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运约柜进殿(A)

那时,所罗门把以色列的长老、各支派的首领和以色列的族长,都召集到耶路撒冷自己面前,要把耶和华的约柜从大卫城,就是锡安运上来。 于是,在以他念月,就是七月,在守节期的时候,以色列众人都聚集到所罗门王那里。 以色列的众长老都来到了,祭司们就把约柜抬起来。 祭司和利未人把耶和华的约柜、会幕和会幕里的一切圣器具都运上来。 所罗门王和聚集到他那里的以色列全体会众,都一同在约柜前献牛羊为祭,数目多得不可胜数,无法计算。 祭司把耶和华的约柜抬进内殿为它预备的地方,就是至圣所,放在两个基路伯的翅膀底下。 因为基路伯展开翅膀在约柜所在地的上面,遮掩约柜和抬柜的杠。 这些杠很长,在内殿前的圣所可以看见杠头,在殿外却看不见;直到今日,这些杠还在那里。 约柜里面只有两块石版,这两块石版在以色列人出埃及地以后,耶和华与他们立约的时候,摩西在何烈山放在那里的。 10 祭司从圣所里出来的时候,有云彩充满耶和华的殿, 11 因为云彩的缘故,祭司不能站立服事,因为耶和华的荣光充满了圣殿。

12 那时,所罗门说:

“耶和华曾说,他要住在密云中。

13 现在我果然为你建造了一座巍峨的殿,

作你永远的居所。”

所罗门宣告建殿的理由(B)

14 于是王把脸转过来,为全体以色列会众祝福,全体以色列会众都站着。 15 所罗门说:“耶和华以色列的 神是应当称颂的,因为他亲口对我父亲大卫应许过的,现在他亲手成全了。他说: 16 ‘自从我把我的子民以色列领出埃及的日子以来,我未曾在以色列的各支派中拣选一座城,建造殿宇,作我名的居所;但我拣选了大卫治理我的子民以色列。’ 17 我父大卫心里有意要为耶和华以色列的 神的名建殿。 18 但耶和华对我父大卫说:‘你心里有意为我的名建一座殿,你这心意是好的。 19 然而你不要建造这殿,只有你亲生的儿子,他必为我的名建造这殿。’ 20 现在耶和华已经实现了他说过的话,我已经起来继承我父大卫,坐在以色列的王位上,正如耶和华所说过的。我也已经为耶和华以色列的 神的名建造了这殿。 21 我又为约柜预备了一个地方。这约柜里有耶和华的约,就是他领我们列祖出埃及地的时候与他们所立的。”

所罗门献殿的祷告(C)

22 所罗门当着以色列的全体会众,站在耶和华的祭坛前,向天伸开双手, 23 祷告说:“耶和华以色列的 神啊,天上地下没有别的神像你;你对一心在你面前行事为人的仆人守约施慈爱。 24 你谨守了你应许过你仆人我父大卫的话。你亲口说过,也亲手作成,正如今天一样。 25 耶和华以色列的 神啊,现在求你谨守你应许你仆人我父亲大卫的话:‘只要你的子孙谨守他们的行为,像你在我面前所行的一样,就必不断有人坐以色列的王位。’ 26 以色列的 神啊,现在求你成就你应许你仆人我父大卫的话吧!

27 “ 神真的住在地上吗?看哪!天和天上的天尚且不能容纳你,何况我建造的这殿呢? 28 然而耶和华我的 神啊,求你垂顾你仆人的祷告和恳求,垂听你仆人今天在你面前所作的呼吁和祷告。 29 愿你的眼睛昼夜看顾这殿,看顾你所说‘我的名要留在那里’的地方。愿你垂听你仆人向这地方所发的祷告。 30 你仆人和你的子民以色列向这地方祷告的时候,求你垂听他们的恳求。求你在天上的居所垂听,垂听而赦免。

31 “如果有人得罪他的邻居被迫起誓,他来到这殿在你的祭坛前起誓的时候, 32 求你在天上垂听,采取行动,审判你的仆人,定恶人有罪,使他所行的,都归到他自己的头上。定义人有理,照着他的公义赏赐他。

33 “你的子民以色列若是得罪了你,以致在仇敌面前被打败,又回转归向你,承认你的名,在这殿里向你祷告恳求的时候, 34 求你在天上垂听,赦免你的子民以色列的罪,领他们返回你赐给他们列祖之地。

35 “如果他们因为得罪了你,天就闭塞不下雨;他们若是向这地方祷告,承认你的名;又因你苦待他们,就离开他们的罪, 36 求你在天上垂听,赦免你仆人和你的子民以色列的罪,指示他们当行的善道,赐雨水在你的地上,就是你赐给你子民的产业之地。

