1 Kings 8 summary meaning ai explained commentary

1 Kings 8 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter details the dedication of Solomon's Temple and his prayer to God.

Here's a breakdown:

1. The Ark Arrives (1-11): The Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, is brought from the City of David to the newly built Temple. This event coincides with the Feast of Tabernacles, adding to the celebration.

2. God's Glory Fills the Temple (10-11): As the priests place the Ark in the Holy of Holies, the cloud of God's glory fills the Temple, so much so that the priests cannot even perform their duties. This signifies God's acceptance of the Temple as His dwelling place.

3. Solomon's Speech (12-21): Solomon addresses the people, praising God for fulfilling His promise to David by allowing him (Solomon) to build the Temple. He acknowledges God's faithfulness and power.

4. Solomon's Prayer (22-53): This is the heart of the chapter. Solomon kneels before the altar and offers a lengthy prayer to God. Here are some key points:

* Dedication of the Temple (27-30): Solomon acknowledges that even the heavens cannot contain God, let alone this Temple. He asks God to hear the prayers made towards this place.

* Prayers for the People (31-53): Solomon prays for various situations the Israelites might face:

* When facing accusations (31-32): He asks God to judge righteously and forgive those who repent.

* During drought (35-36): He asks God to forgive their sins and send rain when they repent.

* During war (44-45): He asks God to grant them victory when they remain faithful.

* In foreign lands (46-50): He prays for God's mercy on those taken captive and for their return to Jerusalem.

* General prayer for obedience (51-53): Solomon concludes by asking God to remember his people, their struggles, and to hear their prayers, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's Law.

5. Solomon Blesses the People (54-61): After his prayer, Solomon blesses the people and encourages them to be faithful to God.

6. Celebration and Sacrifices (62-66): The dedication concludes with a massive fourteen-day celebration, including sacrifices and rejoicing. The people return home "joyful and glad in heart."

Overall, 1 Kings 8 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The completion and dedication of the Temple solidify their faith and provide a central place of worship. Solomon's prayer highlights the Temple's purpose as a place of prayer and God's willingness to hear and answer the prayers of His people, contingent on their faithfulness and obedience.

1 Kings 8 bible study ai commentary

The dedication of the Temple in 1 Kings 8 is the theological climax of Solomon's reign and a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The chapter centers on the relationship between the transcendent God of heaven and His imminent presence with His people on earth. Solomon’s actions and masterful prayer establish the Temple not as a house to contain God, but as a focal point for prayer, repentance, forgiveness, and a beacon for the nations, all under the umbrella of God’s covenant faithfulness to David and to Israel.

1 Kings 8 Context

The Ark of the Covenant, Israel's most sacred object representing God's presence and throne on earth, had a mobile history, last residing in a temporary tent in the City of David. This chapter marks its final placement within the permanent structure of the Temple on Mount Moriah. This event centralizes Israel's worship in Jerusalem, a key element of Deuteronomic theology. Culturally, while neighboring empires viewed their temples as literal homes for their deities who required sustenance, Israelite theology, as articulated by Solomon, presents a radical counter-narrative: YHWH is a universal, transcendent God who cannot be contained, but graciously chooses to place His "Name" there as a concession to humanity's need for a physical point of contact.

1 Kings 8:1-11

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which is Zion... And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim... Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb... And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

In-depth-analysis

The Assembly (v. 1): Solomon gathers "all" leaders, emphasizing national unity and participation in this foundational event. The movement of the Ark is from the "City of David" (a political center) to the Temple (the new spiritual center), a significant geographical and theological shift.
The Timing (v. 2): "The month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month" (Tishri). This was the month of the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, linking the Temple's dedication to themes of atonement, pilgrimage, and God's sheltering presence with Israel in the wilderness.
The Ark's Contents (v. 9): "Nothing... except the two tablets of stone." This statement is a deliberate theological clarification. The power and holiness of the Ark come from the covenant (the Ten Commandments) it contains, not from any magical relics. It centers Israel's faith on God's Word and covenant law.
The Glory-Cloud (vv. 10-11): The kavod YHWH (glory of the LORD) fills the Temple as a thick cloud. This is a direct parallel to God's presence filling the Tabernacle at its dedication, signifying God's divine acceptance and consecration of this new sanctuary. The fact that the priests could not stand to minister shows the overwhelming holiness and otherness of God, who cannot be served or controlled by human ritual alone.

