1 THEN said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
4 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,
5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
8 But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
9 Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
10 The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel.
12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
14 And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from 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, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
42 O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

1Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thicke darkenesse.

2But I haue built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for euer.

3And the King turned his face and blessed the whole Congregation of Israel, (and all the Congregation of Israel stood)

4And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his handes fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father Dauid, saying,

5Since the day that I brought foorth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no citie among all the tribes of Israel to builde an house in, that my Name might be there, neither chose I any man to be a ruler ouer my people Israel:

6But I haue chosen Ierusalem, that my name might be there, and haue chosen Dauid to be ouer my people Israel.

7Now it was in the heart of Dauid my father to build an house for the Name of the Lord God of Israel.

8But the Lord said to Dauid my father: Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to builde an house for my Name, thou diddest well in that it was in thine heart.

9Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house, but thy sonne which shall come foorth out of thy loynes, he shall build the house for my Name.

10The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen vp in the roome of Dauid my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and haue built the house for the Name of the Lord God of Israel.

11And in it haue I put the Arke, wherein is the Couenant of the Lord, that hee made with the children of Israel.

12 And he stood before the Altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the Congregation of Israel, and spread foorth his hands:

13(For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of fiue cubites long, and fiue cubites broad, and three cubites high, and had set it in the midst of the Court, and vpon it hee stood, and kneeled downe vpon his knees before all the Congregation of Israel, and spread foorth his hands towards heauen.)

14And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heauen, nor in the earth, which keepest couenant, and shewest mercy vnto thy seruants, that walke before thee with all their hearts,

15Thou which hast kept with thy seruant Dauid my father, that which thou hast promised him: and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

16Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keepe with thy seruant Dauid my father, that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not faile thee a man in my sight, to sit vpon the throne of Israel: yet so, that thy children take heede to their way, to walke in my Law, as thou hast walked before me.

17Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken vnto thy seruant Dauid.

18(But wil God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heauen, and the heauen of heauens cannot conteine thee: how much lesse this house which I haue built?)

19Haue respect therfore to the prayer of thy seruant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken vnto the cry, and the prayer which thy seruant prayeth before thee:

20That thine eyes may bee open vpon this house day and night, vpon the place whereof thou hast saide, that thou wouldest put thy Name there, to hearken vnto the prayer, which thy seruant prayeth towards this place.

21Hearken therefore vnto the supplications of thy seruant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make towards this place: heare thou from thy dwelling place, euen from heauen; and when thou hearest, forgiue.

22 If a man sinne against his neighbour, and an oath be layd vpon him, to make him sweare, and the oath come before thine Altar in this house:

23Then heare thou from heauen, and doe, and iudge thy seruants by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way vpon his owne head, and by iustifying the righteous, by giuing him according to his righteousnesse.

24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they haue sinned against thee, and shall returne and confesse thy Name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house:

25Then heare thou from the heauens, and forgiue the sinne of thy people Israel, and bring them againe vnto the land which thou gauest to them, and to their fathers.

26 When the heauen is shut vp, and there is no raine, because they haue sinned against thee: yet if they pray towards this place, and confesse thy Name, and turne from their sinne, when thou doest afflict them:

27Then heare thou from heauen, and forgiue the sinne of thy seruants, and of thy people Israel; when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walke, and send raine vpon the land, which thou hast giuen vnto thy people for an inheritance.

28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mil-dew, locusts or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land: whatsoeuer sore, or whatsoeuer sicknesse there be:

29Then what prayer, or what supplication soeuer shall bee made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when euery one shal know his owne sore and his owne griefe, and shall spread foorth his hands in this house:

30Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place, and forgiue, and render vnto euery man according vnto all his wayes, whose heart thou knowest (for thou onely knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

31That they may feare thee, to walke in thy waies so long as they liue in the land which thou gauest vnto our fathers.

32 Moreouer concerning the stranger which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a farre countrey for thy great Names sake, & thy mightie hand, and thy stretched out arme: if they come and pray in this house:

33Then heare thou from the heauens, euen from thy dwelling place, and doe according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy Name, and feare thee, as doeth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I haue built, is called by thy Name.

34If thy people goe out to warre against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray vnto thee toward this citie which thou hast chosen, and the house which I haue built for thy Name:

35Then heare thou from the heauens their prayer and their supplication, and maintaine their cause.

