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Solomon Praises the Lord

12 Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. 13 Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever![a]

14 Then the king turned around to the entire community of Israel standing before him and gave this blessing: 15 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father, David. For he told my father, 16 ‘From the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city among any of the tribes of Israel as the place where a Temple should be built to honor my name. But I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”

17 Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18 But the Lord told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 19 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’

20 “And now the Lord has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

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Footnotes

  1. 8:13 Some Greek texts add the line Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?

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