3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing ^(A)to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we ^(B)sent Timothy, ^(C)our brother and God's coworker^[a] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^(D)we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, ^(E)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(F)when I could bear it no longer, ^(G)I sent to learn about your faith, ^(H)for fear that somehow ^(I)the tempter had tempted you and ^(J)our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶ But ^(K)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of ^(L)your faith and love and reported ^(M)that you always remember us kindly and ^(N)long to see us, as we long to see you—

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

1 ^(A)Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, ^(B)and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

² Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the ^(C)commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. ³ And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to ^(D)the high place that was at Gibeon, ^(E)for ^(F)the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there. ^4 (G)(But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) ⁵ Moreover, ^(H)the bronze altar that ^(I)Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly ^(J)sought it^[a] out. ⁶ And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, ^(K)and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

^7 (L)In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁸ And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, ^(M)and have made me king in his place. ⁹ O Lord God, ^(N)let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous ^(O)as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Give me now wisdom and knowledge to ^(P)go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” ¹¹ God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for ^(Q)possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you ^(R)riches, possessions, and honor, ^(S)such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” ¹³ So Solomon came from^[b] the ^(T)high place at Gibeon, from before ^(U)the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

Solomon Given Wealth

^14 (V)Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. ^(W)He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed ^(X)in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. ¹⁶ And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price. ¹⁷ They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels^[c] of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Preparing to Build the Temple

2 ^{[d] (Y)}Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself. ^{2 [e] (Z)}And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and ^(AA)3,600 to oversee them. ^3 (AB)And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: ^(AC)“As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. ⁴ Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of ^(AD)incense of sweet spices before him, and for ^(AE)the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for ^(AF)burnt offerings morning and evening, ^(AG)on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, as ordained forever for Israel. ⁵ The house that I am to build will be great, ^(AH)for our God is greater than all gods. ^6 (AI)But who is able to build him a house, since ^(AJ)heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? ⁷ So now ^(AK)send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, ^(AL)whom David my father provided. ⁸ Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that ^(AM)your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, ⁹ to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. ^10 (AN)I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors^[f] of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths^[g] of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”

¹¹ Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, ^(AO)“Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you king over them.” ¹² Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, ^(AP)who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, ^(AQ)who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

¹³ “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, ^14 (AR)the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is ^(AS)trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. ¹⁵ Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, ^(AT)of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. ^16 (AU)And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to ^(AV)Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”

¹⁷ Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, ^(AW)after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600. ^18 (AX)Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.