Dual Panel1Then <0227> Solomon <08010> <08010> convened <06950> in Jerusalem <03389> Israel’s <03478> elders <02205>, all <03605> the leaders <07218> of the Israelite <03478> <01121> tribes <04294> and families <01>, so they could witness the transferal <05927> of the ark <0727> of the Lord’s <03068> covenant <01285> from the city <05892> of David <01732> (that <01931> is, Zion <06726>).
2All <03605> the men <0376> of Israel <03478> assembled <06950> before <0413> King <04428> Solomon <08010> during the festival <02282> in the month <03391> Ethanim <0388> (the seventh <07637> month <02320>).
3When all <03605> Israel’s <03478> elders <02205> had arrived <0935>, the priests <03548> lifted <05375> the ark <0727>.
4The priests <03548> and Levites <03881> carried <05927> the ark <0727> of the Lord <03068>, the tent <0168> of meeting <04150>, and all <03605> the holy <06944> items <03627> in the tent <0168>.
5Now King <04428> Solomon <08010> and all <03605> the Israelites <03478> <05712> who had assembled <03259> with <0854> <05921> him went on ahead <06440> of the ark <0727> and sacrificed <02076> more <07230> sheep <06629> and cattle <01241> than could be counted <04487> or <03808> numbered <05608>.
6The priests <03548> brought <0935> the ark <0727> of the Lord’s <03068> covenant <01285> to <0413> its assigned place <04725> in <0413> the inner sanctuary <01687> of the temple <01004>, in <0413> the most <06944> holy <06944> place, under <08478> the wings <03671> of the cherubs <03742>.
7The cherubs <03742>’ wings <03671> extended <06566> over <0413> the place <04725> where the ark <0727> sat <05526>; the cherubs <03742> overshadowed <05921> the ark <0727> and its poles <0905>.
8The poles <0905> were so long <0748> their ends <07218> were visible <07200> from <04480> the holy place <06944> in front <06440> of the inner sanctuary <01687>, but they could not <03808> be seen <07200> from beyond that point <02351>. They have remained <01961> there <08033> to this <02088> very day <03117>.
9There was nothing <0369> in the ark <0727> except <07535> the two <08147> stone <068> tablets <03871> Moses <04872> had placed <03240> there <08033> in Horeb <02722>. It was there that <0834> the Lord <03068> made <03772> an agreement <03772> with <05973> the Israelites <03478> <01121> after he brought <03318> them out <03318> of the land <0776> of Egypt <04714>.
10Once <01961> the priests <03548> left <03318> the holy place <06944>, a cloud <06051> filled <04390> the Lord’s <03068> temple <01004>.
11The priests <03548> could <03201> not <03808> carry out <05975> their duties <08334> because <06440> of the cloud <06051>; the Lord’s <03068> glory <03519> filled <04390> his <03068> temple <01004>.
12Then <0227> Solomon <08010> said <0559>, “The Lord <03068> has said <0559> that he lives <07931> in thick darkness <06205>.
13O Lord, truly <01129> <01129> I have built <01129> <01129> a lofty <02073> temple <01004> for you, a place <04349> where you can live <03427> permanently <05769>.”
14Then the king <04428> turned around <05437> and pronounced a blessing <01288> over the whole <03605> Israelite <03478> assembly <06951> as they stood <05975> there.
15He said <0559>, “The Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478> is worthy of praise <01288> because <0834> he has fulfilled <04390> what he promised <06310> <01696> my father <01> David <01732>.
16He told David, ‘Since <04480> the day <03117> I brought <03318> my people <05971> Israel <03478> out of Egypt <04714>, I have not <03808> chosen <0977> a city <05892> from all <03605> the tribes <07626> of Israel <03478> to build <01129> a temple <01004> in which <08033> to live <08034>. But I have chosen <0977> David <01732> to lead <05921> my people <05971> Israel <03478>.’
17Now my father <01> David <01732> had <01961> a strong desire <03824> to build <01129> a temple <01004> to honor the Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>.
18The Lord <03068> told <0559> my father <01> David <01732>, ‘It is <01961> right <02895> for <03588> you to have <01961> a strong desire <03824> to build <01129> a temple <01004> to honor <08034> me.
19But <07535> you <0859> will not <03808> build <01129> the temple <01004>; your very own son <01121> will build <01129> the temple <01004> for my honor <08034>.’
