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Dedication of the Temple

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would reside in thick darkness.(A) I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell forever.”

Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, so that my name might be there, and I chose no one as ruler over my people Israel, but I have chosen Jerusalem in order that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’(B) My father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.(C) But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to consider building a house for my name; nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10 Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made, for I have succeeded my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”(D)

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Solomon’s Dedication of the Temple

Then Solomon said:(A)

The Lord said he would dwell in total darkness,(B)
but I have built an exalted temple for you,
a place for your dwelling forever.

Then the king turned and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing. He said:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!
He spoke directly to my father David,
and he has fulfilled the promise
by his power.
He said,
“Since the day I brought my people Israel
out of the land of Egypt,(C)
I have not chosen a city to build a temple in
among any of the tribes of Israel,
so that my name would be there,
and I have not chosen a man
to be ruler over my people Israel.
But I have chosen Jerusalem
so that my name will be there,(D)
and I have chosen David
to be over my people Israel.”(E)
My father David had his heart set
on building a temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.(F)
However, 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.
Yet, you are not the one to build the temple,
but your son, your own offspring,
will build the temple for my name.”
10 So the Lord has fulfilled what he promised.
I have taken the place of my father David
and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised.
I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
11 I have put the ark there,
where the Lord’s covenant is
that he made with the Israelites.(G)

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