1 Kings 9:1-8

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.

7 If you do, I will force Israel to leave the land I have given them, and I will leave this Temple that I have made holy. All the nations will make fun of Israel and speak evil about them.

8 If the Temple is destroyed, everyone who passes by will be shocked. They will make fun of you and ask, 'Why did the Lord do this terrible thing to this land and this Temple?'

1 Kings 9:1-8 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.