2 Chronicles Chapter 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

(1 Kings 3:1-5; Psalm 45:1-17; Psalm 72:1-20)

1And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

2Then 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. 3So 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. 4But 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. 5Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. 6And 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.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

(1 Kings 3:6-9)

7In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

8And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 9Now, 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. 10Give 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? 11And 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: 12Wisdom 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. 13Then 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.

Solomon's Riches

(1 Kings 10:14-29)

14And 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. 15And 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. 16And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(1 Kings 3:1–15; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

1 Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the Tent of Meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought the ark of God up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover the bronze altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh: and Solomon and the assembly were seeking counsel there. 6 Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

8 Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?” 11 God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king: 12 wisdom and knowledge is granted to you. I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Riches
(1 Kings 10:26–29)

14 Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. 16 The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue; the king’s merchants purchased them from Kue. 17 They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, they brought them out by their means.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(1 Kings 3:1–15; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

1 Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him.

2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the heads of the families. 3 And Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon because it was the location of God’s Tent of Meeting, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

4 Now David had brought 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. 5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before a the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there.

6 Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar in the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”

8 Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion b to my father David, and You have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. c For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”

13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel.

Solomon’s Riches
(1 Kings 10:26–29)

14 Solomon accumulated d 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, e which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. f

16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; g the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, h and a horse for a hundred and fifty. i Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Footnotes:

5 a LXX, Vulgate, and some Hebrew manuscripts was there before ; MT he placed before
8 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed  are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion ; the range of meaning includes love , goodness , kindness , faithfulness , and mercy , as well as loyalty to a covenant .
10 c Literally so that I may go out before this people and come in
14 d Literally Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had
14 e Or horsemen  or charioteers
15 f Hebrew Shephelah  or lowlands ; that is, the western foothills of Judea
16 g Probably an area in Cilicia, a province in the southeast of Asia Minor
17 h 600 shekels  is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver.
17 i 150 shekels  is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver.

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

(1 Kings 3:1-5; Psalm 45:1-17; Psalm 72:1-20)

1And strengthen himself doth Solomon son of David over his kingdom, and Jehovah his God is with him, and maketh him exceedingly great.

2And Solomon saith to all Israel, to heads of the thousands, and of the hundreds, and to judges, and to every honourable one of all Israel, heads of the fathers, 3and they go -- Solomon, and all the assembly with him -- to the high place that is in Gibeon, for there hath been God's tent of meeting, that Moses, servant of Jehovah, made in the wilderness, 4but the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-Jearim, when David prepared for it, for he stretched out for it a tent in Jerusalem; 5and the altar of brass that Bezaleel son of Uri, son of Hur made, he put before the tabernacle of Jehovah; and Solomon and the assembly seek to it. 6And Solomon goeth up thither, on the altar of brass, before Jehovah, that is at the tent of meeting, and causeth to ascend upon it a thousand burnt-offerings.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

(1 Kings 3:6-9)

7In that night hath God appeared to Solomon, and saith to him, 'Ask -- what do I give to thee?'

8And Solomon saith to God, 'Thou hast done with David my father great kindness, and hast caused me to reign in his stead. 9Now, O Jehovah God, is Thy word with David my father stedfast, for Thou hast caused me to reign over a people numerous as the dust of the earth; 10now, wisdom and knowledge give to me, and I go out before this people, and I come in, for who doth judge this Thy great people?' 11And God saith to Solomon, 'Because that this hath been with thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, and honour, and the life of those hating thee, and also many days hast not asked, and dost ask for thyself wisdom and knowledge, so that thou dost judge My people over which I have caused thee to reign -- 12the wisdom and the knowledge is given to thee, and riches and wealth and honour I give to thee, that there hath not been so to the kings who are before thee, and after thee it is not so.' 13And Solomon cometh in from the high place that is in Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and reigneth over Israel,

Solomon's Riches

(1 Kings 10:14-29)

14and Solomon gathereth chariots and horsemen, and he hath a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, and he placeth them in the cities of the chariots, and with the king in Jerusalem. 15And the king maketh the silver and the gold in Jerusalem as stones, and the cedars he made as sycamores that are in the low country, for abundance. 16And the source of the horses that are to Solomon is from Egypt and from Keva; merchants of the king from Keva take at a price, 17and they come up, and bring out from Egypt a chariot for six hundred silverlings, and a horse for fifty and a hundred, and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Aram -- by their hand they bring out.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 1?

1.1Introduction to 2 Chronicles 1

1.2Context of 2 Chronicles 1

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.52 Chronicles 1 Unique Insights

1.62 Chronicles 1 Connections to Yeshua

1.72 Chronicles 1 Scriptural Echoes

1.82 Chronicles 1 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 1?

Introduction to 2 Chronicles 1

2 Chronicles 1 marks a pivotal transition in Israel’s history, recording Solomon’s ascension to genuine spiritual and political prominence. The chapter opens with a powerful declaration of Solomon’s establishment over his kingdom, emphasizing divine favor through an extraordinary encounter with God at Gibeon. This remarkable narrative showcases the intersection of human leadership and divine wisdom, setting the stage for Solomon’s legendary reign and the construction of the Temple.

