God’s Promise and Warning

(A)Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and (B)the king’s house, and (C)all [a]that Solomon desired to do, that (D)the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him, “(E)I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have offered before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built, (F)by putting My name there forever, and (G)My eyes and My heart will be there [b]always. As for you, (H)if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and honesty, acting in accordance with everything that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My ordinances, then (I)I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I [c]promised to your father David, saying, ‘[d]You shall not be deprived of a man on the throne of Israel.’

(J)But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have placed before you, but you go and serve other gods and worship them, (K)then I will cut Israel off from the land which I have given them, and (L)the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will [e]expel from My sight. So (M)Israel will become a saying and an object of derision among all peoples. And this house will become (N)a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be appalled and [f]hiss and say, ‘(O)Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and this house?’ And they will say, ‘(P)Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and they [g]adopted other gods and worshiped and served them, for that reason the Lord has brought all this adversity on them.’”

Cities Given to Hiram

10 (Q)Now it came about (R)at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house 11 (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and juniper timber and gold, [h]satisfying all his desire), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 So Hiram left Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they [i]did not please him. 13 And he said, “What are these cities which you have given me, my brother?” So [j]they have been called the land of [k](S)Cabul to this day. 14 (T)And Hiram sent to the king [l]120 talents of gold.

15 Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon (U)conscripted to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the [m](V)Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, (W)Hazor, (X)Megiddo, and (Y)Gezer. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and overthrown Gezer and burned it with fire, and killed the (Z)Canaanites who lived in the city; and he had (AA)given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17 So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower (AB)Beth-horon, 18 and (AC)Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 and all the storage cities which Solomon had, that is, (AD)the cities for [n]his chariots and the cities for [o](AE)his horsemen, and [p](AF)everything that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land [q]under his rule. 20 As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel, 21 (AG)their descendants who were left after them in the land, (AH)whom the sons of Israel were unable to completely eliminate, (AI)from them Solomon conscripted (AJ)forced laborers, as they are to this day. 22 But Solomon (AK)did not make slaves of the sons of Israel; for they were men of war, his servants, his commanders, his charioteers, his chariot commanders, and his horsemen.

23 These were the [r](AL)chief officers who were in charge of Solomon’s work, 550, (AM)who ruled over the people doing the work.

24 As soon as (AN)Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her, (AO)he then built the Millo.

25 Now (AP)three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the Lord, burning incense with them on the altar which was before the Lord. So he finished the house.

26 King Solomon also built a (AQ)fleet of ships in (AR)Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the [s]Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 (AS)And Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who knew the sea, along with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to (AT)Ophir and received [t]420 talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:1 Lit Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do
  2. 1 Kings 9:3 Lit all the days
  3. 1 Kings 9:5 Lit spoke
  4. 1 Kings 9:5 Lit There shall not be cut off to you a man
  5. 1 Kings 9:7 Lit send
  6. 1 Kings 9:8 Or whistle
  7. 1 Kings 9:9 Lit laid hold of
  8. 1 Kings 9:11 Lit to all
  9. 1 Kings 9:12 Lit were not right in his sight
  10. 1 Kings 9:13 Lit he called them
  11. 1 Kings 9:13 I.e., like nothing
  12. 1 Kings 9:14 About 4.5 tons or 4 metric tons
  13. 1 Kings 9:15 I.e., terraced structure
  14. 1 Kings 9:19 Lit the
  15. 1 Kings 9:19 Lit the
  16. 1 Kings 9:19 Lit the desire of Solomon which he desired to build in Jerusalem
  17. 1 Kings 9:19 Lit of
  18. 1 Kings 9:23 Or officers of the deputies
  19. 1 Kings 9:26 Lit Sea of Reeds
  20. 1 Kings 9:28 About 16 tons or 14 metric tons

God’s Second Appearance to Solomon(A)

And (B)it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord (C)and the king’s house, and (D)all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do, that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, (E)as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him: (F)“I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built (G)to put My name there forever, (H)and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. Now if you (I)walk before Me (J)as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you (K)keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, (L)as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ (M)But if you or your sons at all [a]turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, (N)then I will [b]cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated (O)for My name I will cast out of My sight. (P)Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for (Q)this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, (R)‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this (S)calamity on them.’ ”

Solomon and Hiram Exchange Gifts

10 Now (T)it happened at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house 11 (U)(Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress and gold, as much as he desired), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. 13 So he said, “What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” (V)And he called them the land of [c]Cabul, as they are to this day. 14 Then Hiram sent the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold.

