1. Solomon signed a treaty with the king of Egypt and married his daughter. She lived in the older part of Jerusalem until the palace, the Lord's temple, and the wall around Jerusalem were completed.
2. At that time, there was no temple for worshipping the Lord, and everyone offered sacrifices at the local shrines.
3. Solomon loved the Lord and followed his father David's instructions, but Solomon also offered sacrifices and burnt incense at the shrines.
4. The most important shrine was in Gibeon, and Solomon had offered more than a thousand sacrifices on that altar.
5. One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”
6. Solomon answered:My father David, your servant, was honest and did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who is now king.
7. Lord God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader.
8. And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.
9. Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.