37 “如果这地有饥荒、瘟疫、旱风、霉烂、蝗虫、蚂蚱,或有仇敌把他们围困在城里,无论遭遇甚么灾祸,甚么疾病, 38 你的子民以色列,或是众人,或是个人,知道自己心里的苦痛,向这殿伸开双手所作的一切祷告、一切恳求, 39 求你在天上你的居所垂听而赦免,并且采取行动。你是知道人心的,只有你知道万人的心,求你照着各人所行的报应他, 40 好使他们在你赐给我们列祖的地上,一生一世敬畏你。

41 “至于不属于你的子民以色列的外族人,为了你的名的缘故从远地而来, 42 因为他们听到你的大名、大能的手和伸出来的膀臂,他们来向这殿祷告的时候, 43 求你在天上你的居所垂听,照着外族人向你呼求的一切而行,好使地上的万族万民都认识你的名,敬畏你,像你的子民以色列一样;又使他们知道我建造的这殿是称为你的名下的。

44 “如果你的子民出去与仇敌争战,无论你派他们到哪处,他们若是向你所拣选的这城,并向我为你的名建造的这殿祷告, 45 求你在天上垂听他们的祷告和恳求,为他们主持公道。

46 “如果你的子民得罪了你(没有不犯罪的世人),你向他们发怒,把他们交给仇敌,以致仇敌把他们掳到仇敌的地方,或是远或是近, 47 在被掳的地方,他们若是回心转意,在他们被掳去之地回转,向你祈求,说:‘我们犯了罪了;我们犯了过了,我们作了恶事。’ 48 如果他们在俘掳他们的仇敌的地方,一心一意回转归向你,又向着你赐给他们列祖的地方,向你所拣选的这城,和我为你的名建造的这殿祷告, 49 求你在天上你的居所垂听他们的祷告和恳求,为他们主持公道。 50 赦免得罪了你的子民,又赦免他们冒犯你的一切过犯,使他们在掳他们的人面前蒙怜悯。 51 因为他们是你的子民、你的产业,是你从埃及、从铁炉中领出来的。 52 愿你睁开眼睛看顾你仆人的祈求,和你的子民以色列的祈求,他们向你呼求的,愿你都垂听。 53 主耶和华啊!因为你已经把他们从地上万族万民中分别出来,作自己的产业,正如你领我们的列祖出埃及的时候,借着你的仆人摩西所应许的。”

所罗门为人民祝福

54 所罗门在耶和华的祭坛前屈膝下跪,向天伸开双手,向耶和华献完了这一切祷告和恳求以后,就起来, 55 站着,大声给以色列的全体会众祝福,说: 56 “耶和华是应当称颂的。他照着自己一切所应许的,赐安息给他的子民以色列人。借着他的仆人摩西所应许一切美好的话,一句都没有落空。 57 愿耶和华我们的 神与我们同在,像与我们的列祖同在一样。愿他不离弃我们,也不撇下我们。 58 愿他使我们的心归向他,遵行他的一切道,谨守他吩咐我们列祖的诫命、律例和典章。 59 愿我在耶和华面前恳求的这些话,昼夜都不离耶和华我们的 神,好使他天天为他仆人和他的子民以色列人主持公道, 60 使地上万族万民都知道耶和华是 神,除他以外没有别的神。 61 所以你们的心要完全归给耶和华我们的 神,遵行他的律例,谨守他的诫命,像今天一样。”

献殿礼的献祭(D)

62 王和所有与他在一起的以色列人都在耶和华面前献祭。 63 所罗门向耶和华献平安祭,牛二万二千头,羊十二万只;这样,王和以色列众人为耶和华的殿举行了奉献典礼。 64 那一天,因为耶和华面前的铜祭坛太小,容不下燔祭、素祭和平安祭牲的脂肪,王就把耶和华殿前院子当中的地方分别为圣,在那里献燔祭、素祭和平安祭牲的脂肪。 65 那时所罗门与从哈马口直到埃及小河的以色列人,都在耶和华我们的 神面前举行盛大的集会,守节七天,又七天,一共十四天。 66 到了第八天,王遣散了众人;众人都祝福过王以后,就高高兴兴地回自己的家去。他们因为看见耶和华向他仆人大卫和他子民以色列所施的一切恩惠,心中都感到欢喜。

耶和华再次向所罗门显现(E)

