II. CHRONICLES. 9 Furthermore, he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brafs. 10 And he fet the fea on the right fide of the caft end, over againtt the fouth. 11 And Huram made the pots, and the thovels, and the bafons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the houfe of God; 12 To wit, the two pillars, and the pom- 13 And four hundred pomegranates on the 15 One fea, and twelve oxen under it: 17 In the plain of Jordan did the king 18 Thus Solomon made all thefe veffels k great abundance: for the weight of the brafs could not be found out. 19 And Solomon made all the veffels that were for the house of God, the golden altar alfo, and the tables whereon the fhewbread was fet ; 20 Moreover, the candlesticks with their lamps, that they thould burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold; 21 And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold; 22 And the fnuffers, and the bafons, and the fpoons, and the cenfers of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the mott holy place, and the doors of the houfe of the temple quere of gold. CHAP. V. 1 The dedicated treasures. 1 The bringing up of the ark of the covenant. 11 God, being praifed, giveth a fign of his favour. Tfor the houfe of the LORD was finish. d; and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the filver, and the gold, and all the inftru. ments, put he among the treasures of the houfe of God. 2 Then Salomon affembled the elders of Ifrael, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of if racl, unto Jerufalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 Wherefore all the men of Ifrael affembied themselves unto the king, in the fealt which was in the feventh month. 4 And all the elders of Ifracl came; and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy veffels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. gation of Ifrael that were affembled unto covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the wings over the place of the ark, and the 8 For the cherubims fpread forth their cherubims covered the ark, and the itaves thereof above. 9 And they drew out the ftaves of the ark, the ark before the oracle, but they were not that the ends of the ftaves were feen from feen without. And there it is unto this day. 10 There ruas nothing in the ark fave the reb, when the LORD made a covenant with two tables which Mofes put therein at Ho the children of Ifracl, when they came out of Egypt. were come out of the holy place; (for all the priests that zuere prefent were fanctified, 11 And it came to pafs, when the priests and did not then wait by courfe; crs, all of them of Aph, of Heman, of Je12 Alfo the Levites, which were the fingbeing arrayed in white linen, having cymbals duthun, with their fons and their brethren, and plalterics, and harps, food at the eart and twenty priests founding with trumpets:) end of the altar, and with them an hundred and fingers quere as one, to make one found 13 It came even to pafs, as the trumpeters LORD, and when they lifted up their voice to be heard in praifing and thanking the with the trumpets, and cymbals, and inftruing, For he is good, for his mercy endureth ments of mufick, and praifed the LORD, Jayfor ever: that then the houfe was filled with a cloud, even the houfe of the LORD; minilter by reafon of the cloud; for the glory 14 So that the pricts could not fland to of the LORD had filled the houfe of God. CHAP. VI. that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 1 Solomon having beffed the people, effeth God: 14 his prayer at the confecration of the temple. Hen faid Solomon, The LORD hath faid 2 But I have built an houfe of habitation 3 And the king turned his face, and blefled the whole congregation of Ifrael: (and all the congregation of Ifrael stood :) of Ifrael, who hath with his hands fulfilled people out of the land of Egypt, 1 chofe no 6 But I have chofen Jerufalem, that my father to build an houfe for the name of 8 But the Lozo faid to David my father. an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: 9 Notwithstanding, thou shalt not build the house; but thy fon, which thall come forth out of thy loins, he fball build the house for my name. 10 The LORD therefore, hath performed his word that he hath fpoken; for I am rifen up in the room of David my father, d am fet on the throne of Ifrael, as the LORD promifed, and have built the houfe for the name of the LORD God of Ifrae!: 11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Ifrael. 12 ¶ And he ftood before the altar of the LORD, in the prefence of all the congregation of Ifrael, and spread forth his hands: 13 (For Solomon had made a brafen fcaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had fet it in the midft of the court; and upon it ke stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Ifrael, and fpread forth his hands toward heaven,) 14 And faid, O LORD God of Ifrael, there is no god like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepeth covenant, and sherueft mercy unto thy fervants that walk before thee with all their hearts: Is Thou which haft kept with thy fervant David my father, that which thou haft promifed him; and fpakeft with thy mouth, and haft fulfilled it, with thine hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD God of Ifrael, keep with thy fervant David my father, that which thou haft promifed him, faying, There fhall not fail thee a man in my fight to fit upon the throne of Ifrael; yet fo that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou haft walked before me. 17 Now then, O LORD God of Ifrael, let thy word be verified, which thou haft fpoken unto thy fervant David. 18 (But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth! Behold, heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; how much lefs this houfe which I have builded?) 19 Have refped, therefore, to the prayer of thy fervant, and to his fupplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy fervant prayeth before thee: 20 That thine eyes inay be open upon this houfe day and night, upon the place whereof thou haft faid, that thou wouideft put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy fervant prayeth towards this place. 21 Hearken, therefore, unto the fupplications of thy fervant, and of thy people Ifrael, which they shall make toward this place; hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and, when thou heareft, forgive. 22 If a man fin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him fwear, and the oath come before thine altar in this houfe: 23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy fervants, by requiting the wicked, by recompenting his way upon his own head, and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteoufnels. 