运约柜入圣殿

所罗门把以色列的长老、各支派的首领和族长召集到耶路撒冷,准备把耶和华的约柜从大卫城锡安运上来。

在以他念月,即七月住棚节的时候,以色列人都聚集到所罗门王那里。 以色列的长老到齐后,祭司便抬起约柜, 祭司和利未人将约柜、会幕和会幕里的一切圣器运上来。 所罗门王和聚集到他那里的以色列全体会众在约柜前献祭,献上的牛羊多得不可胜数。 祭司把耶和华的约柜抬进内殿,即至圣所,放在两个基路伯天使的翅膀下面。 基路伯天使展开翅膀,遮盖约柜和抬约柜的横杠。 横杠相当长,在至圣所前面的圣所中可以看见横杠的末端,在圣所外面看不见。横杠至今仍在那里。 约柜里除了两块石版,没有别的东西。石版是以色列人离开埃及后,耶和华在何烈山跟他们立约时,摩西放进去的。 10 祭司从圣所出来的时候,就有云彩充满了耶和华的殿, 11 以致祭司不能留在殿里供职,因为那里充满了耶和华的荣光。 12 那时,所罗门说:

“耶和华啊,
你曾说你要住在密云中,
13 现在,我为你建造了殿宇,
作你永远的居所。”

14 然后,王转身为站立在那里的以色列民众祝福, 15 说:“以色列的上帝耶和华当受称颂!祂亲口给我父大卫的应许,现在祂亲手成就了! 16 祂曾说,‘自从我把我的以色列子民带出埃及以来,我并没有在以色列各支派中选出一座城来建造殿宇,作为我名下的居所。我只是拣选了大卫来治理我的以色列子民。’” 17 所罗门又说:“我父大卫曾想为以色列的上帝耶和华建殿, 18 但是耶和华对我父大卫说,‘你想为我建殿,这番心意是好的, 19 但你不要建,要由你的亲生儿子为我建殿。’

20 “耶和华已经实现祂的应许,祂让我继承我父大卫的王位统治以色列。现在,我为以色列的上帝耶和华的名建了殿, 21 并在殿里预备了放约柜的地方。约柜里有耶和华的约,是祂把我们的祖先带出埃及时跟他们立的。”

所罗门的祷告

22 所罗门当着以色列会众的面,站在耶和华的坛前,向天伸出双手, 23 祷告说:“以色列的上帝耶和华啊,天上地下没有神明可以与你相比!你向尽心遵行你旨意的仆人守约,施慈爱。 24 你持守向你仆人——我父大卫的应许,你曾亲口应许,你今天亲手成就了。

25 “以色列的上帝耶和华啊,你曾对你仆人——我父大卫说,‘你的子孙若像你一样谨慎行事、遵行我的旨意,你的王朝就不会中断。’求你信守这应许。 26 以色列的上帝耶和华啊,求你实现你向你仆人——我父大卫的应许。

27 “然而,上帝啊,你真的会住在人间吗?看啊,诸天尚且不够你居住,更何况我建造的这殿呢? 28 可是,我的上帝耶和华啊,求你垂顾你仆人的祷告和祈求,垂听你仆人今天在你面前的呼求和祈祷。 29 愿你昼夜看顾这殿——你应许立你名的地方!你仆人向着这地方祷告的时候,求你垂听。 30 你仆人和你的以色列子民向这地方祈祷的时候,求你从你天上的居所垂听,赦免我们的罪。

31 “如果有人得罪邻舍,被叫到这殿中,在你的坛前起誓, 32 求你从天上垂听,在你众仆人当中施行审判,按他们的行为罚恶赏善。

33 “当你的以色列子民因得罪你而败在敌人手中时,如果他们回心转意归向你,承认你的名,在这殿里祈祷, 34 求你从天上垂听,赦免他们的罪,带领他们回到你赐给他们祖先的土地上。

35 “当你的子民得罪你,你惩罚他们,叫天不降雨时,如果他们向着这殿祷告,承认你的名,并离开罪恶, 36 求你在天上垂听,赦免你仆人——你以色列子民的罪,教导他们走正道,降下甘霖滋润你赐给你子民作产业的土地。