所罗门建造完了耶和华的殿、王宫和所罗门渴想建造的一切以后, 耶和华就第二次向所罗门显现,像先前在基遍向他显现一样。 耶和华对他说:“你在我面前所作的祷告和恳求,我都已经听见了。你建造的这殿,我已经把它分别为圣,要使我的名永远留在那里;我的眼和我的心也必常在那里。 至于你,如果你像你父亲大卫那样,存诚实和正直的心在我面前行事为人,遵行我一切所吩咐你的,谨守我的律例和典章, 我就必坚固你统治以色列的国位,直到永远,正如我应许你父亲大卫说:‘你的子孙,总不断有人坐以色列的王位。 你们或是你们的子孙,若是转去不跟从我,不遵守我赐给你们的诫命和律例,去事奉别的神,敬拜他们, 我就必把以色列人从我赐给他们的这地上剪除,甚至为自己的名分别为圣的这殿,我也必从我面前把它丢弃不顾,使以色列人在万族中成为笑谈和讥笑的对象。 这殿必成为废墟(按照《马索拉文本》,“成为废墟”应作“甚高”;现参照《叙利亚译本》翻译),经过的人都必惊讶,取笑说:耶和华为甚么向这地和这殿这样作啊? 人要回答说:是因为他们离弃了那把他们的列祖从埃及地领出来的耶和华他们的 神,去亲近别的神,敬拜他们,事奉他们,因此耶和华使这一切灾祸临到他们。’”

所罗门以二十座城回报希兰

10 所罗门用了二十年的时间来建造耶和华的殿和王宫这两座建筑物。 11 因为推罗王希兰曾照着所罗门所喜爱的,以香柏木、松木和金子帮助他,于是所罗门王把加利利地的二十座城给了希兰。 12 希兰从推罗出来,看看所罗门给他的这些城。他不喜欢这些城, 13 他说:“我的兄弟啊,这些就是你送给我的城吗?”于是他给这些城起名叫迦步勒,直到今日。 14 希兰送给所罗门约有四千公斤金子。

所罗门其他建树与功绩(F)

15 这是所罗门王征召服劳役的建筑耶和华的殿和他自己的王宫,以及米罗、耶路撒冷的城墙、夏琐、米吉多和基色的记录。 16 先前埃及王法老上来攻取基色,放火烧城,杀了住在城里的迦南人,把城送给自己的女儿、所罗门的妻子作嫁妆。 17 所以所罗门重建基色、下伯.和仑、 18 巴拉和在犹大地旷野里的他玛, 19 以及属于所罗门所有的一切积货城、屯车城、马兵城,与所罗门在耶路撒冷、黎巴嫩和他统治的各地他喜爱建造的。 20 所有亚摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人余下的人,他们不是以色列人。 21 他们的子孙仍然留在那地,以色列人不能灭绝他们。于是所罗门征召他们作苦工的奴仆,直到今日。 22 至于以色列人,所罗门却没有使他们作奴仆,而是作他的战士、臣仆、统领、军长、战车长和骑兵长。

23 所罗门有督工五百五十人,负责管理作工的人和监督工程。

24 法老的女儿从大卫城搬到所罗门为她建造的宫里以后,所罗门才重建米罗。

25 所罗门每年三次在他为耶和华建造的祭坛上献上燔祭和平安祭;又在耶和华面前的坛上烧香,这样,他完成了建殿的工程。

26 所罗门王又在以东地、红海边,靠近以禄的以旬.迦别,建造船队。 27 希兰派遣他船队的仆人,就是熟悉航海的船员,与所罗门的仆人一同航海。 28 他们到达了俄斐,从那里取得黄金约有一万四千公斤,运到所罗门王那里。

The Ark Brought to the Temple(A)

Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs(B) of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark(C) of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.(D) All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival(E) in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.(F)

When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests(G) took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting(H) and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites(I) carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing(J) so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant(K) to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,(L) and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.(M) The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed(N) the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.(O) There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets(P) that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud(Q) filled the temple of the Lord. 11 And the priests could not perform their service(R) because of the cloud, for the glory(S) of the Lord filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(T) 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell(U) forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed(V) them. 15 Then he said:

“Praise be to the Lord,(W) the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt,(X) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name(Y) might be there, but I have chosen(Z) David(AA) to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart(AB) to build a temple(AC) for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19 Nevertheless, you(AD) are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’(AE)

20 “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded(AF) David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built(AG) the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(AH)

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands(AI) toward heaven 23 and said:

Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like(AJ) you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love(AK) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

25 “Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises(AL) you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ 26 And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised(AM) your servant David my father come true.