Solomon’s Additional Achievements(W)

15 And this is the reason for (X)the labor force which King Solomon raised: to build the house of the Lord, his own house, [d]the (Y)Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, (Z)Hazor, (AA)Megiddo, and (AB)Gezer. 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer and burned it with fire, (AC)had killed the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.) 17 And Solomon built Gezer, Lower (AD)Beth Horon, 18 (AE)Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 all the storage cities that Solomon had, cities for (AF)his chariots and cities for his (AG)cavalry, and whatever Solomon (AH)desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

20 (AI)All the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel— 21 that is, their descendants (AJ)who were left in the land after them, (AK)whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely—(AL)from these Solomon raised (AM)forced labor, as it is to this day. 22 But of the children of Israel Solomon (AN)made no forced laborers, because they were men of war and his servants: his officers, his captains, commanders of his chariots, and his cavalry.

23 Others were chiefs of the officials who were over Solomon’s work: (AO)five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.

24 But (AP)Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to (AQ)her house which [e]Solomon had built for her. (AR)Then he built the Millo.

25 (AS)Now three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he had built for the Lord, and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the temple.

26 (AT)King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at (AU)Ezion Geber, which is near [f]Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 (AV)Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to (AW)Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:6 turn back
  2. 1 Kings 9:7 destroy
  3. 1 Kings 9:13 Lit. Good for Nothing
  4. 1 Kings 9:15 Lit. The Landfill
  5. 1 Kings 9:24 Lit. he; cf. 2 Chr. 8:11
  6. 1 Kings 9:26 Heb. Eloth

Solomon’s Activities and Accomplishments

(A)Now it came about at the end of the twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house, that he built the cities which Huram had given [a]him, and settled the sons of Israel there.

Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath. He also built upper (B)Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, which were (C)fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars; and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for [b]his chariots and cities for [c]his horsemen, and everything that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and all the land [d]under his rule.

(D)All of the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel, that is, from their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel had not destroyed, (E)Solomon raised them as forced laborers to this day. But Solomon did not make slaves from the sons of Israel for his work; for they were men of war, his chief captains and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen. 10 These were the chief [e]officers of King Solomon, 250 who ruled over the people.

11 (F)Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because [f]the places where the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on (G)the altar of the Lord which he had built in front of the porch; 13 and (H)he did so according to the daily rule, offering them up (I)according to the commandment of Moses, for (J)the Sabbaths, (K)the new moons, and the (L)three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths.

14 Now according to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed (M)the divisions of the priests for their service, and (N)the Levites for their duties of praise and ministering before the priests according to the daily rule, and (O)the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for this is what (P)David, the man of God, had commanded. 15 And they did not deviate from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites in any matter or regarding the storehouses.

16 So all the work of Solomon was carried out [g]from the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

17 Then Solomon went to (Q)Ezion-geber and to (R)Eloth on the seashore in the land of Edom. 18 And by his servants Huram sent him ships and servants who knew the sea; and they went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir and (S)took from there [h]450 talents of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:2 Lit Solomon
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Lit the
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Lit the
  4. 2 Chronicles 8:6 Lit of
  5. 2 Chronicles 8:10 Or deputies
  6. 2 Chronicles 8:11 Lit they are
  7. 2 Chronicles 8:16 As in ancient versions; MT as far as
  8. 2 Chronicles 8:18 About 17 tons or 15 metric tons

Solomon’s Additional Achievements(A)

It (B)came to pass at the end of (C)twenty years, when Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house, that the cities which [a]Hiram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them; and he settled the children of Israel there. And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it. (D)He also built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities which he built in (E)Hamath. He built Upper Beth Horon and (F)Lower Beth Horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, also Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities and the cities of the cavalry, and all that Solomon (G)desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

(H)All the people who were left of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel— that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel did not destroy—from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make the children of Israel [b]servants for his work. Some were men of war, captains of his officers, captains of his chariots, and his cavalry. 10 And others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon: (I)two hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people.

