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1 Kings 8
New American Standard Bible

The Ark Brought into the Temple

8 (A)Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all (B)the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, (C)to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from (D)the city of David, that is, Zion. 2 So all the men of Israel assembled themselves before King Solomon at (E)the feast, in the month Ethanim, that is, the seventh month. 3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and (F)the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the Lord, (G)the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were gathered together to him, (H)were with him before the ark, sacrificing [a]so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then (I)the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord (J)to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Most Holy Place, (K)under the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its carrying poles from above. 8 But (L)the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day. 9 (M)There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where (N)the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And it happened that when the priests came from the holy place, (O)the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

Solomon Addresses the People

12 (P)Then Solomon said,

“The Lord has said that (Q)He would dwell in the thick darkness.
13 (R)I have truly built You a lofty house,
(S)A place for Your dwelling forever.”

14 Then the king [b]turned around and (T)blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “(U)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, (V)who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and fulfilled it with His hands, saying, 16 ‘(W)Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house so that (X)My name would be there, but (Y)I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 (Z)Now it was [c]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was [d]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [e]in your heart. 19 (AA)Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who [f]will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’ 20 Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for (AB)I have risen in place of my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord [g]promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have set a place for the ark, (AC)in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

The Prayer of Dedication

22 Then (AD)Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and he (AE)spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 And he said, “Lord, God of Israel, (AF)there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, (AG)keeping the covenant and showing faithfulness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 You who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You [h]promised him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Now then, Lord, God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have [i]promised him, saying, ‘[j](AH)You shall not be deprived of a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful about their way, to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 Now then, God of Israel, let Your words, please, be confirmed, (AI)which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, (AJ)heaven and the [k]highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the (AK)prayer of Your servant and to his plea, Lord, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today, 29 (AL)so that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward (AM)the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant will pray toward this place. 30 And (AN)listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, (AO)when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and (AP)forgive!

31 “(AQ)If a person sins against his neighbor and is compelled to take an oath of innocence, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, (AR)condemning the wicked by [l]bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 “(AS)When Your people Israel are [m]defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, (AT)if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and implore Your [n]favor in this house, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.

35 “(AU)When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel; (AV)indeed, teach them the good way in which they are to walk. And (AW)provide rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “(AX)If there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is [o]blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy harasses them in the land of their [p]cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer or plea [q]is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, [r]each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his [s]hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive and act, and give to each in accordance with all his ways, (AY)whose heart You know—for (AZ)You alone know the hearts of all [t]mankind— 40 so that they will [u]fear You all the days that they live on the [v]land which You have given to our fathers.

41 “Also regarding the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country on account of Your name 42 (for they will hear of Your great name (BA)and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and act in accordance with all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order (BB)that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to [w]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [x]this house which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people go out to battle against [y]their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and (BC)they pray to the Lord [z]toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their cause.

46 “When they sin against You (for (BD)there is no person who does not sin) and You are angry with them and turn them over to an enemy, so that [aa]they take them away captive (BE)to the land of the enemy, distant or near; 47 (BF)if they [ab]take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and implore Your [ac]favor in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘(BG)We have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 (BH)if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and (BI)pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their pleading in heaven, Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their wrongdoings which they have committed against You, and (BJ)make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, so that they will have compassion on them 51 ((BK)for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought out of Egypt, (BL)from the midst of the iron furnace), 52 (BM)so that Your eyes may be open to the pleading of Your servant and to the pleading of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You have singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, (BN)just as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord [ad]God.”

Solomon’s Benediction

54 (BO)When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and plea to the Lord, (BP)he stood up from the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his [ae]hands spread toward heaven. 55 And he stood and (BQ)blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel (BR)in accordance with everything that He [af]promised; (BS)not one word has [ag]failed of all His good [ah]promise, which He [ai]promised through Moses His servant. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; (BT)may He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 so that (BU)He may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have implored the [aj]favor of the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, [ak]as each day requires, 60 so (BV)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (BW)the Lord is God; there is no one else. 61 (BX)Your hearts therefore shall be [al]wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

Dedicatory Sacrifices

62 (BY)Then the king and all Israel with him (BZ)offered sacrifice before the Lord. 63 And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand oxen and 120,000 sheep. (CA)So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house of the Lord, because there he [am]offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings; for (CB)the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.

