8
契約の箱の安置
1ソロモン王は、イスラエルの部族や氏族の長をみなエルサレムに集めました。契約の箱を、ダビデの町シオンにある幕屋から、神殿に運び入れるためでした。 2この祝典が挙行されたのは十月の仮庵の祭りの時で、 3-4祭りの間に、祭司たちは契約の箱と、それまで幕屋に置いてあった神聖な器具をすべて神殿に運び入れました。 5王とイスラエル国民は契約の箱の前に集まり、数えきれないほどの羊や牛をいけにえとしてささげました。
6それから祭司たちは、契約の箱を神殿の奥の至聖所に運び、ケルビムの翼の下に安置しました。 7ケルビムの像は、翼が箱の上に来るように設計されていたので、その翼は箱とかつぎ棒を覆いました。 8かつぎ棒は長く、先がケルビムの横から突き出ているので、前方の聖所からも見えましたが、外庭からは見えませんでした。現在もそのままです。 9箱の中には、二枚の石板しか入っていませんでした。その石板は、主がエジプトを出たイスラエルの民とホレブ山（シナイ山）で契約を結ばれた時、モーセが納めたものです。
10祭司たちが至聖所から出て来ると、雲が神殿に満ちました。 11主の栄光が神殿に満ちあふれたので、祭司たちは外に出なければなりませんでした。
12-13その時、ソロモン王はこう祈りました。「主は、暗闇の中に住むとお語りになりました。そこで主よ。私はあなたの永遠のお住まいとして、地上に美しい家を建てました。」
14それから、振り向いて民を祝福しました。 15「イスラエルの神、主をほめたたえよう。主は、今日このように、父ダビデに約束なさったことを成し遂げてくださった。 16主は父にこうお語りになった。『わたしは民をエジプトから連れ出した時からこれまで、神殿を建てる場所を選ぶことはしなかったが、わたしの民の指導者となる一人の者を選んだ。』 17それが、父ダビデだ。父は、イスラエルの神、主のために神殿を建てたかった。 18しかし主はそれをお許しにならず、『あなたの志はうれしい。 19だが、わたしの神殿を建てるのはあなたの息子だ』と言われた。 20主は今、お約束を果たしてくださった。私はイスラエルの王として父の跡を継ぎ、こうして、主のために神殿を建て上げることができた。 21そして、主がエジプトを出た私たちの先祖と結ばれた契約を納めた箱を、神殿の中に置く場所を用意した。」
ソロモンの祈りと神殿の奉献
22-23王は、人々が見守る中で祭壇の前に立ち、両手を天に差し伸べて祈りました。
「ああ、イスラエルの神、主。天にも地にも、あなたのようなお方はありません。あなたは、心からお従いしようとする民を愛し、約束を守ってくださるからです。 24今日このとおり、あなたのしもべである父ダビデへの約束を実現してくださいました。 25イスラエルの神、主よ。どうか、父ダビデとの約束をこれからも果たしてください。父の子孫が、父と同じようにお従いし、主の言われるとおりにするなら、その中の一人がいつもイスラエルの王位につくようにしてください。 26イスラエルの神よ！ どうか、この約束もまた果たしてください。
27それにしても、神様ははたしてこの地上にお住みになるでしょうか。大空も天も、あなたをお入れすることはできません。まして、私が建てたこの神殿などなおのことです。 28けれども、どうか、このしもべの願いをお聞き届けください。 29確かに住むと約束なさったこの場所を、昼も夜も見守ってください。そして、私がこの神殿に向かって祈る時、昼であっても夜であっても、祈りを聞き、それに答えてください。 30イスラエルの民が、この場所に向かって祈る時、いつでも願いを聞き届けてください。あなたがお住まいになる天で、その願いを聞き、彼らの罪を赦してください。
31だれかが何か悪いことをして訴えられた時、この神殿の祭壇の前に立ち、自分はそのようなことはしなかったと誓うなら、 32天でその訴えを聞き、正しくさばいてください。
33-34イスラエルの民が罪を犯したため敵に負かされたとき、もし彼らが反省し、もう一度あなたをあがめるなら、天で彼らの願いを聞き、その罪を赦してください。そして、先祖にお与えになった地に、彼らを連れ帰してください。
35-36彼らの罪が原因で雨が降らないとき、彼らがこの場所に向かって祈り、あなたをあがめるなら、天でその願いを聞き、彼らを赦してください。また、罰を下したあと、正しい道に彼らを引き戻し、あなたがお与えになった地に雨を降らせてください。
37農作物の立ち枯れや、いなごや油虫の発生によってききんが起こったり、敵が攻めて来たり、また疫病や災害に襲われたり、そのほか、どんな問題が起こった時でも、 38もし民が罪を悟り、この神殿に向かって祈るなら、 39天で彼らの祈りを聞き、正直に罪を告白した人々を赦し、願いをかなえてください。あなたは、一人一人の心のうちを知っておられるからです。 40そうすれば、あなたが私たちの先祖にお与えになった地に生きている限り、彼らはいつもあなたを信じ、お従いするようになるでしょう。
41-42それから、外国人があなたのすばらしさを聞き、遠い地からはるばる礼拝に来て、この神殿に向かって祈るなら、 43天で彼らの祈りを聞き、願いをかなえてください。そうすれば、世界中の人が、あなたの民イスラエルと同じようにあなたの御名を知り、信じてお従いするようになるでしょう。こうして全世界は、これがあなたの神殿であることを知るでしょう。
44イスラエルの民があなたの命で戦いに遣わされるとき、あなたがお選びになった町エルサレム、私があなたのために建てたこの神殿に向かって祈るなら、 45天で彼らの祈りを聞き、彼らを助けてください。
46罪を犯さない人間などいませんから、あなたに罪を犯し、あなたのお怒りをこうむって、外国に捕虜として連れて行かれることもあるでしょう。 47そのようなとき、『私たちが悪かった』と反省して、 48心からあなたに立ち返り、あなたが先祖にお与えになった地、あなたがお選びになったエルサレムの町、私が御名のために建てたこの神殿に向かって祈るなら、 49お住まいである天で彼らの祈りと願いとを聞き、助けの手を差し伸べてください。
50あなたの民の悪事をみな赦し、彼らを捕らえた者にあわれみの心を起こさせてください。 51彼らは、あなたがエジプトから連れ出された大切な民だからです。 52どうか、御目を開き、御耳を傾けて、彼らの願いを聞き届けてください。ああ主よ。彼らが祈り求める時、いつも願い事をかなえてください。 53あなたが私たちの先祖をエジプトから連れ出された時、しもべモーセにお告げになったとおり、全世界の民の中からイスラエルを選び出し、特別な民としてくださったからです。」
54-55ソロモンは両手を天に伸ばしたまま、ひざまずいて祈っていました。祈り終えると、祭壇の前から立ち上がり、全会衆を大声で祝福しました。 56「イスラエルの主をほめたたえます。主は約束どおり、ご自分の民イスラエルに安息をお与えになりました。しもべモーセによって示された、すばらしい約束のすべてが、一つもたがわず実現したのです。 57どうか、主が先祖たちとともにおられたように、私たちをも見捨てず、共にいてくださいますように。 58私たちがすべてのことで主をお喜ばせし、先祖たちにお与えになった教えをみな守ろうという願いを起こさせてください。 59この祈りを、いつも覚えていてください。こうして、毎日、何かあるたびに、私とイスラエルの全国民を助けてくださいますように。 60世界中の国々が、あなたのほかに神はいないことを知るためです。 61私の民よ。あなたがたは主の前で、正しく、きよい生活を送らなければなりません。今日のように、いつも主の教えを守らなければなりません。」
62-63それから王と民は、主の前にいけにえをささげました。この時ささげた和解のいけにえは、なんと牛二万二千頭、羊とやぎ十二万頭にものぼりました。 64その日、臨時の計らいとして、王は神殿の前の庭をきよめ、そこで焼き尽くすいけにえと、穀物の供え物、それに和解のいけにえの脂肪をささげました。青銅の祭壇は、おびただしいいけにえを載せるには小さすぎたからです。 65こうして、祝典は十四日間続き、イスラエル中から人々が集まりました。 66祭りのあと、王は人々を家に帰しました。民はみな、主がしもべダビデとその民イスラエルにお示しになった多くの恵みを喜び、王に祝福のことばを述べて、それぞれの天幕に帰って行きました。
