2 Chronicles 8:1

That night, God appears to Solomon and says, "Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon responds with humility and wisdom. He acknowledges that God has shown great mercy to his father David and has made him king in his place. He asks God for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people, saying, "Who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" God is pleased with Solomon's request because he did not ask for wealth, possessions, honor, the death of his enemies, or even a long life. God grants him wisdom and knowledge, and He also gives him wealth, possessions, and honor such as no king before him has had and none after him will have. Solomon returns from Gibeon to Jerusalem and reigns over Israel. The chapter concludes by describing Solomon's accumulation of chariots and horses and his immense wealth, noting that silver and gold become as common in Jerusalem as stones. 2 Chronicles 2: Preparations for Building the Temple Solomon determines to build a temple for the name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. He conscripts 70,000 men to be carriers, 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen to supervise them. Solomon sends a message to Hiram (also called Huram), the king of Tyre, reminding him of the assistance he had given to David and requesting his help in this great project. Solomon asks Hiram to send him cedar, juniper, and algum logs from Lebanon, for he knows that Hiram's servants are skilled in cutting timber. He also requests that Hiram send him a skilled craftsman to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, and fabric, to work alongside the skilled workers in Judah and Jerusalem whom David had prepared.