65 So (CC)Solomon held the [an]feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly (CD)from the entrance of Hamath (CE)to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, that is, fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had [ao]shown to David His servant, and to Israel His people.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:5 Lit sheep and oxen...numbered for multitude
  2. 1 Kings 8:14 Lit turned his face about
  3. 1 Kings 8:17 Lit with
  4. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit with
  5. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit with
  6. 1 Kings 8:19 Lit will come forth from your loins
  7. 1 Kings 8:20 Lit spoke
  8. 1 Kings 8:24 Lit spoken to
  9. 1 Kings 8:25 Lit spoken to
  10. 1 Kings 8:25 Lit There shall not be cut off to you a man from before Me
  11. 1 Kings 8:27 Lit heaven of heavens
  12. 1 Kings 8:32 Lit giving
  13. 1 Kings 8:33 Lit struck
  14. 1 Kings 8:33 Or compassion
  15. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit scorching
  16. 1 Kings 8:37 Lit gates
  17. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit takes place
  18. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit who know each
  19. 1 Kings 8:38 Lit palms
  20. 1 Kings 8:39 Lit the sons of mankind
  21. 1 Kings 8:40 Or revere
  22. 1 Kings 8:40 Lit face of the land
  23. 1 Kings 8:43 Or revere
  24. 1 Kings 8:43 Lit Your name is called upon this house which I have built
  25. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit his
  26. 1 Kings 8:44 Lit in the way of
  27. 1 Kings 8:46 Lit their captors take them captive
  28. 1 Kings 8:47 Lit return to their heart
  29. 1 Kings 8:47 Or compassion
  30. 1 Kings 8:53 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  31. 1 Kings 8:54 Lit palms
  32. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  33. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit fallen
  34. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit word
  35. 1 Kings 8:56 Lit spoke
  36. 1 Kings 8:59 Or compassion
  37. 1 Kings 8:59 Lit the matter of a day in its day
  38. 1 Kings 8:61 Lit complete with
  39. 1 Kings 8:64 Lit made
  40. 1 Kings 8:65 I.e., of Booths
  41. 1 Kings 8:66 Lit done
Close VOICE

1 Kings 8
The Voice

The construction of the temple is the most important accomplishment of Solomon’s reign. This building both establishes and symbolizes Israel’s connection to God. Once the covenant chest is placed there, it is literally the meeting point between them, and the sheer opulence of the temple reveals the priorities of the government. So much of Solomon’s wealth is put into this building instead of being used to build an empire, as his neighbors would do, because he trusts God with the fate of Israel. Nothing demonstrates that more clearly than the storage of the nation’s weapons in the temple. God is their guardian in every way.

8 To transport the Eternal’s covenant chest out of Zion, the city of David, Solomon assembled all the most important people of Israel before him in Jerusalem: the elders and all the heads of the Israelite tribes—the chiefs of the patriarchs’ families. 2 Every man in Israel gathered with King Solomon at the great feast during the 7th month (which is called Ethanim), 11 months after the temple was finished. 3 Israel’s elders all attended as well, and the priests transported the covenant chest. 4 The Levites who were priests transported the chest of the Eternal One, the congregation tent, and all the sacred objects that were inside the tent.

5 King Solomon stood before the covenant chest with the entire community of Israel who had gathered with him, and they sacrificed countless and innumerable sheep and oxen.

6 The Levitical priests transported the Eternal’s covenant chest to its rightful place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, which was the most holy place within the temple. They set the covenant chest down beneath the wings of the guardian creatures. 7 The creatures’ wings were spread above the chest, forming a sort of canopy over the chest and its carrying rods. 8 The carrying rods were long enough that they poked through the curtains and could be seen from the sacred place in front of the inner sanctuary, but a person could not see them from outside. The carrying rods are still there today.

