Pagtens ark placeres i templet og Herrens herlighed kommer
1Nu kaldte kong Salomon alle Israels stammeoverhoveder, slægtsoverhoveder og øvrige ledere sammen i Jerusalem, så de kunne være med til at føre pagtens ark fra teltet på Zionhøjen, det vil sige Davidsbyen, til den ny tempelbygning. 2Denne begivenhed faldt sammen med løvhyttefesten i etanim måned, den syvende måned.8,2 Denne måned blev senere kaldt Tishri og svarer til september-oktober. 3-4Da alle lederne var ankommet, bar præsterne så Herrens Ark hen til templet, og levitterne bar teltet og de indviede ting, der hidtil havde haft plads i teltet. 5Dér foran pagtens ark ofrede Salomon sammen med hele Israels forsamling så meget småkvæg og hornkvæg, at man opgav at tælle, hvor mange der var.
6Derpå bar præsterne Herrens Pagts Ark ind i det allerhelligste rum og satte den under kerubernes udbredte vinger. 7De to statuer var jo lavet sådan, at deres vinger mødtes midt i rummet, hvor arken skulle stå. Deres vinger overskyggede derved arken og dens bærestænger. 8Stængerne ragede så langt ud, at de var synlige fra templets ydre rum, men ikke helt udefra; og sådan er det den dag i dag. 9I arken lå kun de to stentavler, som Moses havde anbragt i den dengang ved Horebs bjerg, da Israels folk havde forladt Egypten, og Herren oprettede sin pagt med dem.
10Da præsterne kom ud fra helligdommen igen, skete der pludselig noget: En tæt sky fyldte Herrens hus, 11så præsterne måtte opgive at udføre deres tjeneste. Det var Herrens herlighed, der nu fyldte hans Hus.
12Da udbrød Salomon: „Herre, du har sagt, at du bor i den tætte sky. 13Nu har jeg bygget dig en bolig på jorden, et sted, hvor du kan slå dig ned og bo for evigt.”
Salomons tale til folket
14Derpå vendte kongen sig om og så ud over hele Israels forsamling, og han velsignede dem. Derefter sagde han:
15„Lovet være Herren, Israels Gud, som i dag har opfyldt det løfte, han gav min far, da han sagde: 16‚Fra dengang jeg førte mit folk ud af Egypten, har jeg ikke udvalgt nogen by i Israel, hvor man kunne bygge et hus til mig. I stedet udvalgte jeg dig, David, til at lede mit folk.’ ”
17Salomon fortsatte: „Min far ville så gerne bygge et hus til Herren, Israels Gud, 18men han fik ikke lov til det. ‚Det er godt, at du ønsker at bygge mig et hus,’ sagde Herren til ham, 19‚men det bliver din søn, som kommer til at bygge det.’ 20Herren har nu opfyldt sit løfte, for jeg har efterfulgt min far på Israels trone, og nu står Herrens hus færdigt. 21Jeg har lavet et særligt rum til arken, som indeholder den pagt, Herren oprettede med vores forfædre, efter at han havde ført dem ud af Egypten.”
Salomons bøn til Herren
22Salomon stillede sig nu hen foran Herrens alter med hænderne løftet mod Himlen, mens hele forsamlingen så til. 23Han bad følgende bøn: „Herre, Israels Gud, der findes ingen Gud som dig i hele verden! Du er en trofast Gud, der holder fast ved dine pagtsløfter, når blot dine tjenere adlyder dig af hele deres hjerte. 24Du har nu opfyldt løftet til min far, som var din tjener. 25Og nu, Herre, beder jeg dig opfylde resten af dit løfte til ham: At hvis hans efterkommere gør som ham og handler efter din vilje, skal der altid sidde en fra hans slægt på Israels trone. 26Ja, Israels Gud, opfyld også det løfte!
27Er det muligt, at Gud kan tage bolig på jorden? Hvis Himlen er for lille til at rumme dig, Herre, hvordan kan du da bo i det hus, jeg har bygget? 28Min Herre og Gud, lyt til den inderlige bøn, jeg i dag beder i dit nærvær: 29Våg over dette hus både dag og nat—det sted, hvor du har lovet at tage bolig—og når jeg vender mig mod din bolig for at bede, lyt da til min bøn og svar mig. 30Ja, hør hver eneste bøn, som dit folk beder til dig, vendt mod dette sted. Hør os i din bolig i Himlen og tilgiv os.
31Når nogen bliver anklaget for at have forbrudt sig mod en anden person, og de foran dit alter her sværger på, at de er uskyldige, 32så hør dem i Himlen. Frikend den uskyldige og døm den skyldige.
33Når dit folk synder og bliver besejret af deres fjender som straf, og de så vender om til dig og beder om din hjælp, vendt mod dette hus, 34så hør dit folks bøn fra din bolig i Himlen, tilgiv dem og lad dem få lov at vende tilbage til deres land, som du gav deres forfædre.
35Når dit folk synder, og regnen derfor udebliver, og de så vender om fra deres synd, fordi du har straffet dem, og de beder til dig om hjælp, vendt mod dette hus, 36så hør dem fra din bolig i Himlen og tilgiv dit folk, Israel. Lær dem at følge dine veje, og lad igen regnen falde på den jord, du gav dem.
37Når der kommer hungersnød i landet, pest eller plantesygdomme, angreb af græshopper eller andre skadedyr, eller når fjenderne omringer vores byer, ja hvilken som helst epidemi eller katastrofe det nu drejer sig om, 38og dit folk erkender deres synd, rækker hænderne ud mod dette sted og bønfalder dig om hjælp, 39så hør dem i din himmelske bolig og tilgiv dem. Du alene kender menneskets skjulte tanker, og du har ret til at straffe dem for deres handlinger. 40Da vil de lære at vise dig ærefrygt i al den tid, de lever i dette land, som du lovede deres forfædre.