20The Lord <03068> has kept <06965> the promise <01697> he made <01696>. I have taken <06965> my father <01> David’s <01732> place <08478> and have occupied <03427> the throne <03678> of Israel <03478>, as <0834> the Lord <03068> promised <01696>. I have built <01129> this temple <01004> for the honor <08034> of the Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>
21and set up <07760> in it a place <04725> for the ark <0727> containing the covenant <01285> the Lord <03068> made <03772> with <05973> our ancestors <01> when he brought <03318> them out <03318> of the land <0776> of Egypt <04714>.”
22Solomon <08010> stood <05975> before <06440> the altar <04196> of the Lord <03068> in front of <05048> the entire <03605> assembly <06951> of Israel <03478> and spread out <06566> his hands <03709> toward the sky <08064>.
23He prayed <0559>: “O Lord <03068>, God <0430> of Israel <03478>, there is no <0369> god <0430> like <03644> you in heaven <08064> above <04605> or on <05921> earth <0776> below <08478>! You maintain <08104> covenantal <01285> loyalty <02617> to your servants <05650> who obey <06440> <01980> you with sincerity <03820> <03605>.
24You have kept <08104> your word <01696> <0834> to your servant <05650>, my father <01> David <01732>; this <02088> very day <03117> you have fulfilled <04390> what you promised <06310> <01696>.
25Now <06258>, O Lord <03069>, God <0430> of Israel <03478>, keep <08104> the promise you made <01696> to your servant <05650>, my father <01> David <01732>, when <0834> you said <0559>, ‘You will never <03808> fail <03772> to have a successor <0376> ruling <03427> before <06440> me on <05921> the throne <03678> of Israel <03478>, provided that <0518> <07535> your descendants <01121> watch <08104> their step <01870> and serve <01980> me as <0834> you have done <01980>.’
26Now <06258>, O God <0430> of Israel <03478>, may the promise you made <01696> <0834> <01697> to your servant <05650>, my father <01> David <01732>, be realized <0539>.
27“God <0430> does not really <0552> live <03427> on <05921> the earth <0776>! Look <02009>, if the sky <08064> and the highest <08064> heaven <08064> cannot <03808> contain <03557> you, how much less <03588> <0637> this <02088> temple <01004> I have built <01129>!
28But respond favorably <06437> to <0413> your servant’s <05650> prayer <08605> and his request for help <08467>, O Lord <03068> my God <0430>. Answer <08085> the desperate prayer <08605> your servant <05650> is presenting <06419> to you today <03117>.
29Night <03915> and day <03117> may <01961> you watch <06605> <05869> over <0413> this <02088> temple <01004>, the place <04725> where <0834> you promised <0559> you would live <08034> <01961>. May you answer <08085> your servant’s <05650> prayer <08605> for <0413> this <02088> place <04725>.
30Respond <08085> to <0413> the request <08467> of your servant <05650> and your people <05971> Israel <03478> for this <02088> place <04725>. Hear <08085> from <0413> inside your heavenly <08064> dwelling <03427> place <04725> and respond <08085> favorably <05545>.
31“When <0834> someone <0376> is accused of sinning <02398> against his neighbor <07453> and the latter pronounces <05378> a curse <0423> on the alleged <0422> offender before <06440> your altar <04196> in this temple <01004>, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false.
32Listen <08085> from heaven <08064> and make <06213> a just decision <08199> about your servants <05650>’ claims. Condemn <07561> the guilty <07563> party, declare <05414> the other innocent <06662>, and give <05414> both of them what they deserve <06666>.
33“The time will come when your people <05971> Israel <03478> are defeated <05062> by an enemy <0341> because <0834> they sinned <02398> against you. If they come back <07725> to <0413> you, renew <03034> their allegiance <08034> to you, and pray <06419> for your help <02603> in this <02088> temple <01004>,
34then listen <08085> from heaven <08064>, forgive <05545> the sin <02403> of your people <05971> Israel <03478>, and bring <07725> them back <07725> to <0413> the land <0127> you gave <05414> to their ancestors <01>.
