2 Chronicles 1:1–17 (September 15, 2025)

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

1:1 Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. 3 And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly sought it[a] out. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from[b] the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

Solomon Given Wealth

14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 16 And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels[c] of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Footnotes

2 Chronicles 1:5 Or him

2 Chronicles 1:13 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew to

2 Chronicles 1:17 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

Summary

Solomon’s reign begins with God’s establishment: “The Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great” (v. 1). His first public act is worship, leading Israel to Gibeon to sacrifice at the bronze altar (vv. 2–6). That night, God appears to Solomon and invites him to ask for whatever he desires (v. 7). Solomon responds by requesting “wisdom and knowledge” to govern God’s people (vv. 8–10). God is pleased with this prayer and grants him wisdom, along with riches and honor that he had not sought (vv. 11–12). The chapter closes with a description of Solomon’s extraordinary wealth and military strength (vv. 13–17).

Who is God?

God establishes His king and equips him for the task of leading His people. Solomon’s greatness was but of God’s presence (v. 1). At Gibeon, God reveals Himself as a generous Father, inviting Solomon to ask and gladly granting wisdom beyond measure (vv. 7, 11). This shows us that leadership and faithfulness are never grounded in ourselves but in the God who gives wisdom to those who seek Him. If Solomon’s strength lay in God’s presence, then our service too—whether in church, home, or work—must begin with dependence upon the God who delights to equip His people.

What is our guilt?

The guilt is our inclination to desire the very things Solomon refused to ask for. God commended him precisely because he did not request wealth, possessions, or long life (v. 11). Yet these are often our priorities. Even Solomon would later betray his own beginning, multiplying horses, silver, and gold in disobedience. We see ourselves in this tension. We long for the gifts more than the Giver, and we pursue abundance while neglecting the wisdom that comes from fearing the Lord. This passage confronts us with our tendency to measure life by silver and gold rather than by faithfulness and reverence.

How does grace shine?

Solomon asked for wisdom, and God gave him wisdom along with riches and honor (vv. 11–12). Yet Solomon’s wisdom was partial, and his heart was divided. The greater Son of David would come, not to ask for riches or honor, but to humble Himself to the point of death on a cross. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Where Solomon fell short, Christ is the fullness. God’s grace to us is that in Christ we receive not only wisdom for this life but eternal life itself. To seek wisdom, then, is to seek Christ—and in Him we find that God gives more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Prayer

O Lord, you established Solomon and filled him with wisdom to serve your people. We confess that we too often desire wealth, honor, and ease more than wisdom. Forgive us for treating your gifts as greater than you.

Thank you for giving us Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David, who is our wisdom, righteousness, and redemption.

Teach us to seek Him above all things, that our lives and our service may reflect your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.