36If they sinne against thee (for there is no man which sinneth not) and thou be angry with them, and deliuer them ouer before their enemies, and they cary them away captiues vnto a land far off or neere:

37Yet if they bethinke themselues in the land whither they are caried captiue, and turne and pray vnto thee in the land of their captiuitie, saying, Wee haue sinned, we haue done amisse, and haue dealt wickedly:

38If they returne to thee with all their heart, and with all their soule, in the land of their captiuitie, whither they haue caried them captiues, and pray toward their land which thou gauest vnto their fathers, and toward the citie which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I haue built for thy Name:

39Then heare thou from the heauens, euen from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintaine their cause, and forgiue thy people, which haue sinned against thee.

40Now, my God, let (I beseech thee) thine eyes bee open, and let thine eares be attent vnto the prayer that is made in this place.

41Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the Arke of thy strength: Let thy Priests, O Lord God, be clothed with saluation, and let thy Saints reioyce in goodnesse.

42O Lord God, turne not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of Dauid thy seruant.

I == Lev 16:2 ; 1st Kings 8:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == 1st Chr 28:4 ; 2nd Chr 17:1 ; 28:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == 2nd chr 5:10

 

XII == 1st Kings 8:22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Ex 15:11 ; Deut 4:39 ; 7:9

 

 

XV == 1st Chr 22:9

 

 

 

XVI == 2nd Sam 7:12 , 16 ; 1st Kings 2:4 ; 6:12 ; 2nd chr 7:18 ; Ps 132:12

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == 2nd Chr 2:6 ; Isa 66:1 ; Acts 7:49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == 1st Kings 17:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == 2nd Chr 20:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXX == 1st Chr 28:9

 

 

 

 

 

XXXII == John 12:20 ; Acts 8:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVI == Prov 20:9 ; Eccl 7:20 ; James 3:2 ; 1st John 1:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLI == 1st Chr 28:2 ; Neh 9:25 ; Ps 132;8-10 , 16

 

 

XLII == Ps 132:1 ; Isa 55:3

 

1 Then Solomon said: "The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud.

2 I have truly built you a princely house and dwelling, where you may abide forever."

3 Turning about, the king greeted the whole community of Israel as they stood.

4 He said: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own mouth made a promise to my father David and by his own hands brought it to fulfillment. He said:

5 'Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen any city from among all the tribes of Israel for the building of a temple to my honor, nor have I chosen any man to be commander of my people Israel;

6 but now I choose Jerusalem, where I shall be honored, and I choose David to rule my people Israel.'

7 My father David wished to build a temple to the honor of the LORD, the God of Israel,

8 but the LORD said to him: 'In wishing to build a temple to my honor, you do well.

9 However, you shall not build the temple; rather, your son whom you will beget shall build the temple to my honor.'

10 "Now the LORD has fulfilled the promise that he made. I have succeeded my father David and have taken my seat on the throne of Israel, as the LORD foretold, and I have built the temple to the honor of the LORD, the God of Israel.

11 And I have placed there the ark, in which abides the covenant of the LORD which he made with the Israelites."

12 Solomon then took his place before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole community of Israel and stretched forth his hands.

13 He had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, which he had placed in the middle of the courtyard. Having ascended it, Solomon knelt in the presence of the whole of Israel and stretched forth his hands toward heaven.

14 Thus he prayed: "LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth; you keep your covenant and show kindness to your servants who are wholeheartedly faithful to you.

15 You have kept the promise you made to my father David, your servant. With your own mouth you spoke it, and by your own hand you have brought it to fulfillment this day.

16 Now, therefore, LORD, God of Israel, keep the further promise you made to my father David, your servant, when you said, 'You shall always have someone from your line to sit before me on the throne of Israel, provided only that your descendants look to their conduct so as always to live according to my law, even as you have lived in my presence.'

17 Now, LORD, God of Israel, may this promise which you made to your servant David be confirmed.

18 "Can it indeed be that God dwells with mankind on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!

19 Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication your servant makes before you.

20 May your eyes watch day and night over this temple, the place where you have decreed you shall be honored; may you heed the prayer which I your servant offer toward this place.

21 Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel which they direct toward this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling, and when you have heard, pardon.