9 The only things inside the covenant chest were the two stone tablets Moses placed there in Horeb, where the Eternal One entered into a covenant with the Israelites after they had departed from Egypt.

10 When the priests departed from the most holy place, a cloud filled the Eternal’s temple. 11 The cloud was so powerful that the priests could not remain standing to serve. His glory filled the temple.

12 Solomon: The Eternal dwells in this thick cloud.
        He said so Himself.
13     Surely this means I have built a worthy dwelling place
        for Him forever.

14-15 (then facing the standing assembly of Israelites) Praise be to the Eternal One, Israel’s God, who made promises with His mouth to my father, David; and who today has fulfilled His promises with His actions and said, 16 “When I led My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not look to the tribes of Israel and appoint a city to build a temple for My name. Instead, I appointed David to reign over My people Israel.”

17 My father desired to build a temple honoring the reputation of the Eternal One, Israel’s God; 18 but He told my father, David, “It was good enough that this desire was in your heart to build such a temple for My name. 19 However you will not be the one to build this place; but your son who is yet to be born will build your vision, this temple, for My name.”

20 The Eternal has kept this promise. I now sit upon my father David’s throne—the throne of Israel—just as He said, and I have constructed the temple honoring the reputation of the Eternal One, Israel’s God. 21 There I have made a sacred space for the covenant chest. Inside the chest is the covenant of the Eternal which He entered into with our ancestors after He led them out of Egypt.

22 Solomon was standing in front of the Eternal’s altar before the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands up toward heaven.

Solomon: 23 O Eternal One, Israel’s God, there is no other God who compares to You in heaven or on earth. You have guarded Your covenant and revealed Your loyal love to those who serve You with all their being. 24 You have kept Your word to Your servant, my father, David. You have promised with Your mouth and fulfilled Your promise with Your actions as it is today. 25 Eternal One, Israel’s God, preserve that which You have promised my father, David, when You told him, “Your descendants will sit upon Israel’s throne for as long as your sons walk the way you have walked before Me.”[a] 26 Israel’s God, fulfill what You have promised to my father, David, who served You.

27 Is it true that God will live upon the earth? The heavens and even the highest heaven are not big enough for You, so how will You live in the house I have raised? 28 Please listen to the prayer and humble request of Your servant today, Eternal One my God, 29 that Your gaze might fall upon this temple all night and day, that You might look upon the place about which You said, “My name will be there,” and hear the humble request of Your servant when he prays in the direction of this place. 30 And hear the prayer of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray in the direction of this place. Hear them from heaven, Your dwelling place. Hear them, and forgive them.

31 If a man does evil against his neighbor, and he is instructed to make a promise at the altar of Your temple, 32 then hear him from heaven and act. Judge those who serve You. Denounce the evil man by returning his evil to him, and redeem the righteous man by blessing him according to his righteousness.

33 When Your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have acted against You and wronged You, if they come back to You and praise Your name and send their requests to You in this temple; 34 then hear them in heaven, forgive them for their sins, and lead them back to the promised land You gave to their ancestors.

35 When the heavens are dried up and no rain is given to the earth because Your people sinned against You, if they turn and pray in the direction of this place and praise Your name and turn away from their sins after You afflict them, 36 then hear them in heaven and forgive the sins of those who serve You and of Your people Israel. Show them the best path, the good path, upon which to walk. Give them rain for the portion of Your earth which You have given to them as an inheritance.

37 If there is food shortage, epidemic, plant disease, mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, enemies surrounding the land of their cities, plagues, or any other sickness; 38 whatever it is that is prayed or requested by any one person or all of Your people Israel who expresses the suffering of his own being and lifts his hands in the direction of this temple; 39 then hear him in heaven where You live. Grant forgiveness according to each person’s heart, for You know the heart of every man. You, and only You, know every heart 40 so that all people might live in awe and fear of You for as long as they live in the land You gave to their ancestors.

