Fire from Heaven
When they brought the ark to its place...
When they brought the ark to its place (see 2 Chronicles 5:13–14), the glorious presence of the Lord descended on the temple. The divine glory stayed in the temple, stopping the priests from entering to perform their duties (see “The Glory of God” Theme Note and “God’s Glory with His People” Theme Note).
1When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.
3When 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.”Sacrifices of Dedication
Sacrifices were essential to dedicate the dwelling of...
Sacrifices were essential to dedicate the dwelling of the most high on earth. They also provided food for the people during the fifteen-day celebration. The number of animals sacrificed matches those in 1 Kings 8:63.
4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6The 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.
7Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar he had made could not hold all these offerings.
Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of...
Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south marked Israel's boundaries, as promised to the patriarchs (Genesis 15:18; Numbers 34:5, 8; Joshua 15:4). The temple dedication festival occurred before the annual Festival of Shelters, which ended on the twenty-second day of the month.
8So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a very great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast† for seven days. 9On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar had lasted seven days, and the feast seven days more.
10On 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.
The LORD’s Response to Solomon
11When 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, 12the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him:
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
These verses refer directly to Solomon’s prayer (see...
These verses refer directly to Solomon’s prayer (see 2 Chronicles 6:26, 28, 40). God explained to Solomon what is needed to be saved from judgment. In Solomon’s prayer, each situation was addressed separately. In the Lord’s answer, the response is more general and thorough. The people need humility, repentance, seeking the Lord, and prayer to heal from their troubles.
13If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, 14and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.
God told Solomon that God's kingdom is eternal....
God told Solomon that God's kingdom is eternal. In 1 Kings 9:5, it says one of Solomon's descendants will always be on Israel's throne. The Chronicler says one of Solomon's descendants will always rule Israel. During the Chronicler's time, there was no throne in Israel, so this refers to the Messiah (compare Micah 5:2).
17And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances, 18then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’
Even though it was magnificent, people mocked the...
Even though it was magnificent, people mocked the temple when the Israelites turned away from the Lord. The Babylonians destroyed the temple in 586 BC.
19But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, 20then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.
21And when this temple has become a heap of rubble,† all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’”