聖殿奉獻禮

所羅門禱告完畢,就有火從天上降下,燒盡了燔祭和其他祭物。殿裡充滿了耶和華的榮光, 以致祭司不能進殿。 全體以色列人看見有火降下,又看見耶和華的榮光停在殿上,便俯伏敬拜,稱謝耶和華說:

「耶和華是美善的,
祂的慈愛永遠長存。」

所羅門王和全體民眾一同向耶和華獻祭。 所羅門王獻上兩萬二千頭牛和十二萬隻羊,王和全體民眾為上帝的殿舉行奉獻典禮。 祭司在自己的崗位上侍立,利未人奏著大衛王為頌讚耶和華而為他們製造的樂器,歌頌說:「祂的慈愛永遠長存。」他們對面的祭司也吹響號角,全體以色列人都肅立。

所羅門因所造的銅壇太小,容不下燔祭、素祭和脂肪,就把耶和華殿前院子中間的地方分別出來,作聖潔之地,在那裡獻上燔祭和平安祭祭牲的脂肪。

所羅門和從哈馬口直至埃及小河而來的全體以色列人聚成一大群會眾,一起守節期七天。 第八天舉行莊嚴的聚會,又舉行七天獻壇禮。之後,他們又歡慶七天。 10 七月二十三日,所羅門王讓民眾各回本鄉。他們看見耶和華向大衛、所羅門和祂的以色列子民所施的恩惠,就滿心歡喜地回家去了。

耶和華向所羅門顯現

11 所羅門建完了耶和華的殿和他自己的王宮,他按計劃完成了耶和華殿裡和他自己宮裡的一切工作。 12 耶和華在夜間向所羅門顯現,對他說:「我已聽見你的禱告,也已選擇這殿作為給我獻祭的地方。 13 若我使天不下雨,使蝗蟲吞吃地上的出產,或叫瘟疫在我民中流行, 14 而這些被稱為我名下的子民若謙卑下來,祈禱、尋求我的面,離開惡道,我必從天上垂聽,赦免他們的罪,醫治他們的土地。 15 現在,我會睜眼看、留心聽在這殿裡獻上的禱告。 16 我已選擇這殿,使之聖潔,永遠歸在我的名下,我的眼和我的心必常在那裡。 17 如果你像你父親大衛一樣事奉我,遵行我一切的吩咐,謹守我的律例和典章, 18 我必使你的王位穩固,正如我曾與你父親大衛立約,說,『你的子孫必永遠統治以色列。』

19 「然而,如果你們背棄我指示你們的律例和誡命,去供奉、祭拜別的神明, 20 我必把你們從我賜給你們的土地上剷除,並離棄我為自己的名而使之聖潔的這殿,使這殿在萬民中成為笑柄、被人嘲諷。 21 這殿雖然宏偉,但將來經過的人必驚訝地問,『耶和華為什麼這樣對待這地方和這殿呢?』 22 人們會回答,『因為他們背棄曾領他們祖先離開埃及的耶和華——他們的上帝,去追隨、祭拜、供奉別的神明,所以耶和華把這一切災禍降在他們身上。』」

耶和华的荣光充满了殿

所罗门祷告完了,有火从天上降下来,烧尽了燔祭和其他的祭品;耶和华的荣光充满了那殿。 因为耶和华的荣光充满了耶和华的殿,祭司都不能进入耶和华的殿。 那火降下,耶和华的荣光停在殿上的时候,以色列众人都看见;于是他们在铺石地跪下,俯伏在地,敬拜称颂耶和华说:“耶和华是良善的,他的慈爱永远长存。”

所罗门和人民一起献祭守节(A)

王和全体人民都在耶和华面前献祭。 所罗门王献上了二万二千头牛、十二万只羊为祭。这样,王和全体人民为 神的殿举行了奉献礼。 祭司都站在自己的岗位上;利未人也站着,拿着大卫王所做的耶和华的乐器,称颂耶和华,因为他的慈爱永远长存;大卫借着他们赞美耶和华的时候,祭司在众人前面吹号;以色列众人都站着。 所罗门把耶和华殿前院子当中的地方分别为圣,在那里献上了燔祭和平安祭的脂肪,因为所罗门所做的铜坛容不下所有的燔祭、素祭和脂肪。

那时,所罗门和全体以色列人,就是来自哈马口,直到埃及小河的一群极大的会众,一起举行了七天的节期。 第八天举行了严肃会,又举行献坛礼七天,举行了七天的节期。 10 七月二十三日,王遣散众民回家;他们因看见耶和华向大卫、所罗门和他的子民以色列所施的恩惠,心里都欢喜快乐。

耶和华的警告与应许(B)