Bible References

Exodus 40:34-35: "Then the cloud covered the tabernacle... and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." (Direct parallel: God's acceptance of the sanctuary).
Hebrews 9:3-4: "...the ark of the covenant... in which were the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant." (Apparent discrepancy; see final analysis section).
2 Chronicles 5:13-14: "...the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud... for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." (Parallel account).

Cross References

2 Sam 6:12-15 (Bringing ark to Jerusalem); Exo 25:16, 21 (Placing tablets in Ark); Lev 16:2 (Cloud in Most Holy Place); Rev 15:8 (Temple in heaven filled with smoke of God's glory).

1 Kings 8:12-21

Then Solomon said: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud... I have surely built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell in forever...” And he said: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David... Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city... but I chose David... And the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke..."

In-depth-analysis

Dwells in Dark Cloud (v. 12): Solomon interprets the cloud not as an obstacle but as a sign of God's chosen mode of presence. It signifies mystery, transcendence, and a holiness that is veiled from human sight.
Place for you to dwell (v. 13): This strong statement seems to contradict Solomon's later prayer (v. 27). This is rhetorical language of dedication. It's not about physically containing God, but establishing this as a unique, permanent site of divine-human encounter, in contrast to the mobile Tabernacle.
God's Word Fulfilled (v. 15, 20): Solomon emphasizes that the Temple is not a human idea but the fulfillment of God's own promise. God chose the person (David's line) and now confirms the place. This places God, not Solomon, as the primary actor.
The "Name" Theology (v. 16-19): God clarifies that He didn't choose a city "to dwell in," but He did choose a place "to put my name there." This crucial distinction forms the core theology of the chapter. The "name" (shem) represents God's character, authority, and active presence, without limiting His infinite nature to a physical location.

Bible References

2 Samuel 7:5, 13: "Would you build a house for me to dwell in?... He shall build a house for my name..." (The original Davidic Covenant promise).
Deuteronomy 12:5, 11: "...the place where the LORD your God chooses... to put His name for a dwelling place." (The Deuteronomic principle that Solomon is now fulfilling).
John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." (Ultimate fulfillment: God's presence dwelling not in a building but in a person).

Cross References

Lev 16:2 (God appearing in a cloud); Psa 97:2 (Clouds and darkness surround Him); Psa 132:8, 13-14 (Zion as God's resting place).

1 Kings 8:22-30

Then Solomon stood before the altar... spread out his hands toward heaven; and he said: “...there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy... But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!... yet... may Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day... the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer... And may You hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive."

In-depth-analysis

Posture of Prayer (v. 22): Solomon stands before the altar, facing the people but with hands spread "toward heaven." This posture reflects his role as mediator, representing the people before the transcendent God.
Theological Apex (v. 27): This is one of the most profound theological statements in the Old Testament. Solomon asks a rhetorical question that pierces the core of all temple theology: "Will God indeed dwell on earth?" He immediately answers it by declaring God's utter transcendence. The Temple is not God's house, but a house built for God—a crucial difference.
A House of Prayer (v. 29-30): The primary function of the Temple is established: it is a directional focal point for prayer. People pray toward it, and God hears from His true dwelling place, "in heaven." The building serves as an earthly "address" for prayers directed to the heavenly throne.
Hear and Forgive: The ultimate request is for forgiveness (salach). This refrain appears repeatedly, establishing that the central transaction at the Temple is the receiving of grace and pardon in response to repentant prayer.

Bible References

Isaiah 66:1: "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me...?'" (Echoes Solomon's statement on God's transcendence).
Acts 7:48-49: "Yet the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands... 'Heaven is my throne...'" (Stephen quotes Isaiah to make a similar point against a misplaced focus on the physical temple).
Daniel 6:10: "...he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom... with his windows open in his chamber toward Jerusalem." (Shows the enduring legacy of Solomon's prayer).

Cross References

2 Chr 6:12-42 (Parallel prayer); Isa 55:7 (Seeking the Lord and forgiveness); Dan 9:17-19 (Prayer for God to hear for His own name's sake).

