2 Chronicles 1:1-17
1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.
3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place 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.
4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he puta before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.
6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
9 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.
10 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?
11 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, 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:
12 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.
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.
14 And Solomon gathered chariots 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.
15 And the king madeb 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.
16 And Solomonc had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
17 And 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.d
After all the careful preparations for building the Temple which we considered in our survey of the previous Book, we now come to the period in which Solomon entered into full possession of his kingdom and took up the great work entrusted to him. He commenced by gathering his people with him at a sacred act of worship. There God met with him in a special vision at night, and tested him by commanding him to ask of Him what he desired. The condition of his heart was clearly manifest in that he sought for the wisdom necessary to accomplish his work in the best possible way. His request showed a sense of responsibility, and also his realization that he could fulfil that responsibility only as he was divinely guided.
God's answer was a beautiful instance of the overflowing love and grace of the divine heart. All the things Solomon set aside for the sake of wisdom also were given him. It is impossible to read this story without the words, "Greater than Solomon," being recalled to the mind, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." So far as Solomon was concerned, it was a fine beginning.
In the closing verses of the chapter we see on the divine side the fulfillment of the promise of material prosperity. These were the days of Israel's greatest glory in this respect. The language of the chronicler is pictorial and forceful. Gold and silver were as common as stones; and the precious cedar timber was as plenteous as the commoner sycamore. There was nothing wrong in all this, but it created a very subtle peril. Prosperity is always a more insidious danger to men of faith than adversity. It is more than likely that the glamor of such affluence was already working evil in the king's heart, as he multiplied his horses and chariots by traffic with Egypt. Commerce with Egypt is always dangerous to the people of God, and it is a very easy stage from the purchase of horses to the procuring of a wife.