24 And if thy people Ifrael be put to the worfe before the enemy, becaufe they have finned against thee, and thall return and confefs thy name, and pray and make fupplication before thee in this houfe: 25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the fin of thy people Ifrael, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavelt to them, and to their fathers. 26 When the heaven is thut up, and there is no rain, becaufe they have finned againft thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confefs thy name, and turn from their in when thou doft afflict them: 27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the fin of thy lervants, and of thy people Ifrael, when thou haft taught them the good way wherein they fhould walk; and fend rain upon thy land, which thou haft given unto thy people for an inheritance. 28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be peftilence, if there be blafting, or mildew, locufts, or caterpillars; if their enemies befiege them in the cities of their land; whatfoever fore, or whatfoever sickneis, there be: 29 Then what prayer, or what supplication foever, thall be made of any man, or of all thy people Ifrael, when every one fhall know his own sore, and his own grief, and thall fpread forth his hands in this houfe, 30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whofe heart thou knoweft; (for thou only knoweft the hearts of the children of men;) 31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways fo long as they live in the land which thou gaveft unto our fathers. 32 Moreover, concerning the ftranger, which is not of thy people Ifrael, but is come from a far country for thy great names fake, and thy mighty hand, and thy Aretched out arm; if they come and pray in this houfe: 33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the ftranger calleth to thee for that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel; and may know that this houfe, which I have built, is called by thy name. 34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou halt fend them, and they pray unto thee toward this city, which thou haft chofen, and the house which I have built, for thy name: 33 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their fupplication, and maintain their caufe. 36 If they fin against thee, (for there is no man which finneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near: 37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, faying, We have finned, we have done amils, and have dealt wickedly; 38 If they return to thee with all their heart, and with all their foul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their and which thou gaveft unto their fathers, and forward the city which thou haft chofen, and toward the houfe which I have built for thy name: 39 Then kear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their caufe, and forgive thy people which have finned against thee. 40 Now my God, let, I befeech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 41 Now therefore, arife, O LORD God, in to thy refting-place, thou, and the ark of thy ftrength: let thy prieffs, O LORD God, be cloathed with falvation, and let thy faints rejoice in goodness. 42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy fervant. CHAP. VII. God giveth teftimony to Solomons prayer, the people warfhip him. 4 Solomons facrifice. Nof of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and confumed the burnt-offering and the facrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the houfe of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORDS houfe. 3 And when all the children of Ifrael faw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themfelves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praifed the LORD, faying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Then the king and all the people offered facrifices before the LORD. 5 And king Solomon offered a facrifice of twenty and two thoufand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thonfand theep. So the king and all the people dedicated the houfe of God. 6 And the pricfts waited on their offices; the Levites alfo with inftruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, becaufe his mercy endureth for ever, when David praifed by their miniftry; and the pricfts founded trumpets before them, and all Ifrael ftood. Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the houfe of the LoRn: for there he offered burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, becaufe the brafen altar which Solomon had 11 Thus Solomon finished the houfe of the LORD, and the kings houfe: and all that came into Solomons heart to make in the houfe of the LORD, and in his own houfe, he profperously effected. 12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and faid unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chofen this place to myfelf for an houfe of facrifice. 13 If I fhut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locuits to devour the land, or if I fend pettilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, thall humble themselves, and pray, and feek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will i hear from heaven, and will forgive their fin, and will heal their land. 15 Now, inine eyes thall be open, and mine cars attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chofen and fanctified this houfe, that my name may be there for the mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and thalt obferve my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I ftablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, faying, There fhail not fail thee a man to be ruler in Ifrael. 19 But if ye turn away, and forfake my ftatutes and my commandments, which I have fet before you, and fhall go and ferve other gods, and worthip them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them: and this houfe, which I have fanétified for my name, will 1 caft out of my fight, and will make it to be a proverb, and a by-word among all nations. 21 And this honfe, which is high, fhall be an aftonishment to every one that paffeth by it; fo that he thall fay, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this houte? 22 And it fhall be anfwered, Because they forfook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and ferved them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. CHAP. VIB. 1 Solomons buildings. 7 The Canaanites made tributaries. 