That night God appeared⁸ to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me⁹ what I should give you.” 1:8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated¹⁰ great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 1:9 Now, Lord God, may your promise¹¹ to my father David be realized,¹² for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 1:10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so¹³ I can effectively lead this nation.¹⁴ Otherwise¹⁵ no one is able¹⁶ to make judicial decisions for¹⁷ this great nation of yours.”¹⁸

1:11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this,¹⁹ and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies,²⁰ and because you did not ask for long life,²¹ but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king,

[1:1] ¹tn Heb “and Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom.”

[1:1] ²tn The disjunctive clause (note the vav [ו] + subject pattern) probably has a causal nuance here.

[1:3] ³tn Or “high place.”

[1:3] ⁴tn Heb “the tent of meeting of God.”

[1:4] ⁵map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:5] ⁶sn The tabernacle was located in Gibeon; see 1 Chr 21:29.

[1:5] ⁷tn Heb “sought [or “inquired of”] him.”

[1:7] ⁸tn Or “revealed himself.”

[1:7] ⁹tn Heb “ask.”

[1:8] ¹⁰tn Heb “did.”

[1:9] ¹¹tn Heb “you word.”

[1:9] ¹²tn Or “be firm, established.”

[1:10] ¹³tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) following the imperative here indicates purpose/result.

[1:10] ¹⁴tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see HALOT 425 s.v. יצא qal.4).

[1:10] ¹⁵tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

[1:10] ¹⁶tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

[1:10] ¹⁷tn Heb “to judge.”

[1:10] ¹⁸tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.”

[1:11] ¹⁹tn Heb “because this was in your heart.”

[1:11] ²⁰tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.”

[1:11] ²¹tn Heb “many days.”