37 “如果国中有饥荒、瘟疫、旱灾、霉病、蝗灾、虫灾,或是城邑被敌人围困,无论遭遇什么灾祸疾病, 38 只要你的以色列子民,或个人或全体,自知心中痛苦并向着这殿伸手祷告,无论祈求什么, 39 求你从天上的居所垂听,赦免他们。唯独你能洞察人心,你必按各人的行为施行赏罚, 40 使你的子民在你赐给我们祖先的土地上终生敬畏你。

41-42 “如果有远方的外族人听说你的大能大力,慕名而来,向着这殿祷告, 43 求你从天上的居所垂听,应允他们的祈求,好叫天下万民都像你的以色列子民一样认识你的名,敬畏你,并知道我建造的这殿属于你的名下。

44 “你的子民奉你的命令上阵与敌人作战,无论他们在哪里,如果他们向着你选择的这城和我为你建造的这殿祷告, 45 求你从天上垂听,使他们得胜。

46 “世上没有不犯罪的人,如果你的子民得罪你,以致你向他们发怒,让敌人把他们掳走,不论远近, 47 若他们在那里回心转意,向你恳求,承认自己犯罪作恶了; 48 若他们全心全意地归向你,朝着你赐给他们祖先的这片土地、你选择的这城和我为你建的这殿向你祷告, 49 求你从天上的居所垂听他们的祈求,为他们伸张正义, 50 赦免得罪你的子民,赦免他们的一切过犯,使掳掠他们的人善待他们。 51 因为他们是你的子民、你的产业,是你从埃及那熊熊的火炉里拯救出来的。

52 “愿你垂顾仆人和你的以色列子民的祈求。无论他们什么时候向你祈求,都求你垂听。 53 主耶和华啊,因为你把我们祖先带出埃及的时候,曾经借着你的仆人摩西应许将以色列人从万民中分别出来,作你自己的产业。”

所罗门为民祝福

54 所罗门跪在耶和华的坛前,举着手向耶和华祷告完毕, 55 便站起来高声为以色列全体会众祝福: 56 “耶和华当受称颂!祂照着应许赐平安给祂的以色列子民。祂从前借着仆人摩西赐下的美好应许一句也没有落空。 57 愿我们的上帝耶和华与我们同在,就像与我们的祖先同在一样。愿祂永远都不撇下我们,不丢弃我们, 58 使我们的心归向祂,遵行祂的旨意,谨守祂吩咐我们祖先的诫命、律例和典章。 59 愿我们的上帝耶和华昼夜顾念我在祂面前的这些祈求,天天护佑祂的仆人和祂的以色列子民, 60 叫地上万民都知道,耶和华是独一无二的上帝。 61 愿你们像今天一样专心事奉我们的上帝耶和华,遵行祂的律法,谨守祂的诫命。”

圣殿奉献礼

62 王和以色列众民一同向耶和华献祭。 63 所罗门向耶和华献上两万二千头牛、十二万只羊作平安祭,王和以色列众民为耶和华的殿举行奉献典礼。

64 那天,因为耶和华殿前的铜坛太小,容不下燔祭、素祭和平安祭祭牲的脂肪,所罗门王就把殿前院子中间分别出来作圣洁之地,在那里献上燔祭、素祭和平安祭祭牲的脂肪。 65 所罗门和从哈马口直至埃及小河而来的全体以色列人聚成一大群会众,在我们的上帝耶和华面前守节期两周,共十四天。 66 之后,所罗门王让众民各回本乡。他们看见耶和华向祂的仆人大卫和以色列子民所施的一切恩惠,都为王祝福,并满心欢喜地回家去了。

Solomon’s Dedication of the Temple

At that time Solomon assembled the elders(A) of Israel,(B) all the tribal heads(C) and the ancestral leaders of the Israelites before him at Jerusalem in order to bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David,(D) that is Zion.(E) So all the men of Israel were assembled in the presence of King Solomon in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim,[a] at the festival.(F)

All the elders(G) of Israel came, and the priests(H) picked up the ark.(I) The priests and the Levites brought the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting,(J) and the holy utensils that were in the tent.(K) King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had gathered around him and were with him in front of the ark, were sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered, because there were so many.(L) The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place(M) beneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim were spreading their wings over[b] the place of the ark, so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles from above.(N) The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen from outside the sanctuary; they are there to this day.(O) Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb,[c](P) where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.(Q)

10 When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple,(R) 11 and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory(S) of the Lord filled the temple.