35“The time will come when the skies <08064> are shut up <06113> tightly and no <03808> rain <04306> falls because <03588> your people sinned against <02398> you. When they direct their prayers <06419> toward <0413> this <02088> place <04725>, renew <03034> their allegiance <08034> to you, and turn <07725> away from their sin <02403> because <03588> you punish <06031> them,
36then listen <08085> from heaven <08064> and forgive <05545> the sin <02403> of your servants <05650>, your people <05971> Israel <03478>. Certainly <03588> you will then teach <03384> them the right <02896> way <01870> to live <01980> and send <05414> rain <04306> on <05921> your land <0776> that <0834> you have given <05414> your people <05971> to possess <05159>.
37“The time will come <01961> when <03588> the land <0776> suffers from a famine <07458>, a plague <01698>, blight <07711> and disease <03420>, or a locust <0697> invasion <02625>, or when <03588> their enemy <0341> lays siege <06887> to the cities <08179> of the land <0776>, or when some other type of plague <05061> or epidemic <04245> occurs.
38When <01961> all <03605> your people <05971> Israel <03478> pray <08605> and ask for help <08467>, as they acknowledge <03045> their pain <03824> <05061> and spread out <06566> their hands <03709> toward <0413> this <02088> temple <01004>,
39then listen <08085> from your heavenly <08064> dwelling <03427> place <04349>, forgive <05545> their sin, and act <06213> favorably toward each one <0376> based on your evaluation <01870> of <0834> his motives <03824> <03045>. (Indeed <03588> you <0859> are the only one who can correctly <0905> evaluate <03045> the motives <03824> of all <03605> people <0120> <01121>.)
40Then <04616> they will obey <03372> you throughout <03605> their lifetimes <03117> as <0834> they <01992> live <02416> on <05921> the land <0127> you gave <05414> to our ancestors <01>.
41“Foreigners <05237>, who <0834> do not <03808> belong to your people <05971> Israel <03478>, will come <0935> from a distant <07350> land <0776> because of <04616> your reputation <08034>.
42When <03588> they hear <08085> about your great <01419> reputation <08034> and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds <05186> <02220> <02389> <03027>, they will come <0935> and direct <06419> their prayers <06419> toward <0413> this <02088> temple <01004>.
43Then listen <08085> from your <0859> heavenly <08064> dwelling <03427> place <04349> and answer <06213> all <03605> the prayers <07121> of <0413> the foreigners <05237>. Then <04616> all <03605> the nations <05971> of the earth <0776> will acknowledge <03045> your reputation <08034>, obey <03372> you like your people <05971> Israel <03478> do, and recognize <03045> that <03588> this <02088> temple <01004> I built <01129> belongs to <05921> you.
44“When <03588> you direct your people <05971> to march out <03318> and fight <04421> their enemies <0341>, and they direct <07971> their prayers <06419> to <0413> the Lord <03068> toward <01870> his chosen <0977> city <05892> and this temple <01004> I built <01129> for your honor <08034>,
45then listen <08085> from heaven <08064> to their prayers <08605> for help <08467> and vindicate <04941> <06213> them.
46“The time will come when <03588> your people will sin <02398> against you (for <03588> there is no <0369> one <0120> who <0834> is sinless <02398> <03808>!) and you will be angry <0599> with them and deliver <05414> them over <06440> to their enemies <0341>, who will take <07617> them as prisoners <07617> to <0413> their own land <0341> <0776>, whether far away <07350> or <0176> close <07138> by.
47When your people come <07725> to <0413> their senses <03820> in the land <0776> where <08033> <0834> they are held prisoner <07617>, they will repent <07725> and beg <02603> for <0413> your mercy <02603> in the land <0776> of their imprisonment <07617>, admitting <0559>, ‘We have sinned <02398> and gone astray <05753>; we have done evil <07561>.’
48When they return <07725> to <0413> you with all <03605> their heart <03824> and being <05315> in the land <0776> where <0834> they are held <07617> prisoner <0341>, and direct <06419> their prayers to <0413> you toward <01870> the land <0776> you gave <05414> to their ancestors <01>, your chosen <0977> city <05892>, and the temple <01004> I built <01129> for your honor <08034>,
49then listen <08085> from your heavenly <08064> dwelling <03427> place <04349> to their prayers <08605> for help <08467> and vindicate <04941> <06213> them.
50Forgive <05545> all <03605> the rebellious <06588> acts of your sinful <02398> people <05971> and cause their captors <07617> to have mercy <07355> on them.
51After all <03588>, they <01992> are your people <05971> and your special possession <05159> whom <0834> you brought out <03318> of Egypt <04714>, from the middle <08432> of the iron-smelting <01270> furnace <03564>.
