1Then Solomon the son of David was made strong in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and magnified him exceedingly.

2And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 3And Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place at Gibeon, for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4Now the ark of God David had brought up from Kirjath-Jearim to the place which David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5And he put the bronze altar which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the congregation of the LORD sought to it. 6And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

7In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."

8And Solomon said to God, "You have shown great mercy to David my father and have made me to reign in his stead. 9Now, O 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 earth in multitude. 10Now grant 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?" 11And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, nor honor, nor the life of your enemies, nor yet have asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge My people, over whom I have made you king, 12Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you; neither shall any after you have the like." 13And Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, to Jerusalem and reigned over Israel.

14And 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. 15And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem like stones, and he made cedar trees as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the valley. 16And Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Kue. The king's merchants received them from Kue at a price. 17And they imported, and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And so they imported horses through them for all the kings of the Hittites and exported to the kings of Syria.