Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom, and the Lord grants his request and also blesses him with riches and honor like no other king.
Solomon is "strengthened in his kingdom," and the Lord is with him and exalts him exceedingly. He speaks to all Israel and to all the leaders and captains, and they all go to the high place at Gibeah where the tabernacle of meeting is, the one Moses had made in the wilderness. David had pitched a tent for the ark in Jerusalem, and the bronze altar was put before the tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly seek the Lord there, and Solomon offers 1,000 burnt offerings at the altar. That night, the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and says, "Ask, what shall I give you?" Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge that he may "go in and come out" before the people and judge them rightly. The Lord says that because this was in his heart, to ask for wisdom, not riches and honor, the life of his enemies, or long life, that He will grant his request, and also give him riches, wealth, and honor such as no king before him or no king after him. Solomon returns to Jerusalem and reigns over Israel, and he is very wealthy. It says Solomon made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones and cedars as abundant as the sycamores. He also had horses imported from Egypt.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
Wisdom is the key to everything. If we don't know what to do in any situations- big or small- we are to ask God for wisdom. Receiving and walking in wisdom requires humility; we need to first realize that we don't know in order to ask for it, and we need to keep in mind that we are nothing apart from God!