27 “But will God really dwell(AN) on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven,(AO) cannot contain(AP) you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open(AQ) toward(AR) this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name(AS) shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray(AT) toward this place. Hear(AU) from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.(AV)

31 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath(AW) before your altar in this temple, 32 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.(AX)

33 “When your people Israel have been defeated(AY) by an enemy because they have sinned(AZ) against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,(BA) 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(BB) because your people have sinned(BC) against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach(BD) them the right way(BE) to live, and send rain(BF) on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

37 “When famine(BG) or plague(BH) comes to the land, or blight(BI) or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers,(BJ) or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands(BK) toward this temple— 39 then hear(BL) from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive(BM) and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know(BN) their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear(BO) you all the time they live in the land(BP) you gave our ancestors.

41 “As for the foreigner(BQ) who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear(BR) of your great name and your mighty hand(BS) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know(BT) your name and fear(BU) you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.(BV)

44 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray(BW) to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.(BX)

46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(BY)—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive(BZ) to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead(CA) with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;(CB) 48 and if they turn back(CC) to you with all their heart(CD) and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray(CE) to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple(CF) I have built for your Name;(CG) 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;(CH) 51 for they are your people and your inheritance,(CI) whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.(CJ)

52 “May your eyes be open(CK) to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.(CL) 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance,(CM) just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55 He stood and blessed(CN) the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest(CO) to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises(CP) 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 nor forsake(CQ) us. 58 May he turn our hearts(CR) to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples(CS) of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.(CT) 61 And may your hearts(CU) be fully committed(CV) to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

The Dedication of the Temple(CW)

62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices(CX) before the Lord. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated(CY) the temple of the Lord.

64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat(CZ) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar(DA) that stood before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(DB)

65 So Solomon observed the festival(DC) at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(DD) to the Wadi of Egypt.(DE) They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good(DF) things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

The Lord Appears to Solomon(DG)

When Solomon had finished(DH) building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the Lord appeared(DI) to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him:

“I have heard(DJ) the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name(DK) there forever. My eyes(DL) and my heart will always be there.

“As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart(DM) and uprightness, as David(DN) your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,(DO) I will establish(DP) your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail(DQ) to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

“But if you[a] or your descendants turn away(DR) from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you[b] and go off to serve other gods(DS) and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land(DT) I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.(DU) Israel will then become a byword(DV) and an object of ridicule(DW) among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All[c] who pass by will be appalled(DX) and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’(DY) People will answer,(DZ) ‘Because they have forsaken(EA) the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the Lord brought all this disaster(EB) on them.’”

Solomon’s Other Activities(EC)

10 At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built these two buildings—the temple of the Lord and the royal palace— 11 King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold(ED) he wanted. 12 But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. 13 “What kind of towns are these you have given me, my brother?” he asked. And he called them the Land of Kabul,[d](EE) a name they have to this day. 14 Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents[e] of gold.(EF)

15 Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted(EG) to build the Lord’s temple, his own palace, the terraces,[f](EH) the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor,(EI) Megiddo and Gezer.(EJ) 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter,(EK) Solomon’s wife. 17 And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon,(EL) 18 Baalath,(EM) and Tadmor[g] in the desert, within his land, 19 as well as all his store cities(EN) and the towns for his chariots(EO) and for his horses[h]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

20 There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites,(EP) Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites(EQ) (these peoples were not Israelites). 21 Solomon conscripted the descendants(ER) of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate[i](ES)—to serve as slave labor,(ET) as it is to this day. 22 But Solomon did not make slaves(EU) of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. 23 They were also the chief officials(EV) in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.

24 After Pharaoh’s daughter(EW) had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces.(EX)

25 Three(EY) times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense before the Lord along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations.

26 King Solomon also built ships(EZ) at Ezion Geber,(FA) which is near Elath(FB) in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.[j] 27 And Hiram sent his men—sailors(FC) who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. 28 They sailed to Ophir(FD) and brought back 420 talents[k] of gold,(FE) which they delivered to King Solomon.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 9:6 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. 1 Kings 9:6 The Hebrew is plural.
  3. 1 Kings 9:8 See some Septuagint manuscripts, Old Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Targum; Hebrew And though this temple is now imposing, all
  4. 1 Kings 9:13 Kabul sounds like the Hebrew for good-for-nothing.
  5. 1 Kings 9:14 That is, about 4 1/2 tons or about 4 metric tons
  6. 1 Kings 9:15 Or the Millo; also in verse 24
  7. 1 Kings 9:18 The Hebrew may also be read Tamar.
  8. 1 Kings 9:19 Or charioteers
  9. 1 Kings 9:21 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  10. 1 Kings 9:26 Or the Sea of Reeds
  11. 1 Kings 9:28 That is, about 16 tons or about 14 metric tons