41 Whenever a foreigner, a person who is not a part of Your community of Israel, comes from a distant land in honor of Your name 42 (for everyone will hear about Your great reputation, mighty actions, and outstretched strength), when he prays in the direction of this temple; 43 then You will hear in heaven where You dwell and grant the foreigner’s requests. This is so Your reputation will spread all throughout the earth and so all may live in awe and fear of You, just as Your people Israel do, and so all will know that this temple I raised honors Your reputation.

44 When Your people enter the battlefield to face their enemies along the path You have sent them, when they pray to the Eternal in the direction of the city You have appointed and the temple I have raised in honor of Your reputation; 45 hear their prayers and requests in heaven, and You will do justice on their behalf.

46 When they sin against You (for there is not one person who will not sin), and in Your anger You hand them over to their enemies who take them away to enemy territory, whether it is near or far away, 47 if they repent from their wrongdoings during their captivity, confess to You that they have been sinful and acted wickedly, 48 give their hearts back to You, offer You their entire beings while being held captive by their enemies, and send their prayers to You in the direction of the land You gave to their ancestors (the city you appointed to be sacred) in the direction of the temple I have raised in honor of Your name; 49 then hear their prayers and requests in heaven where You live and do justice on their behalf, 50 forgive Your people who have wronged You, erase all their sins, and transform them into examples of compassion in the sight of their captors so that their enemies might be compassionate toward them.

51 These are Your people, the vessels of Your earthly legacy, whom You led out of Egypt and away from the iron furnace of slavery 52 so that Your eyes may be open to the requests of those who serve You—Your people Israel—and hear them whenever they call out to You. 53 You have set them apart from all other people on the earth; You have chosen them as vessels of Your earthly legacy. You revealed this to us when You chose Your servant Moses to be Your mouthpiece. It all began when You led our ancestors out of Egypt, Eternal, our True God.

54 After Solomon had finished praying to the Eternal, he stood up before the Eternal’s altar where he had been kneeling and lifting up his hands toward heaven. 55 With a booming voice, he blessed the entire community of Israel.

Solomon: 56 Blessed is the Eternal One who has given rest to His people Israel and who has fulfilled all His promises. He has been true to every last word of the promise He gave through His servant Moses. 57 May the Eternal our God live among us, just as He lived with our ancestors. May He never abandon or neglect us 58 so that He can make us desire and walk in His ways, keeping all the commands, laws, and judgments He gave to our ancestors. 59 May my words and everything I have requested of the Eternal our God be close to His heart continuously, both day and night, so that He will support His servant and His people Israel according to the needs of each day as it is today. 60 Then all the people of the world will understand for themselves that He is the only True God. 61 Give your entire heart to the Eternal our God. Walk the path He has intended for us, and keep His laws as you do today.

62 King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed to the Eternal. 63 For the peace offerings, Solomon sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Solomon and the Israelites made these sacrifices for the dedication of the Eternal’s temple.

64 That day King Solomon blessed the center of the court that was in front of the Eternal’s temple by giving a burnt offering, grain offering, and all the fat of the peace offering. But the bronze altar that was set before the Eternal was not big enough to support the burnt offering, grain offering, and the fat of the peace offering. 65 So Solomon and the entire community of Israel feasted together. It was a large gathering that stretched from the entrance of Hamath (the Aramean city in the north) all the way to the stream of Egypt—the boundaries of Solomon’s kingdom. This all took place before the Eternal our God, and it lasted for seven days and then another seven days—fourteen days in all.

66 On the next day (the eighth day), Solomon told everyone it was time to leave. They praised their king and joyfully made their way back to their tents, their hearts overflowing with gladness for all the good the Eternal had revealed to His servant David and to His people Israel.

Footnotes

  1. 8:25 2 Samuel 7:13, 25
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