1:1 Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority,¹ for² the LORD his God was with him and greatly magnified him.

1:2 Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families. 1:3 Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center³ in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God⁴ was located there, which Moses, the LORD’s servant, had made in the desert. 1:4 (Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 1:5 But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the LORD’s tabernacle.⁵ Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him⁶ there.) 1:6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.

1:7 That night God appeared⁷ to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me⁸ what I should give you?” 1:8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated⁹ great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 1:9 Now, LORD God, may your promise¹⁰ to my father David be realized,¹¹ for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 1:10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so¹² I can effectively lead this nation.¹³ Otherwise¹⁴ no one is able¹⁵ to make judicial decisions for¹⁶ this great nation of yours.”¹⁷

1:11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this,¹⁸ and did not ask for riches, wealth and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies,¹⁹ and because you did not ask for long life,²⁰ but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, 1:12 you are granted wisdom and discernment.²¹ Furthermore I am giving riches, wealth and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.”²²

1:13 Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.²³

1:14 Solomon accumulated²⁴ chariots and horses. He had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horses.. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.²⁵ 1:15 The king made silver and gold as plentiful²⁶ in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was²⁷ as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands²⁸. 1:16 Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt²⁹ and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que. 1:17 They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt, and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.³⁰