service, and they offered
three thousand sacrifices.

Solomon was again anointed king in the presence of all Israel, and took
the throne of David; and David died, honored and loved by his people,
and he was buried in his own city.

When Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice the Lord came to him in a
dream and said,

"Ask what I shall give thee."

Solomon was wiser than all the sons of David, and yet he did not feel
himself to be so. He said,

"I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in, and thy
servant is in the midst of a great people that cannot be numbered.
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people,
that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this
thy so great a people."

And the Lord said,

"Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself
long life, neither riches, nor the life of thine enemies, lo, I have
given thee a wise and understanding heart, and I have also given thee
that which thou hast not asked--both riches and honor; and if thou wilt
walk in my ways as thy father David did, then I will lengthen thy days."

The Lord was true to his word. Solomon had wisdom, beyond all the old
and the learned men of his kingdom, and many came to him for counsel
who were not of Israel, for he was famous among the nations. Some of
these nations wished to be ruled by him, and brought him many precious
things as gifts; they had been conquered by David, and now they wished
to be ruled by Solomon. He had thousands of servants and he knew how
to direct their work. Away up in the mountains of Lebanon they worked
with the servants of Hiram, King of Tyre, getting the cedar timbers
ready for the temple, while Hiram's artisans in gold, and silver, and
brass, and fine linen came to Jerusalem to work on the temple, and
Solomon sent Hiram wheat, and olive oil, and wine. So wise were the
workers in stone and wood that when the temple was built there was no
sound of a hammer or any tool heard on Mount Moriah. Each stone was
ready to fit into its place, and each piece of wood to fit another.

The house was not like any that we have ever seen. It was not large,
but it was very precious. The cedar boards that lined the walls were
carved in flower patterns, and covered with gold. The floor also was
covered with gold. He divided the temple in two parts, as the
Tabernacle had been, with a rich curtain of blue and purple and
crimson. The