1 Kings 8: The ark comes into the temple, and Solomon's prayer of dedication
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
In the seventh month Solomon gathers the elders of Israel, and the priests bring the ark of Yahweh's covenant into the inner sanctuary of the house, under the wings of the cherubim; when they come out, the cloud fills the house, and Yahweh's glory fills it so that the priests cannot stand to serve. Solomon blesses the assembly, then stands before the altar with his hands spread toward heaven and prays that Yahweh will hear in heaven and forgive when his people pray toward this house, and hear the foreigner who prays toward it. Then the king and all Israel offer twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, and they hold the feast for fourteen days.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Solomon speaks in verses 12 and 13, blesses the assembly in verses 15 to 21, prays to Yahweh in verses 23 to 53, and blesses the people again in verses 56 to 61. Inside his words he tells what Yahweh had said (verses 12, 16, 18, 19, 25 and 29); those are Solomon's report, so they are not in gold. In verse 47 he gives the words the people may say in the land of their captors. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel with all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion.
In plain English: Then Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, with all the heads of the tribes and the leaders (this Bible: princes) of the fathers' households of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh's covenant out of the City of David, which is Zion.
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2All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
In plain English: All the men of Israel gathered to King Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
Good to know: Ethanim is in only this verse of the Bible. The dictionary gives it as "the name of a month", and the text itself says it "is the seventh month". The text calls the feast only "the feast". sets "the feast of booths" on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. says the house was finished in the eighth month of the eleventh year; the text does not say in which year this gathering was.
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3All the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked up the ark.
In plain English: All the elders of Israel came, and the priests lifted up the ark.
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4They brought up Yahweh’s ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent. The priests and the Levites brought these up.
In plain English: They brought up Yahweh's ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy objects (this Bible: vessels) that were in the Tent. The priests and the Levites brought them up.
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5King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
In plain English: King Solomon and all the people (this Bible: congregation) of Israel who had gathered to him were with him in front of the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle, so many that they could not be counted or numbered.
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6The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings.
In plain English: The priests brought the ark of Yahweh's covenant into its place, into the inner room (this Bible: inner sanctuary) of the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.
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7For the cherubim spread their wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
In plain English: For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles from above.
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8The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen outside. They are there to this day.
In plain English: The poles were so long (literally: they made the poles long; see the note) that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner room, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.
The Hebrew word: "Were so long" is arak, which the dictionary gives as being long, or making long. Word for word the Hebrew can read "they made the poles long", and the STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "they were long". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the holy staves projected".
What changes: Read as "the poles were so long", it was their length that let the ends be seen. Read as "they made the poles long", the text speaks of something done to the poles, and does not say what. Either way, the ends could be seen from the holy place but not from outside.
Good to know: "They are there to this day" is in the Hebrew, and has "it is there to this day". The text does not say when "this day" was. Brenton does not have these words.
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9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
In plain English: There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant (literally: cut) with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
Good to know: says Moses "put the tablets in the ark which I had made". speaks of the ark "in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant". This verse says there was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets. The text does not say more.
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10It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled Yahweh’s house,
In plain English: When the priests had come out of the holy place, the cloud filled Yahweh's house,
Good to know: and tell the same of the Tent of Meeting: "the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle", and "Moses wasn't able to enter". and add that when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and "Yahweh's glory filled the house".
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11so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: so that the priests could not stand to serve (this Bible: minister) because of the cloud, for Yahweh's glory filled Yahweh's house.
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12Then Solomon said, “Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
In plain English: Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that he would live (this Bible: dwell) in the thick darkness (or: in the dark cloud).
The Hebrew word: "Thick darkness" is araphel, which the dictionary gives as "gloom (as of a lowering sky)": the dark of a sky heavy with cloud. This Bible says "thick darkness" in 11 of the 15 verses that use it. At Sinai "Moses came near to the thick darkness where God was" (), and Yahweh spoke "out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness" ().
What changes: Read as "thick darkness", Yahweh lives in deep darkness. Read with the dictionary's "lowering sky", it is a dark, heavy cloud. The text does not say which. "The cloud" that fills the house in verses 10 and 11 is a different Hebrew word.
Good to know: The text does not say where Yahweh said this. In the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton), these words come after verse 53, with others the Hebrew does not have, ending "Behold, is not this written in the book of the song?"