Polemics

Solomon’s prayer functions as a powerful polemic against the pagan religions of the ancient Near East. Their gods were believed to be geographically limited, dwelling in and confined to their temples. Solomon declares that YHWH is fundamentally different; He is an unlimited, cosmic deity who cannot be manipulated or housed. The Temple is not for God's benefit (to be fed or sheltered) but for Israel's benefit (as a place to direct prayer and seek forgiveness).

1 Kings 8:31-53 (The Seven Petitions)

This section is a series of seven scenarios where Israel might need to turn to the Temple in prayer. Each follows a pattern: if a specific trouble comes "because they have sinned," and the people "turn...and pray toward this place," then God in heaven is asked to "hear...and forgive."

Oaths and Justice (vv. 31-32): When a person is accused and takes an oath at the altar, Solomon asks God to be the ultimate judge, to "condemn the wicked" and "justify the righteous."
Defeat in Battle (vv. 33-34): When defeated because of sin, if they repent and pray, God is asked to forgive and "bring them back to the land."
Drought (vv. 35-36): When there is no rain because of sin, if they repent, God is asked to "forgive...teach them the good way...and send rain."
Famine, Pestilence, and Disasters (vv. 37-40): A general category for all manner of calamity. Solomon asks God to hear the individual prayer of any person who knows "the plague of his own heart" and to forgive, so that they may fear God.
The Foreigner's Prayer (vv. 41-43):
- In-depth-analysis: This is a remarkably inclusive petition. Solomon prays for the foreigner (nokri) who comes from a "far country" not because of sin, but "for Your name's sake." He asks that God hear this foreigner's prayer so "that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You." The Temple's purpose is explicitly evangelistic and universal. It's a house of prayer for all nations.
- Bible References:
  - Isaiah 56:7: "these I will bring to my holy mountain... for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Prophetic expansion of Solomon's vision).
  - Matthew 21:13: "He said to them, 'It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.'" (Jesus quotes Isaiah, affirming this original universal purpose of the Temple).
  - Ephesians 2:11-13: "...remember that you, once Gentiles... were without Christ... But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (The ultimate fulfillment of bringing the foreigner near to God).
Warfare (vv. 44-45): When Israel goes to battle at God's command, if they pray "toward the city...and the temple," God is asked to "maintain their cause."
Exile and Captivity (vv. 46-53):
- In-depth-analysis: This is the climactic and most prophetic petition. Solomon anticipates a future where national sin is so great that God exiles the people to an enemy land. Even there, far from the Temple, if they "return to You with all their heart" and pray toward the land, the city, and the Temple, Solomon pleads that God would hear, forgive, and grant them compassion from their captors. This prayer becomes the theological foundation for the survival of Israel's faith in exile.
- Bible References:
  - Deuteronomy 30:1-3: "when all these things come upon you... and you return to the LORD your God... then the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity..." (The Mosaic precedent for repentance in exile).
  - Daniel 9:3-19: Daniel’s prayer from exile in Babylon is a model fulfillment of Solomon’s petition, confessing sin and pleading for restoration based on God's mercy.
  - Nehemiah 1:8-9: Nehemiah's prayer explicitly quotes the Deuteronomic promise, modeling the very repentance Solomon prayed for.

1 Kings 8:54-61

And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer... he arose... Then he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel... “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel... there has not failed one word of all His good promise... that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.”

In-depth-analysis

A Second Blessing: Solomon blesses the people, confirming God's faithfulness. The "rest" (menuchah) he speaks of is the fulfillment of the promise of the land, now secured with a centralized capital and sanctuary.
Exhortation to Loyalty: He concludes with a charge to the people: "Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God," linking the gift of the Temple to the responsibility of covenant obedience.
Renewed Universal Vision: The ultimate goal is repeated: that "all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God." The blessing on Israel is not for their sake alone, but for the sake of the world.

Bible References

Joshua 21:44-45: "The LORD gave them rest all around... Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel." (Solomon explicitly frames his era as the fulfillment of the conquest generation's promises).
Philippians 2:9-11: "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." (The ultimate fulfillment of all peoples knowing the one true God).

