What happened at the dedication of Solomon’s temple?

Response

Solomon’s father, David, initially conceived the idea of building a temple in God’s honor. While God acknowledged David’s good intentions, He assigned the work to King Solomon (2 Samuel 7:1-13). The change was due to David’s background as a warrior and his involvement in bloodshed (2 Chronicles 22:6-9). Solomon’s reign was a peaceful period, the perfect time to construct a temple.

Solomon completed the task. With the assistance of King Hiram of Tyre, he built a splendid temple and palace (1 Kings 6—7). After finishing the construction, he transferred his father’s dedicated treasures to the temple «So all the work that king Solomon did for the house of the LORD was completed. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, he placed among the treasures of the house of the LORD.», (1 Kings 7:51). Then he consecrated the temple itself, and the subsequent events took place:

A Grand Sacrifice

Before the priests brought the ark into the temple, King Solomon and the entire community made a significant sacrifice, to the extent that the sheep and cattle “could not be recorded or counted” «And 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. », (1 Kings 8:5). Everything on this day was carried out on a large scale to rejoice in the completion of God’s house and the safety of God’s people in the land.

Bringing in the Ark of the Covenant

The ark was brought in.Previously kept in the tabernacle. After Solomon constructed the temple, the priests, elders, and tribal leaders escorted the ark and other valuables into the temple «Then Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, so that they could bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. », (1 Kings 8:1).

The ark of the covenant symbolized God’s presence, making this dedication of the temple a highly significant event. Without the ark, the temple would have been nothing more than a massive building. The priests positioned the ark in the Most Holy Place «And the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim. », (1 Kings 8:6), where it was unlikely that the people would see it again.

A Dense Cloud

Upon exiting the Holy Place, the priests were enveloped in a thick cloud that filled the entire temple. This cloud represented the physical presence of the Lord and His approval of the temple Solomon had erected. It was so dense that it hindered the priests’ service (1 Kings 8:10-11).

Recognizing the cloud as a sign of the Lord’s presence, Solomon declared, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for You, a place for You to dwell forever” (1 Kings 8:12-13).

Blessings, Prayers, and Fire

The subsequent part of the ceremony involved the benediction and prayers offered by Solomon. His prayer began with praises, acknowledgmentsAcknowledging that it was God who fulfilled His promise by ensuring the temple’s completion (1 Kings 8:15-21, 23-24), Solomon also prayed for the people and bestowed blessings upon them (1 Kings 8:14,30-53, 55-61).

Following King Solomon’s prayer, a remarkable event occurred: “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple” («Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. », 2 Chronicles 7:1). This event mirrored the tabernacle dedication during Moses’ time: “Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown” («And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.», Leviticus 9:24). Similarly, during Solomon’s reign, “when all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, worshiped, and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘He is good; his love endures forever'” (verse 3).

The Dedication Proper

King Solomon, together with all the people of Israel, presented additional sacrifices.fices to dedicate the temple. In accordance with his practice of generous offerings, Solomon presented “22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats” (1 Kings 6:63). The altar, as large as it was, was far too small to handle all the sacrifices. Therefore, “on 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. This was 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” (verse 64).

Subsequently, the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Booths for seven days, with the entire dedication event lasting fourteen days. After that, Solomon sent everyone home, and “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” «On 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.», (1 Kings 8:66).

God’s Response

Following the festival and dedication of the temple, God responded to Solomon’s prayer with an affirmative statement: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there” «And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. », (1 Kings 8:66).

om/en/bible/king-james-version/1kings-9-3″>(1 Kings 9:3).

However, God then presented a conditional promise similar to the conditions outlined in the law (see Deuteronomy 28). He said, “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did. . . . I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever. . . . But if you or your descendants turn away from me . . . then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name” (1 Kings 9:4-7). Regrettably, the latter occurred.