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13I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
In plain English: I have truly built you a house to live in (or: a lofty house), a place for you to live in forever."
The Hebrew word: "Habitation" is zebul, which the dictionary gives as "a residence". It is in only 5 verses of the Bible. The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives it as "loftiness".
What changes: Read as "a residence", Solomon has built a house for Yahweh to live in. Read as "loftiness", it is a high and lofty house. Either way, Solomon calls it "a place for you to dwell in forever".
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14The king turned his face around and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.
In plain English: The king turned his face around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.
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15He said, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
In plain English: He said, "Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father (this Bible: your father; see the note), and has done it (this Bible: fulfilled it) with his hand, saying,
Good to know: This Bible has "David your father" here. The Hebrew has "David my father", as Solomon says in verses 17, 18 and 20, and has "David my father" too.
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16‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.’
In plain English: 'Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house so that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.'
Good to know: Here Solomon tells in his own words what Yahweh had said, so these words are not in gold. and give a longer form, with "I chose no man to be prince over my people Israel" and "but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there". Yahweh's promise that David's son would build the house is in and .
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17“Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In plain English: "Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
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18But Yahweh said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
In plain English: But Yahweh said to David my father, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
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19Nevertheless, you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’
In plain English: But you will not build the house. Your son, who will come out of your body (literally: your loins), he will build the house for my name.'
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20Yahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In plain English: Yahweh has kept (this Bible: established) the word that he spoke. I have risen up in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised (literally: spoke), and I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
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21There I have set a place for the ark, in which is Yahweh’s covenant, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
In plain English: There I have made a place for the ark, in which is Yahweh's covenant, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."
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22Solomon stood before Yahweh’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
In plain English: Solomon stood before Yahweh's altar in front of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands (literally: his palms) toward heaven.
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23and he said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and loving kindness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
In plain English: He said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath. You keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart.
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24who has kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
In plain English: You have kept with your servant David my father what you promised (literally: spoke to) him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have done it with your hand, as it is today.
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25Now therefore, may Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail from you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’
In plain English: So now, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father what you promised him when you said, 'You will never lack a man (literally: a man will not be cut off from you) in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children watch their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.'
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26“Now therefore, God of Israel, please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.
In plain English: "So now, God of Israel, please let your word that you spoke to your servant David my father be shown true (this Bible: be verified).
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27But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
In plain English: But will God really live on the earth? Look, heaven and the highest heaven (literally: the heaven of heavens) cannot hold you. How much less this house that I have built!
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28Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you today;
In plain English: Yet turn to (this Bible: have respect for) the prayer of your servant and to his plea for mercy (this Bible: supplication), Yahweh my God, and listen to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you today,
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29that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place.
In plain English: so that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which you have said, 'My name will be there,' and so that you listen to the prayer your servant prays toward this place.
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30Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.
In plain English: Listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, the place where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
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31“If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house,
In plain English: "If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath (or: a curse; see the note) is laid on him to make him swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house,
The Hebrew word: "Oath" is alah, which the dictionary gives as "an imprecation", that is, a curse. This Bible says "oath" or a longer form in 15 of the 32 verses that use it, and "curse" or a longer form in 17. In it is "the oath of cursing". The text does not say more about how the oath was laid on a man.
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32then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
In plain English: then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants: declare the guilty one guilty and bring what he has done (literally: his way) back on his own head, and declare the righteous one in the right and give him what his righteousness deserves.
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33“When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn again to you and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house,
In plain English: "When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn back to you and confess (or: praise) your name, and pray and plead with you in this house,
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34then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers.
In plain English: then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land that you gave to their fathers.
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35“When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them,
In plain English: "When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and confess (or: praise) your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them (or: because you afflict them),
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36then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
In plain English: then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel, when (or: for) you teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
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37“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,
In plain English: "If there is famine in the land, if there is disease (this Bible: pestilence), blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar (or: another kind of locust), if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities (literally: of its gates), whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,
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38whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house,
In plain English: whatever prayer and plea is made by any person, or by all your people Israel, each one knowing the plague (literally: the blow) of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this house,
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39then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men);
In plain English: then hear in heaven, the place where you live, and forgive, and act, and give to each one according to all his ways, since you know his heart (for you, you alone, know the hearts of all the children of men),
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40that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
In plain English: so that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land (literally: on the face of the ground) that you gave to our fathers.
