Bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the House of the Lord |
1 Kings 8:1-66 1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks] |
Then, Solomon assembled the elders of Israel & all the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers of the children [people] of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, |
[So] they might bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of Zion [Jerusalem,] the city of David. All the men assembled to king Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, [that] is the 7th month. |
All [Israel’s] elders came & the priests brought up the Ark of the Lord & the Tabernacle of the Congregation & the priests & the Levites brought up all the holy [furnishings] that were in the tabernacle. |
King Solomon & all the congregation of Israel were with him [in front of] the Ark & [sacrificed] sheep & oxen that couldn’t be [counted, because there were so many]. |
The priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord into [its] place in the [inner sanctuary of the temple,] the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubims [angelic statues]. |
For the [cherubs’] wings spread [out] over the place of the Ark. The [cherubs’ wings covered the Ark & the [poles] above [it]. They drew out the [poles] & the ends of the [poles] were seen in the Holy Place [in front of the inner sanctuary] & they weren’t seen [outside it]. |
[The Ark’s poles] are there to this day. There was nothing in the Ark [except] the 2 [tablets] of stone, [that] Moses put there in Horeb, when the Lord [God] made a covenant [contract] with the [people] of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. |
It [happened] when the priests came out of the Holy Place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord & the priests couldn’t stand to minister, because of the cloud. For the glory of the Lord had filled the [Lord’s] house. |
Then, Solomon spoke,The Lord said He would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built You [Lord] a house to dwell in, a [stationary] place for You to [stay] in forever. |
The king turned his face [around] & blessed all the congregation of Israel: (& all the congregation of Israel stood). [Solomon] said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, [who] spoke to David, my father, with His [own] mouth. |
And [the Lord] has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, Since the day I brought My people out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, [so] My name [could be there;] but I chose David to be over My people, Israel. |
And it was in the heart of David, my father, to build a house [to honor] the name of the Lord God of Israel. The Lord said to David, my father, [Since] it was in your heart to build a house to [honor] My name, you did well to have it in your heart. |
[Still,] you won’t build the house, but your son, [whom you shall father,] & [he] shall build the house to [honor] My name. The Lord has [done] His word that He spoke & I have risen up [in the place] of David, my father & sit on the throne of Israel, [like] the Lord promised. |
And [I] have built a house [to honor] the name of the Lord God of Israel. I have [made] there a place for the Ark & [inside] is the Covenant of the Lord, [that] He made with our [forefathers,] when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. |
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel & spread his hands [out toward] heaven. [Solomon] said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven above or on the earth [below,] |
Who [keeps] covenants [contracts] & mercy with Your servants [who] walk before you with all their heart. [You] who has kept [all] You promised Your servant, David, my father. |
You also spoke to him with Your [own] mouth & has fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep Your promise [that You made to,] Your servant, David, my father. |
You promised him saying, There shall not fail to [be] a man [of your family] to sit on the throne of Israel in My sight. [So,] that [your] children [pay attention] to their [actions, so] that they walk before Me [like] you [have] walked before Me. |
Now, O God of Israel, I pray that You let Your word be verified, [that] you spoke to my father, David. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? [See,] the heaven of heavens can’t contain You. How much less this house that I have built? |
[Still,] You respect [my] prayer of Your servant & to his [requests,] O Lord my God, to [listen] to the cry & to the prayer, which Your servant prays before You today: That Your eyes be open toward this house night & day, |
Even toward the place [that] You said, My name shall be there: That you may [listen] to the prayer, [that] your servant shall make toward this place. [Listen to the request] of your servant & of Your people, Israel, when they shall pray toward this place. |
And [when] You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place & when You hear, forgive. When any man [sins] against his neighbor & he is [caused] to swear an oath & the oath comes before Your altar in this house: |
Then, [when] You hear [it] in heaven & [take action] & judge Your servants, condemning the [guilty by bringing the [consequence of his actions] upon his head & justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. |
Then [when] Your people, Israel, [are struck down] before the enemy, because they have sinned against You & shall [return] to You again & confess Your name & pray& make [requests] to You in this house: |