Cross References

Deu 4:35, 39 (YHWH alone is God); 1 Chr 28:9 (Serve with a loyal heart); Heb 4:8-10 (True rest found in Christ).

1 Kings 8:62-66

Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD... the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the LORD had done for His servant David and for Israel His people.

In-depth-analysis

The Sacrifices: The staggering number of sacrifices (22,000 oxen, 120,000 sheep) is a public demonstration of celebration and national wealth, dedicating the fruits of the "rest" God has given them back to Him. The scale is symbolic of the magnitude of the occasion.
Consecrating the Courtyard: So many sacrifices were made that the bronze altar was insufficient. Solomon consecrates the middle of the court, showing that the holiness of the dedication extends beyond the prescribed furniture.
The Feasts: The dedication feast (7 days) was held concurrently with the Feast of Tabernacles (7 days), making a massive 14-day national celebration.
Joyful Departure: The people leave "joyful and glad of heart," showing popular endorsement and celebration. Their joy is tied to God's goodness shown to both David (covenant fulfillment) and Israel (national blessing).

Bible References

2 Chronicles 7:5-9: Provides the parallel account of the sacrifices and feasts.
Leviticus 9:23-24: When Aaron blessed the people after the first sacrifices at the Tabernacle, "fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering... all the people... shouted and fell on their faces." (Draws a parallel between the dedication of the Tabernacle and Temple).

Cross References

Exo 24:5 (Young men offering sacrifices); Num 7 (Offerings at Tabernacle dedication); Ezr 6:16-17 (Offerings at the second temple's dedication).

1 Kings chapter 8 analysis

The Contradiction of Heb 9:4 and 1 Ki 8:9: 1 Kings states only the stone tablets were in the Ark at the time of the Temple dedication. Hebrews 9:4 lists the pot of manna and Aaron's rod as being "in" the Ark. Possible resolutions include: (1) The extra items were present in the wilderness Tabernacle but were lost or removed by Solomon's time, possibly during the Ark's capture by the Philistines. The 1 Kings account is historically specific. (2) The author of Hebrews is using a theological shorthand, describing the Ark complex as it was ideally constituted in the wilderness period, grouping together all the sacred items of the Most Holy Place. The Greek preposition for "in" can also mean "in connection with" or "at." The focus of 1 Kings is a polemic against magic and relics, centering Israel on the written covenant.
The Temple and Christology: The New Testament systematically reinterprets the Temple, showing its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus is the true Temple (John 2:21), the place where divinity and humanity perfectly meet. He is the ultimate "place" where God has put His Name. His body is the location of the final atoning sacrifice.
The Church as the Temple: Following Christ, the community of believers becomes the new Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16-17; Eph 2:21-22), a "spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5). The principles of Solomon's prayer apply to the Church: it is to be a house of prayer for all nations (universal mission), a place where forgiveness is found, and a community whose holiness testifies to the world that the LORD is God.
Theological Progression of Presence: The Bible traces a clear progression of God's dwelling with humanity:
1. Garden of Eden: Direct, unmediated presence.
2. Tabernacle: Mobile, tent-based presence (God traveling with His people).
3. Solomon's Temple: Fixed, permanent presence (A concession, but filled with transcendent theology).
4. Jesus Christ: Incarnational presence (God as a human).
5. The Church: Indwelling Spirit presence (God in His people).
6. New Jerusalem: Unveiled, eternal presence (Rev 21:22: "I saw no temple... for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.").

1 Kings 8 Summary

Solomon leads Israel in bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the newly completed Temple, an act confirmed by the "glory-cloud" of God's presence. In a profound dedicatory prayer, Solomon declares God's transcendence over any earthly building, establishing the Temple primarily as a directional focus for prayer, repentance, and forgiveness for both Israel and foreigners. This vision culminates in a massive celebratory sacrifice, consecrating the Temple as the center of Israel's national and spiritual life under the fulfilled promise of the Davidic covenant.

