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(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Chronicles 1:1–12, “And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 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. 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. But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 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. 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. In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 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. 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? 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: 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.”
Even though king David brought the Ark to Jerusalem and established it there, the Tabernacle that Moses built, under the Lord’s instruction, was still in Gibeon. The altar, which had been made for Israel’s sacrifices in the wilderness, was with the Tabernacle. In spite of the fact that, Solomon had been called by God to build the Temple, he still went to the original Tabernacle and altar so that he could offer legitimate sacrifices before he finally took up his position as the Lord’s anointed over Israel. Solomon took a large number of his officials with him so that they, too, would witness the sacred offerings to the Lord. They offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked the new king what he wanted the Lord to do for him. Solomon understood that he was young and inexperienced so he asked the Lord to give him wisdom to rule the kingdom. The Lord was pleased with the answer that Solomon gave. Solomon could have asked the Lord for anything at all but he asked the Lord for wisdom to rule the kingdom. The Lord promised Solomon that he would give him the other things that he could so easily have asked, like wealth and honour. The Lord also promised him real peace and power as long as he was king of Israel. Even though David was the archetypal king of Israel and all the other kings were compared to him, Solomon was the richest and most powerful king of Israel.
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