Then, [when] You hear in heaven & forgive the sin of Your people, Israel & bring them again [into] the land [that] You gave to their [forefathers]. When heaven is shut up & there is no rain, because they sinned against You, |
If they pray toward this place & confess Your name & [return] from their sin, when You afflict them: Then, [when You hear in heaven & You forgive the sin of Your servants & Your people, Israel, [so] that You teach them the good way they should [follow]. |
Give them rain upon Your land, [that] You have given to Your people for an inheritance. If there is a famine in the land, pestilence, blight, mildew, locusts, caterpillars, if their enemy [attacks] them in the land or their cities, [whatever] plague or sickness there [is,] |
Then hear in heaven in Your dwelling place, whatever prayer & request [is] made by any man or by all the people, of Israel, [who] knows the [sin] in their own hearts & spreads [out] his hands toward this house: |
Then, [when] You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place & forgive & [take action] & give to every man according [to what he’s done,] whose heart You know: (for You only, know the hearts of all the children of men:) |
[So,] they may fear [respect] You all the days they live on the land, [that] You gave to our [forefathers]. [Also, about a foreigner, who] isn’t of Your people, but comes from a far country for Your name’s sake: |
(For they shall hear of Your great name & of Your strong hand & outstretched arm;) & When he shall come & pray toward this house; & You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place & do according to all that stranger [asks of you, so] all people of the earth may know Your name, to fear [respect] You, |
[like] the people of Israel do & [so] they may know this house, [that] I built You is called by Your name. If your people go out to battle against their enemy, [wherever] You may send them & shall pray to the Lord, toward the city You have chosen & toward the house I have built for Your name: |
Then [when] You hear in heaven their prayer & [requests for help] & [You support] their cause. If they sin against You, (for there isn’t any man [who] doesn’t sin,) & You are angry with them, & deliver them to the enemy & [they are carried] away [captive] into the land of the enemy, far or near; |
[Still,] if they [re-evaluate their actions & change their hearts] in the land [of their captivity] & repent & [pray making requests] of You in the land [where they are captive,] saying, We have sinned & have done [evil] & [acted wickedly,] & return to You with their whole heart & soul, [where they are captives] |
And pray to You toward their land [that] You gave to their [forefathers] & the city [that] You have chosen & the house I have built for Your name. Then, [when] You hear their prayers & [requests] in heaven, Your dwelling place, |
[You will give them justice] & forgive Your people all their [sins that] they have done against You & [You have their captors show] them compassion. For they are Your people & Your inheritance, [that] You brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace. |
[So,] that Your eyes [are] open to the [requests] of Your servant & Your people, to [listen] to them in all they [request] of You. For You [separated] them from among the people of the earth, to be Your inheritance, as You spoke [at] the hand of Moses, Your servant, |
When You brought our [forefathers] out of Egypt, O Lord God. And it [happened,] when Solomon [finished saying] all this prayer & [requests] to the Lord, [Solomon] arose from kneeling [in front of] the altar of the Lord, & stood with his hands spread up to heaven. |
[Solomon] blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the Lord, who has given [peace] to His people, Israel, according to all He promised. |
Not one word of all His good promise has failed [to happen, that] He promised [at] the hand of Moses, His servant. The Lord our God will be with us, as He was with our [forefathers]. Don’t let Him leave us, nor [abandon] us. |
[So] He may [continue to turn ] our hearts to Him, [to follow] Him & [obey] His commandments & His [justice] He commanded our [forefathers]. Let these words [of mine,] I have [used for these requests] before the Lord, be [close] to the Lord God day & night, |
[So] He [supports] the cause of His servant & His people, Israel, at all times, [in whatever way] the matter [requires, so] the people of the earth may know the Lord Is God & there is [no other]. |
Therefore, let your hearts be perfect before the Lord our God, to walk in His [laws] & to keep His commandments, as [it is] this day. And [king Solomon] & the people offered sacrifices before the Lord [God]. |
Solomon [sacrificed a] peace offering [of:] 22,000 oxen & 20,000 sheep [& goats]. So king [Solomon] & all the children [people] of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord [God]. |
[That] same day, king [Solomon consecrated] the middle of the [courtyard] that [was in front of the Lord’s] house. [That] day, [Solomon] offered burnt offerings, meat/grain offerings, & the fat of the peace offerings, because the [brass] altar was too little to [hold all] the burnt offerings, |
[The] meat/grain offerings & the fat of the peace offerings. At that time, Solomon held a feast & all Israel with him, [which was a large] congregation from the [entrance] of Hamath to the River of Egypt, before the Lord our God, 7 days & [then 7 more days for a total of] 14 days. |
On the [next] day, [Solomon] sent [all] the people away. They blessed the king & went to their tents with [joy & gladness in their hearts] for all the goodness the Lord [God] had done for David, His servant & for Israel, His people. |