11 Now Solomon (J)brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.”

12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built before the vestibule, 13 according to the (K)daily rate, offering according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the (L)three appointed yearly (M)feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. 14 And, according to the [c]order of David his father, he appointed the (N)divisions of the priests for their service, (O)the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the (P)gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded. 15 They did not depart from the command of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter or concerning the (Q)treasuries.

16 Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered [d]from the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed.

17 Then Solomon went to (R)Ezion Geber and [e]Elath on the seacoast, in the land of Edom. 18 (S)And Hiram sent him ships by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. They went with the servants of Solomon to (T)Ophir, and acquired four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 8:2 Heb. Huram, 2 Chr. 2:3
  2. 2 Chronicles 8:9 slaves
  3. 2 Chronicles 8:14 ordinance
  4. 2 Chronicles 8:16 So with LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT as far as
  5. 2 Chronicles 8:17 Heb. Eloth, 2 Kin. 14:22

Honor Widows

(A)Do not sharply rebuke an (B)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to (C)the younger men as brothers, to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Honor widows who are actually (D)widows; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, (E)they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is (F)acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is actually a (G)widow and has been left alone (H)has set her hope on God, and she continues in (I)requests and prayers night and day. But she who (J)indulges herself in luxury is (K)dead, even while she lives. [a](L)Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has (M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A widow is to be (N)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been (O)the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for (P)good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has (Q)shown hospitality to strangers, if she (R)has washed the [b]saints’ feet, if she has (S)assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to register younger widows, for when they feel (T)physical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married, 12 thereby incurring condemnation, because they have [c]ignored their previous pledge. 13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become (U)gossips and (V)busybodies, talking about (W)things not proper to mention. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get (X)married, have children, (Y)manage their households, and (Z)give the enemy no opportunity for reproach; 15 for some (AA)have already turned away to follow (AB)Satan. 16 If any woman who is a believer (AC)has dependent widows, she must (AD)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are actually (AE)widows.

Concerning Elders

17 (AF)The elders who (AG)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who (AH)work hard [d]at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “(AI)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “(AJ)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not accept an accusation against an (AK)elder except on the basis of (AL)two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, (AM)rebuke in the presence of all, (AN)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 21 (AO)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22 (AP)Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and [e]thereby share (AQ)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself [f]free from sin.

23 Do not go on drinking only water, but (AR)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24 The sins of some people are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins (AS)follow after. 25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and (AT)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:7 Or Keep commanding
  2. 1 Timothy 5:10 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  3. 1 Timothy 5:12 Or broken
  4. 1 Timothy 5:17 Lit in word
  5. 1 Timothy 5:22 Lit do not share
  6. 1 Timothy 5:22 Lit pure

Treatment of Church Members

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and (A)to repay their parents; for this is [a]good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers (B)night and day. But she who lives in [b]pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, (C)and especially for those of his household, (D)he has denied the faith (E)and is worse than an unbeliever.

Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

11 But [c]refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first [d]faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing [e]man or woman has widows, let them [f]relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Honor the Elders

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, (F)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, (G)“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except (H)from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the [g]elect angels that you observe these things without (I)prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor (J)share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent [h]infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are (K)clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:4 NU, M omit good and
  2. 1 Timothy 5:6 indulgence
  3. 1 Timothy 5:11 Refuse to enroll
  4. 1 Timothy 5:12 Or solemn promise
  5. 1 Timothy 5:16 NU omits man or
  6. 1 Timothy 5:16 give aid to
  7. 1 Timothy 5:21 chosen
  8. 1 Timothy 5:23 illnesses