23In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the [other] kings of the world. 24The whole world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon. 25So everyone who came brought him gifts: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year. 26Solomon built up [his army] with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed [some] in chariot cities and [others] with himself in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills. 28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price. 29Each chariot was imported from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
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