22 "When any man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath of execration against himself, and when he comes for the oath before your altar in this temple,

23 listen from heaven: take action and pass judgment on your servants, requiting the wicked man and holding him responsible for his conduct, but absolving the innocent and rewarding him according to his virtue.

24 When your people Israel have sinned against you and are defeated by the enemy, but afterward they return and praise your name, and they pray to you and entreat you in this temple,

25 listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which you gave them and their fathers.

26 When the sky is closed so that there is no rain, because they have sinned against you, but then they pray toward this place and praise your name, and they withdraw from sin because you afflict them,

27 listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. But teach them the right way to live, and send rain upon your land which you gave your people as their heritage.

28 When there is famine in the land, when there is pestilence, or blight, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars; when their enemies besiege them at any of their gates; whenever there is a plague or sickness of any kind;

29 when any Israelite of all your people offers a prayer or petition of any kind, and in awareness of his affliction and pain, stretches out his hands toward this temple,

30 listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and forgive. Knowing his heart, render to everyone according to his conduct, for you alone know the hearts of men.

31 So may they fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live on the land you gave our fathers.

32 "For the foreigner, too, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes from a distant land to honor your great name, your mighty power, and your outstretched arm, when they come in prayer to this temple,

33 listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner entreats you, that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, fearing you as do your people Israel, and knowing that this house which I have built is dedicated to your honor.

34 "When your people go forth to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and pray to you in the direction of this city and of the house I have built to your honor,

35 listen from heaven to their prayer and petition, and defend their cause.

36 When they sin against you (for there is no man who does not sin), and in your anger against them you deliver them to the enemy, so that their captors deport them to another land, far or near,

37 when they repent in the land where they are captive and are converted, when they entreat you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,'

38 and with their whole heart and with their whole soul they turn back to you in the land of those who hold them captive, when they pray in the direction of their land which you gave their fathers, and of the city you have chosen, and of the house which I have built to your honor,

39 listen from your heavenly dwelling place, hear their prayer and petitions, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.

40 My God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

41 And now, "Advance, LORD God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your majesty. May your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful ones rejoice in good things.

42 LORD God, reject not the plea of your anointed, remember the devotion of David, your servant."

v 1-11 are Solomon’s sermon. In v 5 he reminds them that God permitted but did not choose a king. Saul was the people’s desire, not God’s. God may grant things that are not according to His will, Ps. 106:5 “but send leanness unto their soul.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 12. Being in public he stands and spreads forth his hands before the Lord.

 

 

v 13. He is on a 7 1/2 ‘ square bronze platform raised 4 1/2’ in the center of the court. Then kneels upon his knees before all the people with hands spread toward heaven.

 

v 14. He honors the Lord as the incomparable God who keeps His promise and shows mercy to those who walk with perfect hearts.

 

v 15. Acknowledges God had kept all His promises to David.

v 16. Asks God to continue to keep His agreement and promise to David.

 

 

 

v 17. Asks for verification of that promise.

 

v 18. Solomon admits the insignificance of the temple compared to heaven.

 

v 19,20. Humbles himself as a servant to beg the Lord to constantly hear, in respect to the house which God had commanded.

 

 

 

v 21. Solomon recognizes that forgiveness of sin is a priority for answered prayer.

 

v 22,23. If a man sins against  his neighbor, God hears and judge between them.

 

 

 

 

v 24,25. If they are defeated, confess God and pray  that He may restore them.

 

 

 

 

v 26,27. If there is no rain, confess and turn from sin that God may send rain.

 

 

 

 

 

v 28-31. In any problem, all Israelites are to confess their sin. The Lord knows if their heart is right, and will answer accordingly. (Stretching hands to heaven was not a condition of forgiveness, but in doing so they were to express their sincerity.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 32,33. Request that God even hear foreigners who turn to Him and pray.

 

 

 

 

 

v 34-39. Solomon knows all men sin, so if they go to war and / or are taken captive because of sin, they are to admit their sin and return to God wherever they are, and pray toward this place, God’s dwelling place on earth, and He will forgive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 40,41.  Solomon sincerely asks God to come and dwell in the temple.

 

 

 

 

v 42. Here is the first hint that Solomon may not practice what he preached. He seems to exempt himself from having to confess and forsake sin, maybe feeling that God should watch over him for the sake of the Lord’s promises to David.