52“May you be <01961> attentive <06605> <05869> to <0413> your servant’s <05650> and <0413> your people <05971> Israel’s <03478> requests for help <08467> and may you respond <08085> to <0413> all <03605> their prayers <07121> to <0413> you.
53After all <03588>, you <0859> picked <0914> them out <0914> of all <03605> the nations <05971> of the earth <0776> to be your special possession <05159>, just as <0834> you, O sovereign <0136> Lord <03068>, announced <01696> through <03027> your servant <05650> Moses <04872> when you brought <03318> our ancestors <01> out of Egypt <04714>.”
54When <01961> Solomon <08010> finished <03615> presenting <06419> all <03605> these <02063> prayers <08605> and requests <08467> to <0413> the Lord <03068>, he got up <06965> from before <06440> the altar <04196> of the Lord <03068> where he had kneeled <01290> <05921> <03766> and spread out <06566> his hands <03709> toward the sky <08064>.
55When he stood up <05975>, he pronounced a blessing <01288> over the entire <03605> assembly <06951> of Israel <03478>, saying <0559> in a loud <01419> voice <06963>:
56“The Lord <03068> is worthy of praise <01288> because <0834> he has made <05414> Israel <03478> his people <05971> secure <04496> just as <0834> he promised <01696>! Not <03808> one <0259> of all <03605> the faithful <02896> promises <01697> he made <01696> through <03027> his servant <05650> Moses <04872> is left unfulfilled <05307>!
57May the Lord <03068> our God <0430> be <01961> with <05973> us, as <0834> he was <01961> with <05973> our ancestors <01>. May he not <0408> abandon <05800> us or <0408> leave <05203> us.
58May he make <05186> us submissive <05186>, so we can follow <01980> all <03605> his instructions <01870> and obey <08104> the commandments <04687>, rules <02706>, and regulations <04941> he commanded <06680> our ancestors <01>.
59May <01961> the Lord <03068> our God be constantly <06440> aware <02603> of these <0428> requests <01697> of mine I have presented <07126> to <0413> him, so that he might vindicate <04941> <06213> his servant <05650> and his people <05971> Israel <03478> as the need <01697> arises <03117> <03117>.
60Then <04616> all <03605> the nations <05971> of the earth <0776> will recognize <03045> that <03588> the Lord <03068> is the only genuine God <0430>.
61May you demonstrate <01961> wholehearted devotion <08003> <03824> to <05973> the Lord <03068> our God <0430> by following <01980> his rules <02706> and obeying <08104> his commandments <04687>, as you are presently <02088> <03117> doing.”
62The king <04428> and all <03605> Israel <03478> with <05973> him were presenting <02076> sacrifices <02077> to <06440> the Lord <03068>.
63Solomon <08010> offered <02076> as peace offerings <08002> to the Lord <03068> 22,000 <08147> cattle <01241> and 120,000 <0505> <06242> <03967> <0505> <06242> sheep <06629>. Then the king <04428> and all <03605> the Israelites <03478> <01121> dedicated <02596> the Lord’s <03068> temple <01004>.
64That day <03117> the king <04428> consecrated <06942> the <0853> middle <08432> of the courtyard <02691> that <0834> is in front <06440> of the Lord’s <03068> temple <01004>. He offered <06213> there <08033> burnt sacrifices <05930>, grain offerings <04503>, and the fat <02459> from the peace offerings <08002>, because <03588> the bronze <05178> altar <04196> that <0834> stood before <06440> the Lord <03068> was too small <06996> to hold <03557> all these offerings <08002>.
65At that time <06256> Solomon <08010> and all <03605> Israel <03478> with <05973> him celebrated <06213> a festival <02282> before <06440> the Lord <03068> our God <0430> for two <03117> <06240> <0702> entire weeks <03117> <06240> <0702>. This great <01419> assembly <06951> included people from all over the land, from Lebo Hamath <02574> in the north to the Brook <05158> of Egypt <04714> in the south.
66On the fifteenth <08066> day <03117> after the festival started, he dismissed <07971> the <0853> people <05971>. They asked God to empower <01288> the <0853> king <04428> and then went <01980> to their homes <0168>, happy <08056> and content <03820> <02896> because <0834> of all <03605> the good <02896> the Lord <03068> had done <06213> for his servant <05650> David <01732> and his people <05971> Israel <03478>.