Study Desk

"When Your people go out to battle against those who hate them, by whatever way You send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house I have built for Your name,

"When they sin against You, (for there is no man who does not sin), and You are angry with them and give them to those who hate them, they will be carried away against their will to a land far away or near.

If they think about it in the land where they have been taken, and are sorry for their sins and turn away from them and pray to You in the land where they have been taken, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have been bad and have done wrong.'

If they come back to You with all their heart and soul in the land where they have been taken and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers and toward the city You have chosen and toward the house I have built for Your name,

then hear from heaven where You live. Hear their prayer and what they ask for, and help them. Forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

All the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the shining-greatness of the Lord upon the house. So they bowed their faces to the ground and worshiped. They gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good. For His loving-kindness lasts forever."

The religious leaders stood in their places while the Levites were praising the Lord using objects King David had made. They were playing, "For His loving-kindness lasts forever." As the religious leaders blew horns on the other side, all Israel stood.

At that time Solomon gave the special supper for seven days, and all Israel with him. Many people were there. They had come from the gate of Hamath to the river of Egypt.

On the eighth day they gathered together for a special time. For seven days they had to set apart the altar, and for seven days they had the special supper.

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month Solomon sent the people to their tents. They were full of joy and happy in their heart for the good that the Lord had shown to David and Solomon and His people Israel.

Then the Lord came to Solomon during the night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer. And I have chosen this place for Myself as a house of gifts given in worship.

if My people who are called by My name put away their pride and pray, and look for My face, and turn from their sinful ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

For I have chosen this house and have made it holy, that My name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.

As for you, if you walk in My ways as your father David walked and do all that I have told you to do and keep My Laws,

then I will take you from the land I have given you. And I will turn My eyes away from this house which I have set apart for My name. I will make it so all people speak of it in shame.

Solomon built Baalath and all the store-cities he had. He built all the cities for his war-wagons, and the cities for his horsemen. He built whatever he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.

Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. For he said, "My wife should not live in the house of David king of Israel. Because the places are holy where the special box of the Lord has come."

He gave a certain number of gifts every day, as Moses had said should be given. Gifts were given for the Days of Rest, the new moons, and the three special suppers each year. These special suppers were the Special Supper of Bread Without Yeast, the Special Supper of Weeks, and the Special Supper of Tents.

By the law of David his father, Solomon chose the religious leaders for their different duties. He chose the Levites for their duties of praise and helping the religious leaders for each day's needs. And he chose who should be the gate-keepers at each gate. For David the man of God had said that this must be done.

Praise be to the Lord your God Who was pleased with you! He set you on His throne as king for the Lord your God. Your God loved Israel and would have them last forever. So He made you king over them to do what is fair and right and good."