Page:The Books of Chronicles (1916).djvu/234

170 ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the : and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the, which was at the tent of meeting, 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 kindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead. Now, O 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

4. Kiriath-jearim] Cp. 1 Chr. xiii. 5.

pitched a tent] Cp. 1 Chr. xv. 1.

5. Bezalel] See Ex. xxxi. 2, xxxviii. 1—7, and cp. 1 Chr. ii. 20.

was there] mg. he had put. In the Heb. the position of a point makes the difference between these two translations.

sought unto it] See 1 Chr. xxviii. 8, note.

6. went up thither] or, as mg., offered there, upon. It is to be noted that the Chronicler does not ignore the exercise of priestly functions by Solomon, although such exercise must have seemed wrong in his eyes, but follows his authority (1 Kin. iii. 4) without adding any explanation.

7—13 (= 1 Kin. iii. 5—15).&emsp;

7. did God appear] In Kings, the appeared in a dream.

9. thy promise] i.e. that Solomon would be king after David, that he would build the Temple, and that his house would reign over Israel for ever (1 Chr. xxii. 9 ff.). Part of this promise had come true, and Solomon now prays for the fulfilment of the remainder. It is, however, possible that the particular reference is to the first words of 1 Chr. xxii. 12, which may be translated as a promise, Surely the will give thee wisdom and understanding.

10. go out and come in] The phrase denotes the transaction of business of all kinds.