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Chapter 1 tells how Solomon honored God by sacrifice and prayer and how he honored Israel by increasing their strength, wealth and trade. Notice Solomon did not worship at the new Tabernacle that his father, David, built in Jerusalem. He worshipped in the old Tabernacle that Samuel had built at Gibeon years before. Gibeon was about 6 miles N-W of Jerusalem in the inheritance of Benjamin. Some historians believe that this Tabernacle was destroyed by the Philistines when they captured the Ark of the Covenant in I Chron. Chapter 17. This account indicates that it was still there. David had the Ark placed in the new Tabernacle in Jerusalem.
With the death of David and the establishment of Solomon as the King of Israel, Solomon summoned all of his army officers and judges as well as all the political and religious leaders to Gibeon. There at the old Tabernacle constructed by Moses he sacrificed 1,000 Burnt Offerings to the Lord.
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon and told him that He would give him anything that he asked for. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge in order that he might rule the people wisely. Because Solomon had not asked for personal wealth or victory over his enemies, the Lord gave him wisdom and knowledge as he had requested.
Solomon left the Tabernacle and returned to Jerusalem. Then he built-up a huge army consisting of 1,400 chariots and 12,000 cavalry to guard the cities where the chariots were kept. It was said that during Solomon's reign, silver and gold was as plentiful as rocks on the road. He sent traders to Egypt to but chariots and horses in large quantities some of which he resold to the Kings of the Hittites and the Syrians.
The "trend of the times" (New Age) is evident in the new Harpers Bible Dictionary. It creates doubt that the Tabernacle, described in Exodus, ever existed on earth. They believe that what is spoken of in the Book of Exodus is a "Heavenly Tabernacle" and that the "Tent of Meeting" spoken of was all that they had here on earth prior to the Temple.
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