1 Kings 9:1-6

1 Solomon finished building the Temple of the Lord and his royal palace and everything he wanted to build.

2 Then the Lord appeared to him again just as he had done before, in Gibeon.

3 The Lord said to him: "I have heard your prayer and what you have asked me to do. You built this Temple, and I have made it a holy place. I will be worshiped there forever and will watch over it and protect it always.

4 "But you must serve me as your father David did; he was fair and sincere. You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.

5 If you do, I will make your kingdom strong. This is the promise I made to your father David -- that someone from his family would always rule Israel.

6 "But you and your children must follow me and obey the laws and commands I have given you. You must not serve or worship other gods.

1 Kings 9:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.