運約櫃入聖殿

所羅門把以色列的長老、各支派的首領和族長召集到耶路撒冷,準備把耶和華的約櫃從大衛城錫安運上來。

在以他念月,即七月住棚節的時候,以色列人都聚集到所羅門王那裡。 以色列的長老到齊後,祭司便抬起約櫃, 祭司和利未人將約櫃、會幕和會幕裡的一切聖器運上來。 所羅門王和聚集到他那裡的以色列全體會眾在約櫃前獻祭,獻上的牛羊多得不可勝數。 祭司把耶和華的約櫃抬進內殿,即至聖所,放在兩個基路伯天使的翅膀下面。 基路伯天使展開翅膀,遮蓋約櫃和抬約櫃的橫杠。 橫杠相當長,在至聖所前面的聖所中可以看見橫杠的末端,在聖所外面看不見。橫杠至今仍在那裡。 約櫃裡除了兩塊石版,沒有別的東西。石版是以色列人離開埃及後,耶和華在何烈山跟他們立約時,摩西放進去的。 10 祭司從聖所出來的時候,就有雲彩充滿了耶和華的殿, 11 以致祭司不能留在殿裡供職,因為那裡充滿了耶和華的榮光。 12 那時,所羅門說:

「耶和華啊,
你曾說你要住在密雲中,
13 現在,我為你建造了殿宇,
作你永遠的居所。」

14 然後,王轉身為站立在那裡的以色列民眾祝福, 15 說:「以色列的上帝耶和華當受稱頌!祂親口給我父大衛的應許,現在祂親手成就了! 16 祂曾說,『自從我把我的以色列子民帶出埃及以來,我並沒有在以色列各支派中選出一座城來建造殿宇,作為我名下的居所。我只是揀選了大衛來治理我的以色列子民。』」 17 所羅門又說:「我父大衛曾想為以色列的上帝耶和華建殿, 18 但是耶和華對我父大衛說,『你想為我建殿,這番心意是好的, 19 但你不要建,要由你的親生兒子為我建殿。』

20 「耶和華已經實現祂的應許,祂讓我繼承我父大衛的王位統治以色列。現在,我為以色列的上帝耶和華的名建了殿, 21 並在殿裡預備了放約櫃的地方。約櫃裡有耶和華的約,是祂把我們的祖先帶出埃及時跟他們立的。」

所羅門的禱告

22 所羅門當著以色列會眾的面,站在耶和華的壇前,向天伸出雙手, 23 禱告說:「以色列的上帝耶和華啊,天上地下沒有神明可以與你相比!你向盡心遵行你旨意的僕人守約,施慈愛。 24 你持守向你僕人——我父大衛的應許,你曾親口應許,你今天親手成就了。

25 「以色列的上帝耶和華啊,你曾對你僕人——我父大衛說,『你的子孫若像你一樣謹慎行事、遵行我的旨意,你的王朝就不會中斷。』求你信守這應許。 26 以色列的上帝耶和華啊,求你實現你向你僕人——我父大衛的應許。

27 「然而,上帝啊,你真的會住在人間嗎?看啊,諸天尚且不夠你居住,更何況我建造的這殿呢? 28 可是,我的上帝耶和華啊,求你垂顧你僕人的禱告和祈求,垂聽你僕人今天在你面前的呼求和祈禱。 29 願你晝夜看顧這殿——你應許立你名的地方!你僕人向著這地方禱告的時候,求你垂聽。 30 你僕人和你的以色列子民向這地方祈禱的時候,求你從你天上的居所垂聽,赦免我們的罪。

31 「如果有人得罪鄰舍,被叫到這殿中,在你的壇前起誓, 32 求你從天上垂聽,在你眾僕人當中施行審判,按他們的行為罰惡賞善。

33 「當你的以色列子民因得罪你而敗在敵人手中時,如果他們回心轉意歸向你,承認你的名,在這殿裡祈禱, 34 求你從天上垂聽,赦免他們的罪,帶領他們回到你賜給他們祖先的土地上。

35 「當你的子民得罪你,你懲罰他們,叫天不降雨時,如果他們向著這殿禱告,承認你的名,並離開罪惡, 36 求你在天上垂聽,赦免你僕人——你以色列子民的罪,教導他們走正道,降下甘霖滋潤你賜給你子民作產業的土地。

37 「如果國中有饑荒、瘟疫、旱災、黴病、蝗災、蟲災,或是城邑被敵人圍困,無論遭遇什麼災禍疾病, 38 只要你的以色列子民,或個人或全體,自知心中痛苦並向著這殿伸手禱告,無論祈求什麼, 39 求你從天上的居所垂聽,赦免他們。唯獨你能洞察人心,你必按各人的行為施行賞罰, 40 使你的子民在你賜給我們祖先的土地上終生敬畏你。

41-42 「如果有遠方的外族人聽說你的大能大力,慕名而來,向著這殿禱告, 43 求你從天上的居所垂聽,應允他們的祈求,好叫天下萬民都像你的以色列子民一樣認識你的名,敬畏你,並知道我建造的這殿屬於你的名下。

