Study Desk

"My father David wanted to build a temple for the Lord , the God of Israel.

But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple for me.

"Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord , the God of Israel.

I have made a place there for the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."

"When your people go out to fight their enemies along some road on which you send them, your people will pray to you, facing the city which you have chosen and the Temple I have built for you.

Your people will be sorry for their sins when they are held as prisoners in another country. They will be sorry and pray to you in the land where they are held as prisoners, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong and acted wickedly.'

They will truly turn back to you in the land of their enemies. They will pray to you, facing this land you gave their ancestors, this city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for you.

Forgive your people of all their sins and for turning against you. Make those who have captured them show them mercy.

"Give your attention to my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel. Listen to them anytime they ask you for help.

May the Lord our God remember this prayer day and night and do what is right for his servant and his people Israel day by day.

Solomon and all the Israelites celebrated the other festival that came at that time. People came from as far away as Lebo Hamath and the brook of Egypt. A great many people celebrated before the Lord for seven days, then seven more days, for a total of fourteen days.

On the following day Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king as they went, happy because of all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

King Solomon also built cities for storing grain and supplies and cities for his chariots and horses. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and everywhere he ruled.

They were descendants of people that the Israelites had not destroyed. Solomon forced them to work for him as slaves, as is still true today.

The daughter of the king of Egypt moved from the old part of Jerusalem to the palace that Solomon had built for her. Then Solomon filled in the surrounding land.

Three times each year Solomon offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord . He also burned incense before the Lord . So he finished the work on the Temple.

and Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.

Praise the Lord your God, who was pleased to make you king of Israel. The Lord has constant love for Israel, so he made you king to keep justice and to rule fairly."

Solomon used the juniper wood to build supports for the Temple of the Lord and the palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Such fine juniper wood has not been brought in or been seen since that time.)

King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for, in addition to what he had already given her of his wealth. Then she and her servants returned to her own country.