3Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the LORD and the wall around the city.H8010H2859H6547H4428H4714H3947H6547H1323H935H5892H1732H3615H1129H1004H1004H3068H2346H3389H5439 2At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the LORD had not yet been built.H5971H2076H1116H1004H1129H8034H3068H3117 3Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship.H8010H157H3068H3212H2708H1732H1H2076H6999H1116 4The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings.H4428H3212H1391H2076H1931H1419H1116H505H5930H8010H5927H4196 5That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"H1391H3068H7200H8010H2472H3915H430H559H7592H5414 6Solomon replied, "You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.H8010H559H6213H5650H1732H1H1419H2617H1980H6440H571H6666H3483H3824H8104H1419H2617H5414H1121H3427H3678H3117 7"Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around.H3068H430H5650H4427H1732H1H6996H5288H3045H3318H935 8And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!H5650H8432H5971H977H7227H5971H4487H5608H7230 9Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?"H5414H5650H8085H3820H8199H5971H995H2896H7451H3201H8199H3515H5971 10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.H1697H3190H5869H136H8010H7592H1697 11So God replied, 'Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—H430H559H7592H1697H7592H7227H3117H7592H6239H7592H5315H341H7592H995H8085H4941 12I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!H6213H1697H5414H2450H995H3820H6440H310H6965 13And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!H5414H7592H6239H3519H376H4428H3117 14And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life."H3212H1870H8104H2706H4687H1H1732H1980H748H3117 15Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord's Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.H8010H3364H2472H935H3389H5975H6440H727H1285H3068H5927H5930H6213H8002H6213H4960H5650 16Some time later two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled.H935H8147H802H2181H4428H5975H6440 17"Please, my lord," one of them began, "this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house.H259H802H559H994H113H802H3427H259H1004H3205H1004 18Three days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.H7992H3117H3205H802H3205H3162H2114H1004H2108H8147H1004 19"But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it.H802H1121H4191H3915H7901 20Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her.H6965H8432H3915H3947H1121H681H519H3463H7901H2436H7901H4191H1121H2436 21And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't my son at all."H6965H1242H1121H3243H4191H995H1242H1121H3205 22Then the other woman interrupted, "It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine." "No," the first woman said, "the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours." And so they argued back and forth before the king.H312H802H559H2416H1121H4191H1121H559H4191H1121H2416H1121H1696H6440H4428 23Then the king said, "Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other.H559H4428H2063H559H1121H2416H1121H4191H2063H559H1121H4191H1121H2416 24All right, bring me a sword." So a sword was brought to the king.H4428H559H3947H2719H935H2719H6440H4428 25Then he said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!"H4428H559H1504H2416H3206H8147H5414H2677H259H2677H259 26Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, "Oh no, my lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!" But the other woman said, "All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!"H559H802H2416H1121H4428H7356H3648H1121H559H994H113H5414H2416H3205H4191H4191H559H1504 27Then the king said, "Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!"H4428H6030H559H5414H2416H3205H4191H4191H517 28When all Israel heard the king's decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice.H3478H8085H4941H4428H8199H3372H6440H7200H2451H430H7130H6213H4941
4King Solomon now ruled over all Israel,H4428H8010H4428H34782and these were his high officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.H8269H5838H1121H6659H35483Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were court secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.H456H281H1121H7894H5608H3092H1121H286H21424Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.H1141H1121H3077H6635H6659H54H35485Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a trusted adviser to the king.H5838H1121H5416H5324H2071H1121H5416H3548H4428H74636Ahishar was manager of the palace property. Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the labor force.H301H1004H141H1121H5653H45227Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king's household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of the year.H8010H8147H6240H5324H3478H3557H4428H1004H259H2320H8141H35578These are the names of the twelve governors: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim.H8034H1133H2022H6699Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-bethhanan.H1128H1857H4739H8169H1053H35810Ben-hesed, in Arubboth, including Socoh and all the land of Hepher.H1136H2618H700H7755H776H266011Ben-abinadab, in all of Naphoth-dor. (He was married to Taphath, one of Solomon's daughters.)H1125H5299H1756H2955H1323H8010H80212Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, all of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and over to Jokmeam.H1195H1121H286H8590H4023H1052H681H6891H3157H1052H65H5676H336113Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead, including the Towns of Jair (named for Jair of the tribe of Manasseh) in Gilead, and in the Argob region of Bashan, including sixty large fortified towns with bronze bars on their gates.H1127H1568H7433H2333H2971H1121H4519H1568H2256H709H1316H8346H1419H5892H2346H5178H128014Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim.H292H1121H5714H426615Ahimaaz, in Naphtali. (He was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters.)H290H5321H3947H1315H1323H8010H80216Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth.H1195H1121H2365H836H117517Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar.H3092H1121H6515H348518Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin.H8096H1121H414H114419Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, including the territories of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. There was also one governor over the