44 「你的子民奉你的命令上陣與敵人作戰,無論他們在哪裡,如果他們向著你選擇的這城和我為你建造的這殿禱告, 45 求你從天上垂聽,使他們得勝。

46 「世上沒有不犯罪的人,如果你的子民得罪你,以致你向他們發怒,讓敵人把他們擄走,不論遠近, 47 若他們在那裡回心轉意,向你懇求,承認自己犯罪作惡了; 48 若他們全心全意地歸向你,朝著你賜給他們祖先的這片土地、你選擇的這城和我為你建的這殿向你禱告, 49 求你從天上的居所垂聽他們的祈求,為他們伸張正義, 50 赦免得罪你的子民,赦免他們的一切過犯,使擄掠他們的人善待他們。 51 因為他們是你的子民、你的產業,是你從埃及那熊熊的火爐裡拯救出來的。

52 「願你垂顧僕人和你的以色列子民的祈求。無論他們什麼時候向你祈求,都求你垂聽。 53 主耶和華啊,因為你把我們祖先帶出埃及的時候,曾經藉著你的僕人摩西應許將以色列人從萬民中分別出來,作你自己的產業。」

所羅門為民祝福

54 所羅門跪在耶和華的壇前,舉著手向耶和華禱告完畢, 55 便站起來高聲為以色列全體會眾祝福: 56 「耶和華當受稱頌!祂照著應許賜平安給祂的以色列子民。祂從前藉著僕人摩西賜下的美好應許一句也沒有落空。 57 願我們的上帝耶和華與我們同在,就像與我們的祖先同在一樣。願祂永遠都不撇下我們,不丟棄我們, 58 使我們的心歸向祂,遵行祂的旨意,謹守祂吩咐我們祖先的誡命、律例和典章。 59 願我們的上帝耶和華晝夜顧念我在祂面前的這些祈求,天天護佑祂的僕人和祂的以色列子民, 60 叫地上萬民都知道,耶和華是獨一無二的上帝。 61 願你們像今天一樣專心事奉我們的上帝耶和華,遵行祂的律法,謹守祂的誡命。」

聖殿奉獻禮

62 王和以色列眾民一同向耶和華獻祭。 63 所羅門向耶和華獻上兩萬二千頭牛、十二萬隻羊作平安祭,王和以色列眾民為耶和華的殿舉行奉獻典禮。

64 那天,因為耶和華殿前的銅壇太小,容不下燔祭、素祭和平安祭祭牲的脂肪,所羅門王就把殿前院子中間分別出來作聖潔之地,在那裡獻上燔祭、素祭和平安祭祭牲的脂肪。 65 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,在我們的上帝耶和華面前守節期兩週,共十四天。 66 之後,所羅門王讓眾民各回本鄉。他們看見耶和華向祂的僕人大衛和以色列子民所施的一切恩惠,都為王祝福,並滿心歡喜地回家去了。

Solomon dedicates the temple

Then Solomon assembled Israel’s elders, all the tribal leaders, and the chiefs of Israel’s clans at Jerusalem to bring up the chest containing the Lord’s covenant from David’s City Zion. Everyone in Israel assembled before King Solomon in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim,[a] during the festival. When all of Israel’s elders had arrived, the priests picked up the chest. They brought the Lord’s chest, the meeting tent, and all the holy equipment that was in the tent. The priests and the Levites brought them up, while King Solomon and the entire Israelite assembly that had joined him before the chest sacrificed countless sheep and oxen. The priests brought the chest containing the Lord’s covenant to its designated spot beneath the wings of the winged creatures in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the most holy place. The winged creatures spread their wings over the place where the chest rested, covering the chest and its carrying poles. The carrying poles were so long that their tips could be seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, though they weren’t visible from outside. They are still there today. Nothing was in the chest except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there while at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they left Egypt. 10 When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple, 11 and the priests were unable to carry out their duties due to the cloud because the Lord’s glory filled the Lord’s temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said that he would live in a dark cloud, 13 but I have indeed built you a lofty temple as a place where you can live forever.” 14 The king turned around, and while the entire assembly of Israel was standing there, he blessed them, 15 saying, “Bless Israel’s God, the Lord, who spoke directly to my father David and now has kept his promise: 16 ‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt I haven’t selected a city from any Israelite tribe as a site for the building of a temple for my name. But now I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 17 My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God.

18 “But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It is very good that you thought to build a temple for my name. 19 Nevertheless, you yourself won’t build that temple. Instead, your very own son will build the temple for my name.’ 20 The Lord has kept his promise—I have succeeded my father David on Israel’s throne just as the Lord said, and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God. 21 There I’ve placed the chest that contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

22 Solomon stood before the Lord’s altar in front of the entire Israelite assembly and, spreading out his hands toward the sky, 23 he said:

Lord God of Israel, there’s no god like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep the covenant and show loyalty to your servants who walk before you with all their heart. 24 This is the covenant you kept with your servant David, my father, which you promised him. Today, you have fulfilled what you promised. 25 So now, Lord, Israel’s God, keep what you promised my father David, your servant, when you said to him, “You will never fail to have a successor sitting on Israel’s throne as long as your descendants carefully walk before me just as you walked before me.” 26 So now, God of Israel, may your promise to your servant David, my father, come true.