12 Solomons yearly facrifices. made, was not able to receive the burnt-of-And it came to pass at the end of twenty ferings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat. 8 Alfo, at the fame time Solomon kept the feaft feven days, and all Ifrael with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 9 And in the eighth day they made a folemn affembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar feven days, and the feat feven days. to And on the three and twentieth day of the feventh month, he fent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart, for the goodness that the Loan had thewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Ifrael his people. years, wherein Solomon had built the houfe of the LORD, and his own houfe. That the cities which Huram had reftored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caufed the children of Ifrael to dwell there. 3 And Soloman went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it. 4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the ftore-cltics whielt he built in Hamoth. 5 Alfo he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and hars: 6 And Baalath, and all the ftore-cities, that Solcinon had, and all the chariot-cities, and Uie cities of the horfemen, and all that Solomon defired to build in Jerufalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. 714 for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the PeTizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebulites, which were not of Ifrael, 8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of firael confumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day. 9 But of the children of Ifrael did Solomon make no fervants for his work: but they Tere inen of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And there were the chief of king Solo mons officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people. 11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David, mto the houfe that he had built for her: for he said, My wife fhall not dwell in the houfe of David king of Ifrael, because the places are holy whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. 12 ¶ Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD, on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch; 13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Mofes, on the fabbaths, and on the newmoons, and on the folemn feats, three times in the year, even in the feaft of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feaft of tabernacles. 14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courfes of the priefts to their fervice, and the Levites to their charges, to praife and minifter before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the porters alfo by their courfes, at every gate: for fo had David,the man of God,com manded. 15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites, concerning any matter, or concerning the treafures. 16 Now, all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the houfe of the LORD, and until it was finished: fo the houfe of the LORD was perfected. 17 Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the fea-fide in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram fent him, by the hands of his fervants, ships, and fervants that had knowledge of the fea; and they went with the fervants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. CHAP. IX. The queen of Sheba admireth Solomons ruifdom: 13 his riches: 31 his death. when queen of Sheba heard A the fame of Solomon, the came to prove Solomon with hard queftions at Jerufalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare fpices, and gold in abundance, and precious Rones; and when the was come to Solomon, the communed with him of all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon told her all her queftions and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. 3 And when the queen of Sheba had feen the wifdom of Solomon, and the houfe that he had built, 4 And the meat of his table, and the fitting of his fervants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cup-bearers alfo, and their apparel; and his afcent by which he went up into the houfe of the LORD; there was no more fpirit in her. 5 And the faid to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wildom: 6 Howbelt, I believed not their words until I came, and mine eyes had feen it: and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wildom was not told me: for thou exceedeft the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are thy men, and happy are thefe thy fervants, which ftand continually before thee, and hear thy wifdom. 8 Bleifed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to fet thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Ifrael, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judginent and juftice. 9 And the gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of fpices great abundance, and precious ftones: neither was there any fuch fpice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. ro And the fervants alfo of Huram, and the fervants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum-trees, and precious ftones. 11 And the king made of the algum-trees terraces to the hocfe of the LORD, and to the kings palace, and harps and pfalterics for fingers; and there were none fuch feen before in the land of Judah. 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her defire, whatfoever the asked, befides that which the bad brought unto the king: fo the turned, and went away to her own land, the and her fervants. 13 Now, the weight of gold that came to Solomon, in one year, was fix hundred and threefcore and fix talents of gold; 14 Befides that which chapinen and mer. chants brought and all the kings of Arabia, and governors of the country, brought gold and filver to Solomon. 15 And king Soloman made two hundred targets of beaten gold; fix hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And three hundred fhields made he of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the houfe of the foreft of Lebanon. 17 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were fix fteps to the throne, to the throne, and fays on each fide of the fitting-place, and two lions standing by the fays. with a footitool of gold, which were flattened 19 And twelve lions flood there on the one fide and on the other, upon the fix fteps. There was not the like made in any kingdom. men gave him, and took coundel with the young men that were brought up with him, 8 But he forfook the counfel which the old that food before him. give ye that we may return anfwer to this people, which have fpoken to me, faying, 9 And he faid unto them, What advice Eafe fomewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? up with him fpake unto him, faying, Thus yoke: my father chattifed you with whips, bade, faying, Come again to me on the third and king Rehoboam forfook the counfel of your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto : people; for the caufe was of God, that the anfwered the king, faying, What portion reigned over them. that was over the tribute; and the children David unto this day. |