12 Then Solomon said:

The Lord said that He would dwell in thick darkness.(T)
13 I have indeed built an exalted temple(U) for You,
a place for Your dwelling forever.(V)

14 The king turned around and blessed(W) the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing. 15 He said:

May the Lord God of Israel be praised!
He spoke directly to my father David,
and He has fulfilled the promise(X) by His power.
He said,
16 “Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt,(Y)
I have not chosen a city to build a temple in
among any of the tribes of Israel,
so that My name(Z) would be there.
But I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.”(AA)
17 It was in the desire of my father David
to build a temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.(AB)
18 But the Lord said to my father David,
“Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name,
you have done well to have this desire.(AC)
19 Yet you are not the one to build it;
instead, your son, your own offspring,
will build it for My name.”(AD)
20 The Lord has fulfilled what He promised.
I have taken the place of my father David,(AE)
and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised.(AF)
I have built the temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
21 I have provided a place there for the ark,
where the Lord’s covenant is
that He made with our ancestors
when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.(AG)

Solomon’s Prayer

22 Then Solomon stood(AH) before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.(AI) 23 He said:

Lord God of Israel,
there is no God like You
in heaven above or on earth below,(AJ)
keeping the gracious covenant
with Your servants who walk before You
with their whole heart.(AK)
24 You have kept what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.
You spoke directly to him
and You fulfilled Your promise by Your power
as it is today.(AL)
25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel,
keep what You promised
to Your servant, my father David:
You will never fail to have a man
to sit before Me on the throne of Israel,(AM)
if only your sons guard their walk before Me
as you have walked before Me.(AN)
26 Now Lord[d] God of Israel,
please confirm what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.(AO)

27 But will God indeed live on earth?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You,
much less this temple I have built.(AP)
28 Listen[e] to Your servant’s prayer and his petition,(AQ)
Lord my God,
so that You may hear the cry and the prayer
that Your servant prays before You today,
29 so that Your eyes may watch over this temple night and day,(AR)
toward the place where You said:
My name will be there,(AS)
and so that You may hear the prayer
that Your servant prays toward this place.
30 Hear the petition of Your servant(AT)
and Your people Israel,
which they pray toward this place.(AU)
May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven.
May You hear and forgive.

31 When a man sins against his neighbor
and is forced to take an oath,[f](AV)
and he comes to take an oath
before Your altar in this temple,
32 may You hear in heaven and act.
May You judge Your servants,
condemning the wicked man by bringing
what he has done on his own head
and providing justice for the righteous
by rewarding him according to his righteousness.(AW)

33 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,
because they have sinned against You,(AX)
and they return to You and praise Your name,
and they pray and plead with You
for mercy in this temple,
34 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your people Israel.
May You restore them to the land
You gave their ancestors.(AY)

35 When the skies are shut and there is no rain,
because they have sinned against You,(AZ)
and they pray toward this place
and praise Your name,
and they turn from their sins
because You are afflicting them,(BA)
36 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your servants
and Your people Israel,
so that You may teach them the good way
they should walk in.(BB)
May You send rain on Your land
that You gave Your people for an inheritance.(BC)

37 When there is famine on the earth,
when there is pestilence,
when there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper,(BD)
when their enemy besieges them
in the region of their fortified cities,[g]
when there is any plague or illness,
38 whatever prayer or petition
anyone from Your people Israel might have—
each man knowing his own afflictions[h](BE)
and spreading out his hands toward this temple(BF)
39 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and may You forgive, act, and repay the man,
according to all his ways, since You know his heart,
for You alone know every human heart,(BG)
40 so that they may fear(BH) You
all the days they live on the land(BI)
You gave our ancestors.