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41“Moreover, concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes out of a far country for your name’s sake
In plain English: "Also the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel: when he comes from a far country for your name's sake
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42(for they shall hear of your great name and of your mighty hand and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house,
In plain English: (for they will hear of your great name, of your mighty hand and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house,
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43hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.
In plain English: then hear in heaven, the place where you live, and do all that the foreigner calls to you for, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as your people Israel do, and may know that this house that I have built is called by your name (literally: your name is called over this house).
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44“If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name,
In plain English: "If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city you have chosen and toward the house I have built for your name,
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45then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
In plain English: then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and do what is right for them (this Bible: maintain their cause).
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46If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;
In plain English: If they sin against you (for there is no one who does not sin), and you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that their captors carry them away to the land of the enemy, far or near,
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47yet if they repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly,’
In plain English: yet if they come to their senses (literally: bring it back to their heart) in the land where they were carried as captives, and turn back, and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have done wrong; we have acted wickedly,'
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48if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen and the house which I have built for your name,
In plain English: if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who carried them away, and pray to you toward their land that you gave to their fathers, the city you have chosen, and the house I have built for your name,
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49then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause;
In plain English: then hear in heaven, the place where you live, their prayer and their plea, and do what is right for them (this Bible: maintain their cause).
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50and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
In plain English: Forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their wrongs (this Bible: transgressions) that they have done against you. Make them find compassion before their captors (literally: give them compassion before their captors), so that they have compassion on them
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51(for they are your people and your inheritance, which you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron furnace);
In plain English: (for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron furnace),
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52that your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you.
In plain English: so that your eyes may be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to you.
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53For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your inheritance, as you spoke by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh.”
In plain English: For you set them apart from all the peoples of the earth to be your inheritance, as you spoke through Moses your servant (literally: by the hand of Moses), when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh."
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54It was so, that when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before Yahweh’s altar, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread out toward heaven.
In plain English: When Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and plea to Yahweh, he got up from in front of Yahweh's altar, where he had been kneeling on his knees with his hands spread out toward heaven.
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55He stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
In plain English: He stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
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56“Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.
In plain English: "Blessed is Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised in everything (literally: according to all that he spoke). Not one word has failed of all his good promise that he made through Moses his servant.
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57May Yahweh our God be with us as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us or forsake us,
In plain English: May Yahweh our God be with us as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or abandon us,
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58that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.
In plain English: so that he may turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes and his rules (this Bible: ordinances), which he commanded our fathers.
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59Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as every day requires;
In plain English: May these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, so that he does what is right for his servant and for his people Israel, as each day needs (literally: the matter of a day in its day),
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60that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh himself is God. There is no one else.
In plain English: so that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh himself is God. There is no one else.
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61“Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as it is today.”
In plain English: "So let your heart be whole (this Bible: perfect) with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes and to keep his commandments, as it is today."
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62The king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.
In plain English: The king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifices before Yahweh.
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63Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, twenty two thousand head of cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: Solomon offered as the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, twenty-two thousand head of cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated Yahweh's house.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. gives the same: "twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred twenty thousand sheep".
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64The same day the king made the middle of the court holy that was before Yahweh’s house; for there he offered the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the fat of the peace offerings.
In plain English: That same day the king made holy the middle of the courtyard in front of Yahweh's house. For there he offered the burnt offering, the grain offering (this Bible: meal offering) and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.
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65So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days.
In plain English: So at that time Solomon held the feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath (or: from Lebo Hamath) to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven more days: fourteen days.
The Hebrew words: "The entrance of Hamath" is literally "the coming in of Hamath". It can be read as words, the way in to the land of Hamath, or as a place name: the STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "Lebo".
Good to know: "Seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days" is the text's own count. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has only "seven days". says "they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days", and that he sent the people away "on the twenty-third day of the seventh month". Verse 66 here says "on the eighth day"; the text does not explain how these fit together.
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66On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad in their hearts for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.
In plain English: On the eighth day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and went to their tents, joyful and glad in their hearts for all the good that Yahweh had done for David his servant and for Israel his people.
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