11 这样,所罗门完成了耶和华的殿宇和王宫。在耶和华的殿里或所罗门的宫中,所罗门心里要作的,都顺利地作成了。 12 夜间,耶和华向所罗门显现,对他说:“我已经听了你的祷告,也为我自己选择了这地方作献祭的殿。 13 如果我使天闭塞不下雨,或吩咐蝗虫吞吃这地的土产,或差遣瘟疫到我的子民中间来; 14 这称为我名下的子民,若是谦卑、祷告、寻求我的面,转离他们的恶行,我必从天上垂听,赦免他们的罪,医治他们的地。 15 现在我的眼睛必张开,我的耳朵必垂听在这地所发的祷告。 16 现在我拣选了这殿,把它分别为圣,使我的名永远在这殿中;我的眼和我的心也常常留在那里。 17 至于你,你若是在我面前行事为人像你的父亲大卫所行的那样,遵行我吩咐你的一切话,谨守我的律例和典章, 18 我就必巩固你的国位,好象我和你父亲大卫所立的约说:‘你的子孙必不会断人作君王统治以色列。’

19 “可是,如果你们转离我,丢弃我在你们面前颁布的律例和诫命,去事奉和敬拜别的神, 20 我就必把以色列人从我赐给他们的土地上拔出来,并且我为自己的名分别为圣的这殿,我也必从我面前舍弃,使这殿在万民中成为笑谈和讥笑的对象。 21 这殿虽然高大,但将来经过的人,都必惊讶,说:‘耶和华为甚么这样对待这地和这殿呢?’ 22 人必回答说:‘是因为这地的人离弃了耶和华他们列祖的 神,就是领他们从埃及地出来的 神,去亲近别的神,敬拜和事奉他们;所以,耶和华使这一切灾祸临到他们。’”

And at Solomon's finishing to pray, then the fire hath come down from the heavens, and consumeth the burnt-offering and the sacrifices, and the honour of Jehovah hath filled the house,

and the priests have not been able to go in unto the house of Jehovah, because the honour of Jehovah hath filled the house of Jehovah.

And all the sons of Israel are looking on the descending of the fire, and the honour of Jehovah on the house, and they bow -- faces to the earth -- on the pavement, and do obeisance, and give thanks to Jehovah, for good, for to the age [is] His kindness.

And the king and all the people are sacrificing a sacrifice before Jehovah,

and king Solomon sacrificeth the sacrifice of the herd, twenty and two thousand, and of the flock, a hundred and twenty thousand, and the king and all the people dedicate the house of God.

And the priests over their charges are standing, and the Levites with instruments of the song of Jehovah -- that David the king made, to give thanks to Jehovah, for to the age [is] His kindness, in David's praising by their hand -- and the priests are blowing trumpets over-against them, and all Israel are standing.

And Solomon sanctifieth the middle of the court that [is] before the house of Jehovah, for he hath made there the burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings: for the altar of brass that Solomon made hath not been able to contain the burnt-offering, and the present, and the fat.

And solomon maketh the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him -- a very great assembly -- from the entering in of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt.

And they make on the eighth day a restraint, because the dedication of the altar they have made seven days, and the feast seven days.

10 And on the twenty and third day of the seventh month he hath sent the people to their tents, rejoicing, and glad in heart, for the goodness that Jehovah hath done to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people.

11 And Solomon finisheth the house of Jehovah, and the house of the king; and all that hath come on the heart of Solomon to do in the house of Jehovah, and in his own house, he hath caused to prosper.

12 And Jehovah appeareth unto Solomon by night, and saith to him, `I have heard thy prayer, and have fixed on this place to Me for a house of sacrifice.

13 If I restrain the heavens and there is no rain, and if I lay charge on the locust to consume the land, and if I send pestilence among My people --

14 and My people on whom My name is called be humbled, and pray, and seek My face, and turn back from their evil ways, then I -- I hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.

15 `Now, Mine eyes are open, and Mine ears attentive, to the prayer of this place;

16 and now, I have chosen and sanctified this house for My name being there unto the age; yea, Mine eyes and My heart have been there all the days.

17 `And thou, if thou dost walk before Me as David thy father walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and My statutes and My judgments dost keep --

18 then I have established the throne of thy kingdom, as I covenanted with David thy father, saying, There is not cut off a man to thee -- a ruler in Israel;

19 and if ye turn back -- ye -- and have forsaken My statutes, and My commands, that I have placed before you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them -- then I have plucked them from off My ground that I have given to them,

20 and this house that I have sanctified for My name, I cast from before My face, and make it for a proverb, and for a byword, among all the peoples.

21 `And this house that hath been high, to every one passing by it, is an astonishment, and he hath said, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus to this land, and to this house?

22 and they have said, Because that they have forsaken Jehovah, God of their fathers, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, and lay hold on other gods, and bow themselves to them, and serve them, therefore He hath brought upon them all this evil.'