7 In that night hath God appeared to Solomon, and saith to him, 'Ask—what do I give to thee?' 8 And Solomon saith to God, 'Thou hast done with David my father great kindness, and hast caused me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O Jehovah God, is Thy word with David my father stedfast, for Thou hast caused me to reign over a people numerous as the dust of the earth; 10 now, wisdom and knowledge give to me, and I go out before this people, and I come in, for who doth judge this Thy great people?' 11 And God saith to Solomon, 'Because that this hath been with thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, and honour, and the life of those hating thee, and also many days hast not asked, and dost ask for thyself wisdom and knowledge, so that thou dost judge My people over which I have caused thee to reign— 12 the wisdom and the knowledge is given to thee, and riches and wealth and honour I give to thee, that there hath not been so to the kings who 'are' before thee, and after thee it is not so.'
13 And Solomon cometh in 'from' the high place that 'is' in Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and reigneth over Israel,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 1:7-13
Chapter Contents
Solomon's choice of wisdom, His strength and wealth.
SOLOMON began his reign with a pious, public visit to God's altar. Those that pursue present things most eagerly, are likely to be disappointed; while those that refer themselves to the providence of God, if they have not the most, have the most comfort. Those that make this world their end, come short of the other, and are disappointed in this also; but those that make the other world their end, shall not only obtain that, and full satisfaction in it, but shall have as much of this world as is good for them, in their way. Let us then be contented, without those great things which men generally covet, but which commonly prove fatal snares to the soul.