This chapter is particularly significant as it demonstrates how genuine humility before God leads to supernatural elevation. Solomon’s famous request for wisdom, rather than wealth or honor, becomes a timeless template for spiritual priorities and divine response, illustrating how God often exceeds our highest expectations when we align our hearts with His purposes.

Context of 2 Chronicles 1

The book of 2 Chronicles begins where 1 Chronicles concludes, following David’s extensive preparations for the Temple and his charge to Solomon. Written during the post-exilic period, this account serves to remind the returned exiles of their spiritual heritage and the principles that led to their nation’s greatest golden age. The Chronicler’s focus on Solomon’s pursuit of wisdom and the Temple’s construction provides a blueprint for spiritual restoration and national renewal.

Within the broader biblical narrative, this chapter bridges the gap between David’s spiritual legacy and Solomon’s implementation of that inheritance. It demonstrates how genuine spiritual hunger, expressed through sacrifice and prayer, positions us for divine encounters. The parallel account in 1 Kings 3:4-15 adds complementary details, but Chronicles uniquely emphasizes the spiritual and Temple-centered aspects of Solomon’s reign.

This chapter also sets the foundation for understanding God’s covenant faithfulness. Solomon’s experience at Gibeon becomes a testament to how God honors those who honor Him, establishing a pattern that would echo throughout Scripture and find its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah’s kingdom.

Ancient Key Word Study

Established (וַיִּתְחַזֵּק, vayitchazek) – This term implies more than mere political stability; it suggests being spiritually strengthened or fortified. The root חזק (chazak) conveys the idea of taking hold of something with determination, indicating Solomon’s active role in embracing his divine calling.
Great (גָּדוֹל, gadol) – Used to describe Solomon’s magnificence, this word carries connotations of both quantity and quality. It appears in contexts of both physical magnitude and spiritual significance, suggesting Solomon’s comprehensive excellence.
Wisdom (חָכְמָה, chochmah) – More than intellectual knowledge, this term encompasses practical skill, moral insight, and spiritual discernment. It represents the ability to see life from God’s perspective and act accordingly.
Knowledge (מַדָּע, madda) – This specialized term refers to experiential understanding and skill in governance. It appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing the exceptional nature of Solomon’s request.
Bronze Altar (מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת, mizbach hanechoshet) – This altar, made by Bezalel during the exodus, symbolized continuity with Israel’s covenant history and the centrality of sacrifice in approaching God.
Sought (דָּרַשׁ, darash) – This verb implies intense seeking or investigation, often used in contexts of seeking God’s face. It suggests Solomon’s genuine spiritual hunger rather than mere religious formality.
Understanding (וּבִינָה, ubinah) – Complementing wisdom, this term refers to the ability to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, suggesting ethical and spiritual discrimination.
Thousands (אֲלָפִים, alafim) – Beyond mere numbers, this term can represent completeness or fullness, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of Solomon’s sacrificial worship.
Appeared (וַיֵּרָא, vayera) – This term is often used for divine manifestations, suggesting a genuine theophany rather than merely a dream, highlighting the extraordinary nature of God’s encounter with Solomon.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 1: “Solomon son of David was strengthened in his kingdom” contrasts with the typical succession narratives of ancient Near Eastern literature. While other texts might emphasize military might or political maneuvering, the text highlights divine establishment, using the reflexive form (וַיִּתְחַזֵּק) to show both God’s action and Solomon’s response.
Verse 3: The mention of the “high place at Gibeon” is carefully qualified with reference to “God’s Tent of Meeting that Moses had made.” This deliberate phrasing distinguishes this legitimate worship from pagan high places, using the term בָּמָה (bamah) in a uniquely positive context.
Verse 6: The specific mention of “a thousand burnt offerings” uses the term עֹלוֹת (olot) rather than other sacrifice types, emphasizing complete dedication. This wordchoice highlights the totality of Solomon’s devotion rather than merely the quantity of offerings.
Verse 7: God’s appearance using the word וַיֵּרָא (vayera) rather than terms for dreams or visions emphasizes the direct, personal nature of this divine encounter.
Verse 8: Solomon’s reference to חֶסֶד (chesed) regarding God’s treatment of David introduces covenant faithfulness as a key theme, linking past promises to present fulfillment.
Verse 10: The request for חָכְמָה וּמַדָּע (chochmah umadda) specifically pairs wisdom with knowledge, rather than using synonyms, suggesting a comprehensive understanding needed for leadership.
Verse 11: The divine response uses four terms for wealth (עֹשֶׁר, osher), possessions (נְכָסִים, nechasim), honor (כָּבוֹד, kavod), and life (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh), emphasizing the completeness of what Solomon didn’t request.
Verse 12: The promise of unprecedented wisdom uses a comparative phrase literally meaning “that there was none like you before you, and after you there shall not arise your like,” employing a unique grammatical construction to emphasize Solomon’s singular status.

