2 Chronicles 1: A King Asks for Wisdom
Established on his throne and worshiping at Gibeon, Solomon is offered anything by God and asks not for riches but for wisdom to govern God's people.
2 Chronicles 1 (WEB)
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 Yahweh’s tabernacle: 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 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.
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.
2 Chronicles 1 (KJV)
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 Kirjath–jearim 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 put 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 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.
16 And Solomon 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.
2 Chronicles 1 (ASV)
1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
2 And Solomon spake unto 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’ houses.
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 Jehovah had made in the wilderness.
4 But the ark of God had David brought 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 brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it.
6 And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, 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 showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead.
9 Now, O Jehovah 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 thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, 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 honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.
13 So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, unto Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
15 And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
16 And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; the king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
17 And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Summary
Solomon the son of David is strengthened in his kingdom, for Yahweh his God is with him and magnifies him exceedingly. He leads all Israel to the high place at Gibeon, where the Tent of Meeting stands, and offers a thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar. That night God appears to him and says, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon recalls God's covenant love to David and confesses his own smallness before so great a people. Rather than riches, long life, or victory over enemies, he asks only for wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people. God is pleased that this was in his heart, grants the wisdom he sought, and freely adds riches, wealth, and honor beyond any king before or after him. Solomon returns to Jerusalem and reigns, gathering chariots, horses, and wealth so that silver and gold become as common as stones. The chapter shows a kingdom rising in glory, founded on a humble prayer for the wisdom only God can give.
Main Characters
- Solomon — David's son, newly strengthened on the throne, who worships before God and asks for wisdom to govern rather than wealth or power.
- God (Yahweh) — The Lord who is with Solomon, offers him anything, delights in his humble request, and grants both wisdom and abundant riches.
- The assembly of Israel — The captains, judges, and leaders who go up with Solomon to seek God at the Tent of Meeting in Gibeon.
Key Verse
2 Chronicles 1:10 (WEB)
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?”
Lessons Learned
- A reign begins well when it begins in worship, seeking God before seeking gain.
- True wisdom is not self-confidence but a humble sense of our own smallness before a great task.
- God delights to be asked, and what we ask for reveals the desires of our heart.
- When we seek first what pleases God, he is generous to add what we did not even request.
- God's presence is the source of every blessing. Solomon “was strengthened in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him” (2 Chronicles 1:1, WEB). His greatness flows not from himself but from God's nearness.
- Worship comes before request. Solomon offers “one thousand burnt offerings” at the altar before God speaks to him (2 Chronicles 1:6, WEB). He draws near to God in worship before he ever asks for anything.
- Humility shapes our prayers. “Who am I,” Solomon in effect confesses, asking only “wisdom and knowledge” to lead a people as numberless as the dust (2 Chronicles 1:9-10, WEB). He prays from weakness, not pride.
- God gives more than we ask. Because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth, God adds “riches, wealth, and honor” besides (2 Chronicles 1:11-12, WEB). Seeking God's purposes first opens the door to his generosity.
- Why does Solomon lead the whole assembly to worship at Gibeon before asking anything of God?
- What does Solomon's choice of wisdom over riches reveal about what he most values?
- How does God respond to the request, and what does his answer teach about his character?
- Solomon prays from a sense of his own smallness before a great task. How might admitting our weakness actually open us to God's help?
- If God said to you tonight, “Ask what I shall give you,” what would your honest answer be, and what does that reveal?
- Solomon's first recorded act as established king is to gather Israel and offer a thousand offerings (1:2-6). Leadership and worship are joined from the start; he seeks God's face before he seeks anything for himself, modeling a heart that puts God first.
- He asks for wisdom and knowledge to judge God's people (1:10), explicitly not for riches, honor, or long life (1:11). His treasure is the welfare of the people God entrusted to him, not personal gain, which is why God commends the request.
- God is pleased “because this was in your heart” (1:11) and grants the wisdom plus riches and honor unasked (1:12). He is a generous, heart-reading God who delights to give good gifts to those who seek his purposes.
- This is partly personal application. Solomon's prayer flows from feeling overwhelmed by the task (1:9-10). Invite the group to consider how honesty about our limits invites God's strength, where self-sufficiency shuts him out.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name, even silently, what they would ask for, and to notice whether their deepest desires center on God's kingdom or on their own comfort. Keep the tone gentle and hopeful.