11 Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom , and the Lord his God was with him and exalted him greatly . 2 Solomon spoke to all Israel , to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel , the heads of the fathers' households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place which was at Gibeon , for God's tent of meeting was there , which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness . 4 However , David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [1]to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem . 5 Now the bronze altar , which Bezalel the son of Uri , the son of Hur , had made , [2]was there before the tabernacle of the Lord , and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting , and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 1:1-6
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.