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2 Chronicles 1 Unique Insights

The chapter contains several layers of meaning that point to deeper spiritual truths. The location of Solomon’s encounter at Gibeon is particularly significant. According to rabbinic tradition, Gibeon housed the original Tabernacle and the bronze altar made by Bezalel, while the Ark resided in Jerusalem. This split between the two most sacred objects in Israel’s worship created a unique spiritual tension that mirrored Solomon’s position between the Davidic legacy and his own calling to build the Temple.

The number of sacrifices offered (1,000) carries profound significance in Jewish thought. The Midrash Rabbah notes that the thousand offerings correspond to the thousand songs Solomon would later compose (1 Kings 4:32), suggesting a connection between worship and wisdom. This massive offering wasn’t merely quantitative but represented a qualitative breakthrough in worship that opened the heavens for divine response.

The nighttime timing of God’s appearance to Solomon parallels other significant biblical encounters, including Abraham’s covenant ceremony (Genesis 15) and Jacob’s dream at Bethel (Genesis 28). The early rabbis saw these nighttime revelations as particularly significant, suggesting that when natural light diminishes, spiritual perception can increase. This understanding adds depth to Solomon’s request for wisdom – he recognized his natural limitations and sought supernatural insight.

The specific combination of “wisdom and knowledge” (חָכְמָה וּמַדָּע) that Solomon requests appears uniquely in this context. Early Jewish commentators noted that this pairing suggests both theoretical understanding and practical application, foreshadowing the dual nature of the Temple itself – a place of both spiritual revelation and practical service.

2 Chronicles 1 Connections to Yeshua

Solomon’s encounter at Gibeon prefigures several aspects of Messiah Yeshua’s ministry and person. Just as Solomon received wisdom to govern God’s people, Yeshua is described as the embodiment of divine wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24), offering not just guidance but transformation through His Spirit.

The chapter’s emphasis on Solomon’s humility in requesting wisdom rather than riches parallels Yeshua’s teaching that we should “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Furthermore, Solomon’s role as both king and builder of the Temple foreshadows Messiah’s dual role as King and Builder of the living Temple – His Body, the Church (Ephesians 2:19-22).

2 Chronicles 1 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected themes. The divine appearance to Solomon echoes God’s earlier appearance to David at the threshing floor of Ornan (1 Chronicles 21), establishing a pattern of divine-human encounters that would culminate in the incarnation.

Solomon’s choice of wisdom over riches finds parallel in Moses’ earlier choice to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy Egyptian luxury (Hebrews 11:25-26). This theme of spiritual priorities over material gain recurs throughout Scripture, including Yeshua’s teachings about treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

The chapter’s emphasis on Solomon’s extraordinary wisdom anticipates the greater wisdom of Messiah, who declared that “something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). This progression reveals how Old Testament types and shadows find their fulfillment in Yeshua.

2 Chronicles 1 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own priorities and what we would request if God gave us an open-ended offer. Solomon’s choice of wisdom over wealth, long life, or the death of his enemies reveals a heart aligned with God’s purposes. We too must consider whether our prayers reflect kingdom priorities or merely personal comfort.

The massive scale of Solomon’s sacrifice (1,000 burnt offerings) prompts us to consider the extent of our own dedication to God. While we’re not called to duplicate the quantity, the quality of wholehearted devotion remains a timeless principle. How completely are we offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)?

Did You Know

The bronze altar at Gibeon was approximately 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet high, making Solomon’s offering of 1,000 sacrifices a logistically impressive feat requiring significant time and organization.
The high place at Gibeon was about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem, suggesting Solomon’s willingness to personally journey to seek God rather than merely sending representatives.
The Hebrew term for “established” (וַיִּתְחַזֵּק) appears at other crucial transition points in Chronicles, creating a literary pattern that emphasizes divine enabling for new phases of leadership.
Archaeological evidence suggests Gibeon was a major religious center in ancient Israel, with a remarkable water system that could have facilitated the massive sacrificial requirements.
The specific combination of “wisdom and knowledge” requested by Solomon appears only here in the Hebrew Bible, marking this as a unique request in Scripture.
The Chronicler’s account emphasizes different aspects of Solomon’s dream than the parallel account in 1 Kings, focusing more on the Temple-building implications.
Solomon’s interaction with God at Gibeon occurred early in his reign, possibly within the first year, demonstrating the priority he placed on seeking divine guidance.
The mention of Solomon’s wealth includes reference to both horses and chariots from Egypt, items specifically cautioned against in the Torah’s guidelines for kings (Deuteronomy 17:16).
The chapter uses the term “appeared” (וַיֵּרָא) which typically describes physical manifestations of God, suggesting this was more than just a dream.

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