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¹ Shlomo the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. ² Shlomo spoke to all Yisra'el, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Yisra'el, the heads of the fathers' [houses]. ³ So Shlomo, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Giv`on; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moshe the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. <sup>4</sup> But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiryat-Ye`arim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Yerushalayim. ⁵ Moreover the brazen altar, that Betzal'el the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tent of the LORD: and Shlomo and the assembly sought to it. ⁶ Shlomo went up there to the brazen altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it. ⁷ In that night did God appear to Shlomo, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you. ⁸ Shlomo said to God, You have shown great lovingkindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, LORD God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the eretz 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 your people, that is so great? ¹¹ God said to Shlomo, 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; and I will give you riches, and 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 Shlomo came from the high place that was at Giv`on, from before the tent of meeting, to Yerushalayim; and he reigned over Yisra'el. ¹⁴ Shlomo 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 Yerushalayim. ¹⁵ The king made silver and gold to be in Yerushalayim as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. ¹⁶ The horses which Shlomo had were brought out of Mitzrayim and from Kue; the king's merchants purchased them from Kue. ¹⁷ They brought up and brought out of Mitzrayim a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hitti, and the kings of Aram, did they bring them out by their means.