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1 Kings chapter 8 kjv

¹ Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
² And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
³ And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
⁴ And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.
⁵ And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
⁶ And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
⁷ For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
⁸ And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
⁹ There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that 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 had filled the house of the LORD.
¹² Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
¹³ I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
¹⁴ And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)
¹⁵ And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
¹⁶ Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.
¹⁷ And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
¹⁸ And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.
¹⁹ Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.
²⁰ And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
²¹ And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
²² And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
²³ And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
²⁴ Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
²⁵ Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.
²⁶ And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
²⁷ But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
²⁸ Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
²⁹ That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.
³⁰ And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
³¹ If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
³² Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
³³ When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:
³⁴ Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.
³⁵ When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
³⁶ Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
³⁷ If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
³⁸ What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
³⁹ Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
⁴⁰ That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
⁴¹ Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;
⁴² (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;
⁴³ Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
⁴⁴ If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:
⁴⁵ Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
⁴⁶ If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
⁴⁷ Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
⁴⁸ And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
⁴⁹ Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
⁵⁰ And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
⁵¹ For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
⁵² That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.
⁵³ For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God.
⁵⁴ And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
⁵⁵ And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
⁵⁶ Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
⁵⁷ The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
⁵⁸ That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
⁵⁹ And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
⁶⁰ That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
⁶¹ Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
⁶² And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.
⁶³ And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
⁶⁴ The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
⁶⁵ And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
⁶⁶ On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

1 Kings chapter 8 nkjv

¹ Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David, which is Zion.
² Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
³ So all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
⁴ Then they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up.
⁵ Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
⁶ Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim.
⁷ For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
⁸ The poles extended so 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 from outside. And they are there to this day.
⁹ Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
¹¹ so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
¹² Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
¹³ I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever."
¹⁴ Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.
¹⁵ And he said: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying,
¹⁶ 'Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.'
¹⁷ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
¹⁸ But the LORD said to my father David, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.
¹⁹ Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.'
²⁰ So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
²¹ And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt."
²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
²³ and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
²⁴ You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
²⁵ Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.'
²⁶ And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.
²⁷ "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
²⁸ Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:
²⁹ that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
³⁰ And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.
³¹ "When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,
³² then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
³³ "When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple,
³⁴ then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.
³⁵ "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them,
³⁶ then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.
³⁷ "When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;
³⁸ whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:
³⁹ then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men),
⁴⁰ that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.
⁴¹ "Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake
⁴² (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple,
⁴³ hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
⁴⁴ "When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,
⁴⁵ then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
⁴⁶ "When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near;
⁴⁷ yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, 'We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness';
⁴⁸ and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name:
⁴⁹ then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause,
⁵⁰ and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them
⁵¹ (for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace),
⁵² that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You.
⁵³ For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD."
⁵⁴ And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, that he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
⁵⁵ Then he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:
⁵⁶ "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
⁵⁷ May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us,
⁵⁸ that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.
⁵⁹ And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require,
⁶⁰ that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.
⁶¹ Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day."
⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.
⁶³ And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
⁶⁴ On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
⁶⁵ At that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven more days?fourteen days.
⁶⁶ On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the good that the LORD had done for His servant David, and for Israel His people.

1 Kings chapter 8 niv

¹ Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David.
² All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
³ When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,
⁴ and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up,
⁵ and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
⁶ The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.
⁷ The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.
⁸ These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.
⁹ There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
¹⁰ When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.
¹¹ And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.
¹² Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;
¹³ I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."
¹⁴ While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
¹⁵ Then he said: "Praise be to the LORD, 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, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.'
¹⁷ "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple 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 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.'
²⁰ "The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built 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."
²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven
²³ and said: "LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below?you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
²⁴ You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it?as it is today.
²⁵ "Now LORD, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, 'You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.'
²⁶ And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.
²⁷ "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
²⁸ Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.
²⁹ May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.
³⁰ Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
³¹ "When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple,
³² then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.
³³ "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,
³⁴ then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
³⁵ "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them,
³⁶ then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
³⁷ "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come,
³⁸ and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel?being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple?
³⁹ then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart),
⁴⁰ so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.
⁴¹ "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name?
⁴² for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm?when they come and pray toward this temple,
⁴³ then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
⁴⁴ "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,
⁴⁵ then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
⁴⁶ "When they sin against you?for there is no one who does not sin?and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near;
⁴⁷ and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly';
⁴⁸ and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name;
⁴⁹ then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
⁵⁰ And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;
⁵¹ for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
⁵² "May your eyes be open to your servant's plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.
⁵³ For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign LORD, brought our ancestors out of Egypt."
⁵⁴ When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
⁵⁵ He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
⁵⁶ "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
⁵⁷ May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.
⁵⁸ May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
⁵⁹ And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need,
⁶⁰ so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
⁶¹ And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."
⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.
⁶³ Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD.
⁶⁴ On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.
⁶⁵ So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him?a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all.
⁶⁶ On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

