FRAMEWORKS: 2 Chronicles 1: Solomon receives wisdom

 

[Introductory Notes: Two Chronicles picks up the stories of the kings of Judah following the death of David, recorded at the end of the last chapter of 1 Chronicles. This first chapter tells of how Solomon became known as the wisest man on the earth – by the gift of God.

Although the ark had been taken up to Jerusalem, the Tabernacle or main meeting place between God and His people still remained at Gibeon, a town roughly five miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was to there that Solomon went with his people to meet with God at the beginning of his reign and there he receives a vision or dream from the Lord and is granted wisdom to rule his people, together with a promise from the Lord that He will make him rich. The second half of the chapter is a brief summary-record of how his wealth started.]

    

 

PART ONE: v.1-12: Solomon receives wisdom from God

 

v.1-3 Solomon meets with his people at Gibeon

    

v.1   Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

v.2  Then Solomon spoke to all Israel – to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families –

v.3  and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God's tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord 's servant had made in the wilderness.

 

v.4-6 The ark was in Jerusalem but the Tabernacle [tent] was still at Gibeon

  

v.4  Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

v.5  But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly enquired of him there.

v.6  Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

 

v.7 At Gibeon the Lord appears to Solomon asking what he would want

   

v.7  That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.'

 

v.8-10 Solomon asks for wisdom to rule the nation

    

v.8  Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place.

v.9  Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.

v.10  Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?'

 

v.11,12 God rewards him with wisdm AND riches [that will no douby flow from the wisdom]

    

v.11  God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,

v.12  therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.'

 

 

PART TWO: v.13-17: Solomon's Wealth

 

v.13 Solomon returns to Jerusalem where he rules

   

v.13  Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

 

v.14 He built up a great force of chariots & horses

  

v.14  Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

 

v.15 Silver & gold become in very common use

v.15  The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.

 

v.16 He traded for horses from Egypt

   

v.16  Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue – the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price.

 

v.17 He traded in chariots & horses

  

v.17  They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

                

  

Continue to Ch.2

   

  

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