Study Desk

Solomon began construction on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

So all the work that Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought the consecrated items of his father David-the silver, the gold, and all the furnishings-and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of God.

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: "For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever." Then the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

and said: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,

When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,

may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make-each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this house-

be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart-for You alone know the hearts of men-

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: "For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever."

The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, "For His loving devotion endures forever." Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.

When Solomon had finished the house of the LORD and the royal palace, successfully carrying out all that was in his heart to do for the house of the LORD and for his own palace,

Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own palace,

as well as Baalath, all the store cities that belonged to Solomon, all the cities for his chariots and horses-whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slave labor, because they were his men of war, his officers and captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.

In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

So Hiram sent him ships captained by his servants, along with crews of experienced sailors. They went with Solomon's servants to Ophir and acquired from there 450 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.