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

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

“Praise be to the Lord,(D) 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,(E) I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name(F) might be there, but I have chosen(G) David(H) to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart(I) to build a temple(J) 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(K) 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.’(L)

20 “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded(M) David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built(N) 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.”

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Solomon’s Speech of Dedication(A)

12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives shrouded in darkness. 13 Now I have been constructing a magnificent Temple dedicated to you that will serve as a place for you to inhabit forever.”

14 Then the king turned to face the entire congregation of Israel while the congregation of Israel remained standing. 15 Then Solomon[a] prayed:

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who made a commitment[b] to my father David and then personally[c] fulfilled what he had promised when he said:[d]

16 ‘From the day I brought out my people Israel from Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. 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 God of Israel. 18 The Lord told my father David:

‘Therefore, since you determined[e] to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice[f] to do so. 19 Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born[g] to you is to build a temple for my name.’

20 “The Lord has brought to fulfillment[h] what he promised, and now here I stand,[i] having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 I have placed there the ark in which the covenant is stored that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:15 Lit. He
  2. 1 Kings 8:15 Lit. who spoke by his mouth
  3. 1 Kings 8:15 Lit. and by his hand
  4. 1 Kings 8:15 Cf. 1Chr 17:5ff
  5. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit. since it was in your heart
  6. 1 Kings 8:18 Lit. because it was in your heart
  7. 1 Kings 8:19 Lit. will come from your loins
  8. 1 Kings 8:20 Lit. has caused to stand up
  9. 1 Kings 8:20 MT verb is a pun on the verb brought to fulfillment