1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.8.1 chief: Heb. princes 2And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. 5And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 8And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.8.8 ends: Heb. heads8.8 holy…: or, ark 9There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.8.9 when the: or, where the 10And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
12¶ Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. 14And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) 15And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. 19Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. 20And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
22¶ And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 24Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. 25Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.8.25 fail…: Heb. be cut off unto thee a man from my sight8.25 so that: Heb. only if 26And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 29That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.8.29 toward this place: or, in this place 30And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.8.30 toward this place: or, in this place
31¶ If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:8.31 and an oath…: Heb. and he require an oath of him 32Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
33¶ When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:8.33 in: or, toward 34Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.
35¶ When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: 36Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
37¶ If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;8.37 cities: or, jurisdiction 38What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 39Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 40That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. 41Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; 42(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; 43Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.8.43 this…: Heb. thy name is called upon this house
44¶ If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:8.44 toward the city: Heb. the way of the city 45Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.8.45 cause: or, right 46If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; 47Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;8.47 bethink…: Heb. bring back to their heart 48And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: 49Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,8.49 cause: or, right 50And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: 51For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: 52That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. 53For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.
54And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.8.56 failed: Heb. fallen 57The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 59And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:8.59 at all…: Heb. the thing of a day in his day 60That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 61Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
62¶ And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. 65And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. 66On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.8.66 blessed: or, thanked