41-42Og når fremmede folk hører om din storhed og dine mægtige undere, og de kommer langvejsfra for at bede dig om hjælp, vendt mod dette hus, 43så hør dem i Himlen, hvor du bor, og svar på deres bøn. Da skal alle jordens folkeslag høre om dig og have ærefrygt for dig ligesom dit folk, Israel, og hele verden vil forstå, at det hus, som jeg har bygget, er indviet til dig.
44Når du sender dit folk i krig mod deres fjender, og de beder til dig, vendt mod den by, du har udvalgt til bolig, og det hus, jeg har bygget til dig, 45hør da i din Himmel deres bøn og skaf dem deres ret.
46Hvis de synder imod dig—og hvem kan sige sig fri for den mulighed—og du i din vrede tillader fjenden at føre dem som fanger til et fremmed land, det være sig nært eller fjernt, 47og hvis de så kommer til fornuft i det land, hvor de er i fangenskab, og råber til dig: ‚Vi har handlet ondt og været ulydige mod Gud! Vi har syndet!’ 48-49da hør deres bøn i din bolig i Himlen og hjælp dem, når de ærligt vender sig til dig og beder om hjælp, vendt mod det land, du gav deres forfædre, mod den by, du har udvalgt, og det hus, jeg har bygget til din ære.
50Tilgiv dit folk al deres ondskab og ulydighed mod dig, og lad deres fjender vise barmhjertighed mod dem, 51for de er jo dit ejendomsfolk, som du rev ud af smelteovnen i Egypten. 52Må dine øjne og ører altid være åbne, så du hører min og folkets bøn, hver gang vi råber til dig. 53For da du førte vores forfædre ud af Egyptens land, betroede du din tjener Moses, at du havde udvalgt Israel blandt verdens folkeslag til at være din særlige ejendom.”
54-55Salomon var knælet ned foran Herrens alter, mens han bad med løftede hænder.
Salomon beder for folket og formaner til lydighed
Da han var færdig, rejste han sig og bad for hele Israels forsamling:
56„Lovet være Herren, som har indfriet sit løfte og givet Israel fred! Han har opfyldt alle de løfter, han gav til sin tjener Moses. 57Gid Herren, vores Gud, må være med os, som han var med vores forfædre. Måtte han aldrig forlade os eller forkaste os, 58og måtte han hjælpe os til at gøre hans vilje i alle ting, til at adlyde de befalinger og følge de forskrifter, han gav vores forfædre. 59Og måtte han altid huske min bøn, så han giver mig og hele Israel den hjælp, vi har brug for dag for dag. 60Gid alle verdens folkeslag må komme til erkendelse af, at Herren er den eneste sande Gud i hele verden. 61Og måtte jeres hjerter altid været fuldt overgivet til Herren, jeres Gud, så I adlyder hans love og følger hans befalinger, sådan som I gør det i dag.”
Templet indvies
62Kongen og hele Israels folk bragte en utrolig mængde ofre til Herren. 63Salomons takoffer bestod af 22.000 stykker hornkvæg og 120.000 stykker småkvæg. 64Kongen indviede den dag den midterste del af forgården, så der også kunne brændes ofre der. Bronzealteret ved indgangen til templet var slet ikke stort nok til at klare alle brændofrene, afgrødeofrene og den del af takofrene, som skulle brændes. 65En vældig menneskemængde fra hele landet tog del i festen. De var kommet helt fra landets yderste grænser, Lebo-Hamat i nord og Egyptens Bæk i syd. Efter selve tempelindvielsesfesten, som varede i syv dage, fejrede Salomon sammen med folket løvhyttefesten i syv dage, i alt 14 dage.8,65 Se også 2.Krøn. 7,8-9. 66Den følgende dag afsluttede Salomon festen, så folket var fri til at tage hjem, og de velsignede deres konge. Derefter drog de hjem, glade og lykkelige over al den godhed, Herren havde vist sin tjener David og sit folk Israel.
The ark brought to the temple
1Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 2All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.
3When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, 4and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up, 5and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
6The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. 8These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
10When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 11And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
12Then Solomon said, ‘The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 13I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell for ever.’
14While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned round and blessed them. 15Then he said:
‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, 16“Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.”
17‘My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 18But the Lord said to my father David, “You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 19Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood – he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.”
20‘The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 21I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.’
Solomon’s prayer of dedication
22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands towards heaven 23and said:
‘Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below – you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 24You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it – as it is today.
25‘Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, “You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.” 26And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.
27‘But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29May your eyes be open towards this temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name shall be there,” so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays towards this place. 30Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray towards this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling-place, and when you hear, forgive.
31‘When anyone wrongs their neighbour and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 32then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.
33‘When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, 34then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
35‘When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray towards this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
37‘When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel – being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands towards this temple – 39then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.
41‘As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name – 42for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm – when they come and pray towards this temple, 43then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
44‘When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord towards the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 45then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
46‘When they sin against you – for there is no-one who does not sin – and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; 47and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly”; 48and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you towards the land you gave their ancestors, towards the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49then from heaven, your dwelling-place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offences they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; 51for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.
52‘May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. 53For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.’
54When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out towards heaven. 55He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
56‘Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.’
The dedication of the temple
62Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. 63Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord.
64On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.
65So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him – a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.