land of Judah.H1398H1121H221H776H1568H776H5511H4428H567H5747H4428H1316H259H5333H77620The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.H3063H3478H7227H2344H3220H7230H398H8354H805621Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.H8010H4910H4467H5104H776H6430H1366H4714H5066H4503H5647H8010H3117H241622The daily food requirements for Solomon's palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal;H8010H3899H259H3117H7970H3734H5560H8346H3734H705823also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry.H6235H1277H1241H6242H1241H7471H3967H6629H354H6643H3180H75H125724Solomon's dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders.H7287H5676H5104H8607H5804H4428H5676H5104H7965H5650H5676H543925During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. And from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, each family had its own home and garden.H3063H3478H3427H983H376H1612H8384H1835H884H3117H801026Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses, and he had 12,000 horses.H8010H705H505H723H5483H4817H8147H6240H505H657127The district governors faithfully provided food for King Solomon and his court; each made sure nothing was lacking during the month assigned to him.H5324H3557H4428H8010H7131H4428H8010H7979H376H2320H5737H169728They also brought the necessary barley and straw for the royal horses in the stables.H8184H8401H5483H7409H935H4725H376H494129God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.H430H5414H8010H2451H8394H3966H7235H7341H3820H2344H3220H819330In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.H8010H2451H7235H2451H1121H6924H2451H471431He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.H2449H120H387H250H1968H3633H1862H1121H4235H8034H1471H543932He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs.H1696H7969H505H4912H7892H505H256833He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish.H1696H6086H730H3844H231H3318H7023H1696H929H5775H7431H170934And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.H935H5971H8085H2451H8010H4428H776H8085H2451
1Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful.H8010H1121H1732H2388H4438H3068H430H1431H4605 2Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.H8010H559H3478H8269H505H3967H8199H5387H3478H7218H1 3Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God's Tabernacle was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the LORD's servant, had made in the wilderness.)H8010H6951H3212H1116H1391H168H4150H430H4872H5650H3068H6213H4057 4David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.H61H727H430H1732H5927H7157H1732H3559H5186H168H3389 5But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the LORD.H5178H4196H1212H1121H221H1121H2354H6213H7760H6440H4908H3068H8010H6951H1875 6There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the LORD's presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.H8010H5927H5178H4196H6440H3068H168H4150H5927H505H5930 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"H3915H430H7200H8010H559H7592H5414 8Solomon replied to God, "You showed faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.H8010H559H430H6213H1419H2617H1732H1H4427 9O LORD God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!H3068H430H1697H1732H1H539H4427H5971H6083H776H7227 10Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?"H5414H2451H4093H3318H935H6440H5971H8199H5971H1419 11God said to Solomon, 'Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—H430H559H8010H3824H7592H6239H5233H3519H5315H8130H7592H7227H3117H7592H2451H4093H8199H5971H4427 12I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!"H2451H4093H5414H5414H6239H5233H3519H4428H6440H310 13Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.H8010H935H1116H1391H3389H6440H168H4150H4427H3478 14Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.H8010H622H7393H6571H505H702H3967H7393H8147H6240H505H6571H3240H7393H5892H4428H3389 15The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.H4428H5414H3701H2091H3389H68H730H5414H8256H8219H7230 16Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from Cilicia; the king's traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.H8010H5483H4161H4714H4723H4428H5503H3947H4723H4242 17At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver, and horses for 150 pieces of silver. They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.H5927H3318H4714H4818H8337H3967H3701H5483H3967H2572H3318H4428H2850H4428H758H3027
72[A psalm of Solomon.] Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.H8010H5414H4428H4941H430H6666H4428H1121 2Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.H1777H5971H6664H6041H4941 3May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.H2022H5375H7965H5971H1389H6666 4Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.H8199H6041H5971H3467H1121H34H1792H6231 5May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!H3372H5973H8121H3394H6440H1755H1755 6May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.H3381H4306H1488H7241H2222H776 7May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.H3117H6662H6524H7230H7965H3394 8May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.H7287H3220H3220H5104H657H776 9Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.H6728H3766H6440H341H3897H6083 10The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.H4428H8659H339H7725H4503H4428H7614H5434H7126H814 11All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.H4428H7812H1471H5647 12He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.H5337H34H7768H6041H5826 13He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.H2347H1800H34H3467H5315H34 14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.H1350H5315H8496H2555H3365H1818H5869 15Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.H2421H5414H2091H7614H6419H8548H3117H1288 16May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.H6451H1250H776H7218H2022H6529H7493H3844H5892H6692H6212H776 17May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.H8034H5769H8034H5125H5125H6440H8121H1288H1471H833 18Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.H1288H3068H430H430H3478H6213H6381 19Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!H1288H3519H8034H5769H776H4390H3519H543H543 20(This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.)H8605H1732H1121H3448H3615
Dublin, OH
. (He was married to Taphath, one of Solomon's daughters.)H1125