41 Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel
but has come from a distant land(BJ)
because of Your name—
42 for they will hear of Your great name,
mighty hand,(BK) and outstretched arm,
and will come(BL) and pray toward this temple—
43 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and do according to all the foreigner asks You for.
Then all the people on earth will know(BM) Your name,
to fear You as Your people Israel do
and know that this temple I have built
is called by Your name.

44 When Your people go out to fight against their enemies,[i]
wherever You send them,
and they pray to Yahweh
in the direction of the city You have chosen(BN)
and the temple I have built for Your name,
45 may You hear their prayer and petition in heaven
and uphold their cause.(BO)

46 When they sin against You—
for there is no one who does not sin(BP)
and You are angry with them
and hand them over to the enemy,
and their captors deport them to the enemy’s country(BQ)
whether distant or nearby—
47 and when they come to their senses[j]
in the land where they were deported
and repent and petition You in their captors’ land:
“We have sinned and done wrong;
we have been wicked,”(BR)
48 and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart
in the land of their enemies who took them captive,(BS)
and when they pray to You in the direction of their land
that You gave their ancestors,
the city You have chosen,(BT)
and the temple I have built for Your name,
49 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
their prayer and petition and uphold their cause.
50 May You forgive Your people
who sinned against You
and all their rebellions[k] against You,
and may You give them compassion
in the eyes of their captors,
so that they may be compassionate to them.(BU)
51 For they are Your people and Your inheritance;(BV)
You brought them out of Egypt,
out of the middle of an iron furnace.(BW)
52 May Your eyes be open to Your servant’s petition
and to the petition of Your people Israel,
listening to them whenever they call to You.
53 For You, Lord God, have set them apart as Your inheritance
from all the people on earth,
as You spoke through Your servant Moses
when You brought their ancestors out of Egypt.(BX)

Solomon’s Blessing

54 When Solomon finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the Lord, he got up from kneeling before the altar of the Lord, with his hands spread out toward heaven,(BY) 55 and he stood and blessed the whole congregation of Israel(BZ) with a loud voice: 56 “May the Lord be praised! He has given rest(CA) to His people Israel according to all He has said. Not one of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses has failed.(CB) 57 May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our ancestors. May He not abandon us or leave us(CC) 58 so that He causes us to be devoted[l] to Him,(CD) to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, which He commanded our ancestors. 59 May my words I have made my petition with before the Lord be near the Lord our God day and night, so that He may uphold His servant’s cause and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires,(CE) 60 and so that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh is God. There is no other!(CF) 61 Let your heart be completely devoted to the Lord our God(CG) to walk in His statutes and to keep His commands, as it is today.”

62 The king and all Israel with him were offering sacrifices in the Lord’s presence. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep.(CH) In this manner the king and all the Israelites dedicated(CI) the Lord’s temple.(CJ)

64 On the same day, the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the Lord’s temple because that was where he offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the fellowship offerings(CK) since the bronze altar before the Lord was too small to accommodate the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(CL)

65 Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath[m](CM) to the Brook of Egypt(CN)—observed the festival at that time(CO) in the presence of the Lord our God, seven days, and seven more days—14 days.[n](CP) 66 On the fifteenth day[o] he sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home to their tents rejoicing and with joyful hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had done for His servant David and for His people Israel.(CQ)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:2 = September–October
  2. 1 Kings 8:7 LXX; MT reads toward
  3. 1 Kings 8:9 = Sinai
  4. 1 Kings 8:26 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Ch 6:16; other Hb mss omit Lord
  5. 1 Kings 8:28 Lit Turn
  6. 1 Kings 8:31 Lit and he lifts a curse against him to curse him
  7. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit besieges him in the land of his gates
  8. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit knowing in his heart of a plague
  9. 1 Kings 8:44 Some Hb mss, some ancient versions, 2Ch 6:34; other Hb mss read enemy
  10. 1 Kings 8:47 Lit they return to their heart
  11. 1 Kings 8:50 Lit rebellions that they have rebelled
  12. 1 Kings 8:58 Lit causes our hearts to be inclined
  13. 1 Kings 8:65 Or from Lebo-hamath
  14. 1 Kings 8:65 Temple dedication lasted seven days, and the Festival of Tabernacles lasted seven days.
  15. 1 Kings 8:66 Lit the eighth day