1 Kings 8

Chapter 8

The Ark Brought to the Temple

1 Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.

2 So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim.t
3 When all the elders of Israel arrived, the priests picked up the Ark.4 The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the LORD along with the special tentt and all the sacred items that had been in it.

5 There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!
6 Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.7 The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles.8 These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Temple’s main room—the Holy Place—but not from the outside. They are still there to this day.

9 Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai,t where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left the land of Egypt.
10 When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD.

11 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.

Solomon Praises the LORD

12 Then Solomon prayed, “O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.

13 Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!t”
14 Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing:15 “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father,

16 ‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. But I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”
17 Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.18 But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good,

19 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’
20 “And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and I now sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

21 And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven,

23 and he prayed,

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.25 “And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’26 Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.27 “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!28 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.29 May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.30 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.31 “If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple,32 then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.33 “If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.35 “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them,36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.37 “If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is—38 and if your people Israel pray about their troubles, raising their hands toward this Temple,39 then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.40 Then they will fear you as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.41 “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name,42 for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,43 then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.44 “If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the LORD by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,45 then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.46 “If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near.47 But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’48 If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name—49 then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause.50 Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them,51 for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.52 “May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you.53 For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign LORD, you told your servant Moses that you had set Israel apart from all the nations of the earth to be your own special possession.”

The Dedication of the Temple

54 When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the LORD, he stood up in front of the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven.

55 He stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire congregation of Israel:
56 “Praise the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us.58 May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.59 And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before him constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs.60 Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other.

61 And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”
62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the LORD.

63 Solomon offered to the LORD a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the LORD.

64 That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD’s Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the LORD’s presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
65 Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelterst in the presence of the LORD our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all—seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters.t

66 After the festival was over,t Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad because the LORD had been good to his servant David and to his people Israel.

1 KINGS 8

Solomon Brings the Sacred Chest //to the Temple

(2 Chronicles 5.2—6.2)

1-2  t The sacred chest had been kept on Mount Zion, also known as the city of David. But Solomon decided to have the chest moved to the temple while everyone was in Jerusalem, celebrating the Festival of Shelters during Ethanim, t the seventh month of the year.
Solomon called together the important leaders of Israel. 3-4 Then the priests and the Levites carried to the temple the sacred chest, the sacred tent, and the objects used for worship.

5 Solomon and a crowd of people stood in front of the chest and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted.
6 The priests carried the chest into the most holy place and put it under the winged creatures, 7 whose wings covered both the chest and the poles used for carrying it.

8 The poles were so long that they could be seen from right outside the most holy place, but not from anywhere else. And they stayed there from then on.

9  t The only things kept in the chest were the two flat stones Moses had put there when the [Lord] made his agreement with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, t after bringing them out of Egypt.
10  t Suddenly a cloud filled the temple as the priests were leaving the most holy place. 11 The [Lord]'s glory was in the cloud, and the light from it was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work.

12 t Then Solomon prayed:
“Our [Lord], you said that you
would live in a dark cloud.

13 Now I have built a glorious temple
where you can live forever.”

Solomon Speaks to the People

(2 Chronicles 6.3-11)

15-16 t and said:
Praise the [Lord] God of Israel! Long ago he brought his people out of Egypt. He did not choose a city from any tribe in Israel where his temple would be built, but he kept his promise to make my father David the king of Israel.
17  t So when David wanted to build a temple for the [Lord] God of Israel, 18 the [Lord] said, “It's good that you want to build a temple where I can be worshiped.

19 t But you're not the one to do it. Your son will build a temple to honor me.”
20 The [Lord] has done what he promised. I am the king of Israel like my father, and I've built a temple for the [Lord] our God.

21 I've also made a place in the temple for the sacred chest. And in that chest are the two flat stones on which is written the solemn agreement the [Lord] made with our ancestors when he led them out of Egypt.

Solomon Prays //at the Temple

(2 Chronicles 6.12-42)

23 and prayed:
[Lord] God of Israel, no other god in heaven or on earth is like you!
You never forget the agreement you made with your people, and you are loyal to anyone who faithfully obeys your teachings.

24 My father David was your servant, and today you have kept every promise you made to him.
25  t [Lord] God of Israel, you promised my father that someone from his family would always be king of Israel, if they do their best to obey you, just as he did.

26 Please keep this promise you made to your servant David.
27  t There's not enough room in all of heaven for you, [Lord] God. How could you possibly live on earth in this temple I have built? 28 But I ask you to answer my prayer. 29 t This is the temple where you have chosen to be worshiped. Please watch over it day and night and listen when I turn toward it and pray.

30 I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So whenever any of us look toward this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins.
31 Suppose someone accuses a person of a crime, and the accused has to stand in front of the altar in your temple and say, “I swear I am innocent!”

32 Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.
33  tSuppose your people Israel sin against you, and then an enemy defeats them. If they come to this temple and beg for forgiveness,

34 listen from your home in heaven. Forgive them and bring them back to the land you gave their ancestors.
35 Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning,

36 listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you gave them to be theirs forever.
37 Sometimes the crops may dry up or rot or be eaten by locustst or grasshoppers, and your people will be starving. Sometimes enemies may surround their towns, or your people will become sick with deadly diseases. 38 Listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted toward your temple. 39 You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.

40 Then your people will worship and obey you for as long as they live in the land you gave their ancestors.
41-42 Foreigners will hear about you and your mighty power, and some of them will come to live among your people Israel. If any of them pray toward this temple,

43 listen from your home in heaven and answer their prayers. Then everyone on earth will worship you, just like your people Israel, and they will know that I have built this temple to honor you.
44 Our [Lord], sometimes you will order your people to attack their enemies. Then your people will turn toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, and they will pray to you.

45 Answer their prayers from heaven and give them victory.
46 Everyone sins. But when your people sin against you, suppose you get angry enough to let their enemies drag them away to foreign countries. 47-49 Later, they may feel sorry for what they did and ask your forgiveness. Answer them when they pray toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, here in this land you gave their ancestors. From your home in heaven, listen to their sincere prayers and do what they ask. 50 Forgive your people no matter how much they have sinned against you. Make the enemies who defeated them be kind to them.

51 Remember, they are the people you chose and rescued from Egypt that was like a blazing fire to them.
52 I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So listen when any of us pray and cry out for your help.

53 When you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, you told your servant Moses to say to them, “From all people on earth, the [Lord] God has chosen you to be his very own.”

Solomon Blesses //the People

55 turned toward the people, blessed them, and said loudly:

56  t Praise the [Lord]! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.
57 The [Lord] our God was with our ancestors to help them, and I pray that he will be with us and never abandon us.

58 May the [Lord] help us obey him and follow all the laws and teachings he gave our ancestors.
59 I pray that the [Lord] our God will remember my prayer day and night. May he help everyone in Israel each day, in whatever way we need it.

60 Then every nation will know that the [Lord] is the only true God.

61 Obey the [Lord] our God and follow his commands with all your heart, just as you are doing today.

Solomon Dedicates //the Temple

(2 Chronicles 7.4-10)

64 On that day, Solomon dedicated the courtyard in front of the temple and made it acceptable for worship. He offered the sacrifices there because the bronze altar in front of the temple was too small.
65 Solomon and the huge crowd celebrated the Festival of Shelters at the temple for seven days.t There were people from as far away as the Egyptian Gorge in the south and Lebo-Hamath in the north. 66 Then on the eighth day, he sent everyone home. They said goodbye and left, very happy, because of all the good things the [Lord] had done for his servant David and his people Israel.