1 Kings 8:53-63

53 You chose them from all the nations on earth to be your very own people. This is what you promised through Moses your servant when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord God."

54 Solomon prayed this prayer to the Lord, kneeling in front of the altar with his arms raised toward heaven. When he finished praying, he got up.

55 Then, in a loud voice, he stood and blessed all the people of Israel, saying:

56 "Praise the Lord! He promised he would give rest to his people Israel, and he has given us rest. The Lord has kept all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us,

58 and may he turn us to himself so we will follow him. Let us obey all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors.

59 May the Lord our God remember this prayer day and night and do what is right for his servant and his people Israel day by day.

60 Then all the people of the world will know the Lord is the only true God.

61 You must fully obey the Lord our God and follow all his laws and commands. Continue to obey in the future as you do now."

62 Then King Solomon and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord.

63 Solomon killed twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep as fellowship offerings. So the king and all the people gave the Temple to the Lord.

1 Kings 8:53-63 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.