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 [leaders] of the fathers of the children [people] of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, |
[So] they might bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of Zion [Jerusalem,] the city of David. All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, [that] is the 7th month. |
All [Israel’s] elders came & the priests [got] & brought up the Ark of the Lord & the Tabernacle of the Congregation & the priests & the Levites brought up all the holy [items] that were in the tabernacle. |
King Solomon & all the congregation of Israel assembled & 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, even under the wings of the cherubims [angelic statues.] |
For the [cherubims’] 2 wings spread [out] over the place of the Ark. The [cherubims’ wings] covered the Ark & the [poles] above [it.] And 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 children [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 that 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] with His mouth to David, my father. |
And [the Lord] has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, Since the day that I brought My people, Israel, 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 that it was 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 for 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. |
And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel & spread his hands [out toward] heaven. And [Solomon] said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven above or on the earth [below,] |
Who [keeps] covenant [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 [what] You promised Your servant, David, my father. |
You promised him saying, There shall not fail [to be] a man 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 You let Your Word be verified, [that] You [spoke] to my father, David, Your servant. 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 the 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 [are] open toward this house night & day, |
Even toward the place [that] You [have] 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 [he] You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place & when You hear, forgive. If any man [sins] against his neighbor & he is [caused] to swear [an] oath & the oath comes before Your altar in this house: |
Then, You hear [it] in heaven & 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. |
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, 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, You hear in heaven & You forgive the sin of Your servants & Your people, Israel, [so] that You teach them the good [path] they should [follow.] |
And 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, or caterpillars,] if their enemy [attacks] them in the land of 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 Your people, Israel, [who] shall know the [affliction] of his own heart & [spreads out] his hands toward this house: |
Then, 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 that they live [on] the land, [that] You gave to our [forefathers.] [Also, about a foreigner, who] isn’t of Your people, Israel, 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 You for, so] all people of the earth may know Your Name, to fear [respect] You, |
[like] the Your people [of] Israel do & [so] they may know that this house, [that] I have [built,] is called by Your name. If Your people go out to battle against their enemy, [wherever] You shall send them & shall pray to the Lord, toward the city You [have] chosen & toward the house I have built for Your Name: |
Then, You hear in heaven their prayer & [requests for help] & [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 shall [re-evaluate their actions & change their hearts] in the land [of their captivity] & repent & [pray making requests] to You in the land [where they are captive,] saying, We have sinned & have done [evil] & we [acted wickedly] & return to You with all their heart & soul, in the land of their enemies, [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 [that] I have built for Your Name: Then, You hear their [prayers & requests] in heaven, Your dwelling place, |
[You will give them justice] & forgive Your people, [who] have sinned against You & all their [sins, in which] they have [sinned] against You & give them compassion before [their captors, so their captors] may have compassion on them. For they [are] Your people & Your inheritance, [that] You brought [forward] out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace. |
[So,] that Your eyes [are] open to the [requests] of Your servant & Your people, Israel, to [listen] to them in all they [request of] You. For You did separate them from among all 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. [May] the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our [forefathers.] [Don’t] let Him leave us, nor [abandon] us. |
[So] that He may [continue to turn ] our hearts to Him, [to follow] Him in all His ways & [obey] His commandments & His [mandates] & His [justice,] that He commanded our [forefathers.] Let these, my words, [with which] I have [used for these requests] before the Lord, be [near] to the Lord our God day & night, |
[So] He [supports] the cause of His servant & the cause of His people, Israel, at all times, [in whatever] matter [they] shall require: so] that the people of the earth may know that the Lord Is God & there is [no other.] |
Therefore, let your heart be [blameless] with the Lord our God, to walk in His [mandates] & to keep His commandments, as [it is] this day. And king [Solomon] & all Israel with him, offered [sacrifices] before the Lord [God.] |
And Solomon [sacrificed a] Peace Offerings to the Lord [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. For there, [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, a [large] congregation from the [entrance] of Hamath [all the way] to the River of Egypt, before the Lord our God, 7 days & [7 more days for a total of] 14 days. |
On the [next] day, [Solomon] sent [all] the people away. And 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. |