1 Kings chapter 8 esv

¹ Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
² And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
³ And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
⁴ And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.
⁵ And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
⁶ Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
⁷ For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
⁸ And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.
⁹ There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a 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.
¹² Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
¹³ I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever."
¹⁴ Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.
¹⁵ And he said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying,
¹⁶ 'Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.'
¹⁷ Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
¹⁸ But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
¹⁹ Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'
²⁰ Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
²¹ And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."
²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,
²³ and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
²⁴ you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.
²⁵ Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.'
²⁶ Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.
²⁷ "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
²⁸ Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,
²⁹ that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
³⁰ And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
³¹ "If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,
³² then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
³³ "When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house,
³⁴ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.
³⁵ "When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them,
³⁶ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
³⁷ "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,
³⁸ whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,
³⁹ then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
⁴⁰ that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.
⁴¹ "Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake
⁴² (for they shall hear of your great name 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 do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.
⁴⁴ "If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,
⁴⁵ then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
⁴⁶ "If they sin against you ? for there is no one who does not sin ? and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,
⁴⁷ yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,'
⁴⁸ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,
⁴⁹ then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause
⁵⁰ and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
⁵¹ (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace).
⁵² Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you.
⁵³ For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD."
⁵⁴ Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven.
⁵⁵ And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
⁵⁶ "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.
⁵⁷ The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us,
⁵⁸ that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.
⁵⁹ Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires,
⁶⁰ that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.
⁶¹ Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day."
⁶² Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.
⁶³ Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
⁶⁴ The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings.
⁶⁵ So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days.
⁶⁶ On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.

1 Kings chapter 8 nlt

¹ Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes ? the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the LORD's Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.
² So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim.
³ When all the elders of Israel arrived, the priests picked up the Ark.
⁴ The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the LORD along with the special tent and all the sacred items that had been in it.
⁵ There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!
⁶ Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD's Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple ? the Most Holy Place ? and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.
⁷ The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles.
⁸ These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place, which is in front of the Most Holy Place, but not from the outside. They are still there to this day.
⁹ Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD.
¹¹ The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of 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! "
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."
²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven,
²³ and he prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.
²⁴ You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.
²⁵ "And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, 'If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.'
²⁶ Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.
²⁷ "But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
²⁸ Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.
²⁹ May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, 'My name will be there.' May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place.
³⁰ May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
³¹ "If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple,
³² then hear from heaven and judge between your servants ? the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.
³³ "If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,
³⁴ then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.
³⁵ "If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them,
³⁶ then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.
³⁷ "If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people's enemies are in the land besieging their towns ? whatever disaster or disease there is ?
³⁸ and if your people Israel pray about their troubles, raising their hands toward this Temple,
³⁹ then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.
⁴⁰ Then they will fear you as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.
⁴¹ "In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name,
⁴² for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple,
⁴³ then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.
⁴⁴ "If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the LORD by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,
⁴⁵ then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.
⁴⁶ "If they sin against you ? and who has never sinned? ? you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near.
⁴⁷ But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, 'We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.'
⁴⁸ If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors ? toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name ?
⁴⁹ then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause.
⁵⁰ Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them,
⁵¹ for they are your people ? your special possession ? whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.
⁵² "May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. May you hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you.
⁵³ For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign LORD, you told your servant Moses that you had set Israel apart from all the nations of the earth to be your own special possession."
⁵⁴ When Solomon finished making these prayers and petitions to the LORD, he stood up in front of the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands raised toward heaven.
⁵⁵ He stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire congregation of Israel:
⁵⁶ "Praise the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.
⁵⁷ May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us.
⁵⁸ May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.
⁵⁹ And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before him constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day's needs.
⁶⁰ Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other.
⁶¹ And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today."
⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the LORD.
⁶³ Solomon offered to the LORD a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the LORD.
⁶⁴ That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD's Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the LORD's presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
⁶⁵ Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the LORD our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all ? seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters.
⁶⁶ After the festival was over, Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad because the LORD had been good to his servant David and to his people Israel.