27 But how could God possibly live on earth? If heaven, even the highest heaven, can’t contain you, how can this temple that I’ve built contain you? 28 Lord my God, listen to your servant’s prayer and request, and hear the cry and prayer that your servant prays to you today. 29 Constantly watch over this temple, the place about which you said, “My name will be there,” and listen to the prayer that your servant is praying toward[b] this place. 30 Listen to the request of your servant and your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive!

31 If someone wrongs another and must make a solemn pledge asserting innocence before your altar in this temple,[c] 32 then listen from heaven, act, and decide which of your servants is right. Condemn the guilty party, repaying them for their conduct, but justify the innocent person, repaying them for their righteousness.

33 If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, but then they change their hearts and lives, give thanks to your name, and ask for mercy before you at this temple, 34 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. Return them to the land you gave their ancestors.

35 When the sky holds back its rain because Israel has sinned against you, but they then pray toward this place, give thanks to your name, and turn away from their sin because you have punished them for it,[d] 36 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the best way for them to follow, and send rain on your land that you gave to your people as an inheritance.

37 Whenever there is a famine or plague in the land; or whenever there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper; or whenever someone’s enemy attacks them in their cities;[e] or any plague or illness comes; 38 whatever prayer or petition is made by any individual or by all of your people Israel—because people will recognize their own pain and spread out their hands toward this temple— 39 then listen from heaven where you live. Forgive, act, and repay each person according to all their conduct, because you know their hearts. You alone know the human heart. 40 Do this so that they may revere you all the days they live on the land that you gave to our ancestors.

41 Listen also to the immigrant who isn’t from your people Israel but who comes from a distant country because of your reputation— 42 because they will hear of your great reputation, your great power, and your outstretched arm. When the immigrant comes and prays toward this temple, 43 then listen from heaven, where you live, and do everything the immigrant asks. Do this so that all the people of the earth may know your reputation and revere you, as your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I have built bears your name.

44 When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you may send them, and they pray to the Lord toward the city you have chosen and toward this temple that I have built for your name, 45 then listen from heaven to their prayer and request and do what is right for them.

46 When they sin against you (for there is no one who doesn’t sin) and you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to enemy territory, whether distant or nearby, 47 if they change their heart in whatever land they are held captive, changing their lives and begging for your mercy,[f] saying, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly!” 48 and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they’ve been taken captive, and pray to you, toward their land, which you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, 49 then listen to their prayer and request from your heavenly dwelling place. Do what is right for them, 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrong that they have done against you. See to it that those who captured them show them mercy. 51 These are your people and your inheritance. You brought them out of Egypt, from the iron furnace.

52 Open your eyes to your servant’s request and to the request of your people Israel. Hear them whenever they cry out to you. 53 You set them apart from all the earth’s peoples as your own inheritance, Lord, just as you promised through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.

54 As soon as Solomon finished praying and making these requests to the Lord, he got up from before the Lord’s altar, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out to heaven. 55 He stood up and blessed the whole Israelite assembly in a loud voice: 56 “May the Lord be blessed! He has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. He hasn’t neglected any part of the good promise he made through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, just as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us. 58 May he draw our hearts to him to walk in all his ways and observe his commands, his laws, and his judgments that he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words of mine that I have cried out before the Lord remain near to the Lord our God day and night so that he may do right by his servant and his people Israel for each day’s need, 60 and so that all the earth’s peoples may know that the Lord is God. There is no other God! 61 Now may you be committed to the Lord our God with all your heart by following his laws and observing his commands, just as you are doing right now.”

62 Then the king and all Israel with him sacrificed to the Lord. 63 Solomon offered well-being sacrifices to the Lord: twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep when the king and all Israel dedicated the Lord’s temple. 64 On that day the king made holy the middle of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s temple. He had to offer the entirely burned offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of well-being sacrifices there, because the bronze altar that was in the Lord’s presence was too small to contain the entirely burned offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the well-being sacrifices. 65 At that time Solomon, together with all Israel, held a celebration. It was a large assembly from Lebo-hamath to the border of Egypt. They celebrated for seven days and then for another seven days in the presence of the Lord our God: fourteen days in all. 66 On the eighth day,[g] Solomon dismissed the people. They blessed the king and went back to their tents happy and pleased about all the good that the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:2 September–October, Tishrei; Ethanim is a month from a Canaanite calendar.
  2. 1 Kings 8:29 Or for, regarding; also used in several verses that follow
  3. 1 Kings 8:31 Heb uncertain
  4. 1 Kings 8:35 Or answered them
  5. 1 Kings 8:37 LXX one of; MT in the land of their gates
  6. 1 Kings 8:47 Heb adds in the land they are held captive.
  7. 1 Kings 8:66 The second seven-day celebration (see 2 Chron 7:8-9); but contrast LXX.

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.