WEBVTT 00:00:00.999 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.719 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.359 in a year. Today's reading is from 2 Chronicles 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:13.720 chapters 5 through 9. Chapter 5 So all the work 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:15.640 that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:17.879 was finished, and Solomon brought in the things 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:20.879 which his father David had dedicated, the silver 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.300 and the gold and all the furnishings, and he 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:25.079 put them in the treasuries of the house of God. 00:00:25.690 --> 00:00:28.129 Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and 00:00:28.129 --> 00:00:30.170 all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:32.329 of the children of Israel in Jerusalem, that 00:00:32.329 --> 00:00:34.289 they might bring the ark of the covenant of the 00:00:34.289 --> 00:00:36.590 Lord up from the city of David, which is Zion. 00:00:36.950 --> 00:00:39.210 Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with 00:00:39.210 --> 00:00:41.409 the king at the feast, which was in the seventh 00:00:41.409 --> 00:00:44.289 month. So all the elders of Israel came, and 00:00:44.289 --> 00:00:46.429 the Levites took up the ark. Then they brought 00:00:46.429 --> 00:00:48.890 up the ark, the tabernacle of meeting, and all 00:00:48.890 --> 00:00:51.009 the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. 00:00:51.109 --> 00:00:53.270 The priests and the Levites brought them up. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:55.820 Also King Solomon and all the congregation of 00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:58.159 Israel, who were assembled with him before the 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.579 ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could 00:01:00.579 --> 00:01:03.250 not be counted or numbered for multitude. Then 00:01:03.250 --> 00:01:05.349 the priests brought in the ark of the covenant 00:01:05.349 --> 00:01:08.189 of the Lord to its place into the inner sanctuary 00:01:08.189 --> 00:01:10.969 of the temple to the most holy place under the 00:01:10.969 --> 00:01:13.129 wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread 00:01:13.129 --> 00:01:15.489 their wings over the place of the ark and the 00:01:15.489 --> 00:01:18.030 cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 00:01:18.209 --> 00:01:20.790 The poles extended so that the ends of the poles 00:01:20.790 --> 00:01:23.049 of the ark could be seen from the holy place 00:01:23.049 --> 00:01:25.450 in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could 00:01:25.450 --> 00:01:27.930 not be seen from outside. And they are there 00:01:27.930 --> 00:01:30.489 to this day. Nothing was in the ark except the 00:01:30.489 --> 00:01:33.250 two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when 00:01:33.250 --> 00:01:34.930 the Lord made a covenant with the children of 00:01:34.930 --> 00:01:37.430 Israel when they had come out of Egypt. And it 00:01:37.430 --> 00:01:39.530 came to pass when the priests came out of the 00:01:39.530 --> 00:01:41.670 most holy place, for all the priests who were 00:01:41.670 --> 00:01:44.390 present had sanctified themselves. without keeping 00:01:44.390 --> 00:01:46.349 to their divisions. And the Levites, who were 00:01:46.349 --> 00:01:48.870 the singers, all those of Asaph and Haman and 00:01:48.870 --> 00:01:51.129 Jedusun, with their sons and their brethren, 00:01:51.290 --> 00:01:53.730 stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in 00:01:53.730 --> 00:01:56.170 white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments, 00:01:56.409 --> 00:01:58.790 and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty 00:01:58.790 --> 00:02:01.849 priests, sounding with trumpets. Indeed it came 00:02:01.849 --> 00:02:04.030 to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were 00:02:04.030 --> 00:02:06.579 as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:08.680 and thanking the Lord. And when they lifted up 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:10.780 their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:13.199 instruments of music and praised the Lord, saying, 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:16.060 For he is good, for his mercy endures forever, 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:18.719 that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.400 with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:23.659 ministering because of the cloud. For the glory 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:27.560 of the Lord filled the house of God. Chapter 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.159 6 Then Solomon spoke. The Lord said, He would 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:33.860 dwell in a dark cloud. I have surely built you 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:36.039 an exalted house and a place for you to dwell 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:39.159 in forever. Then the king turned around and blessed 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:41.699 the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:44.419 of Israel was standing. And he said, Blessed 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:46.610 be the Lord God of Israel. who has fulfilled 00:02:46.610 --> 00:02:49.110 with his hands what he spoke with his mouth to 00:02:49.110 --> 00:02:51.830 my father David, saying, Since the day that I 00:02:51.830 --> 00:02:53.969 brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I 00:02:53.969 --> 00:02:56.430 have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel 00:02:56.430 --> 00:02:59.150 in which to build a house, that my name might 00:02:59.150 --> 00:03:01.830 be there. Nor did I choose any man to be a ruler 00:03:01.830 --> 00:03:04.469 over my people Israel. Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, 00:03:04.689 --> 00:03:07.189 that my name may be there. And I have chosen 00:03:07.189 --> 00:03:10.169 David to be over my people Israel. Now it was 00:03:10.169 --> 00:03:12.210 in the heart of my father David to build the 00:03:12.210 --> 00:03:14.229 temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 00:03:14.349 --> 00:03:16.650 But the Lord said to my father David, Whereas 00:03:16.650 --> 00:03:19.490 it was in your heart to build a temple for my 00:03:19.490 --> 00:03:22.009 name, you did well in that it was in your heart. 00:03:22.169 --> 00:03:24.189 Nevertheless, you shall not build the temple, 00:03:24.310 --> 00:03:26.710 but your son who will come from your body, he 00:03:26.710 --> 00:03:29.110 shall build the temple for my name. So the Lord 00:03:29.110 --> 00:03:31.530 has fulfilled his word which he spoke, and I 00:03:31.530 --> 00:03:33.310 have filled the position of my father David, 00:03:33.490 --> 00:03:36.610 and sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. 00:03:36.810 --> 00:03:38.750 And I have built the temple for the name of the 00:03:38.750 --> 00:03:41.090 Lord God of Israel, and there I have put the 00:03:41.090 --> 00:03:43.569 ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord which 00:03:43.569 --> 00:03:46.669 he made with the children of Israel. Then Solomon 00:03:46.669 --> 00:03:48.650 stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence 00:03:48.650 --> 00:03:51.069 of all the assembly of Israel, spread out his 00:03:51.069 --> 00:03:53.310 hands, for Solomon had made a bronze platform 00:03:53.310 --> 00:03:56.289 five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three 00:03:56.289 --> 00:03:58.840 cubits high. and had set it in the midst of the 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:01.280 court. And he stood on it, knelt down on his 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:03.319 knees before all the assembly of Israel, and 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:05.819 spread out his hands toward heaven. And he said, 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:08.699 Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven 00:04:08.699 --> 00:04:11.319 or on earth like you, who keep your covenant 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:13.639 and mercy with your servants who walk before 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.079 you with all their hearts. You have kept what 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.540 you promised your servant David my father. You 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:20.939 have both spoken with your mouth and fulfilled 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:23.899 it with your hand, as it is this day. Therefore, 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:26.980 Lord God of Israel, now keep what you promised 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:29.300 your servant David my father, saying, You shall 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:31.939 not fail to have a man sit before me on the throne 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:34.860 of Israel. only if your sons take heed to their 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:37.680 way, that they walk in my law as you have walked 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.540 before me. And now, O Lord God of Israel, let 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:43.120 your word come true, which you have spoken to 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:46.079 your servant David. But will God indeed dwell 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.769 with men on earth? Behold heaven, and the heaven 00:04:48.769 --> 00:04:51.009 of heavens cannot contain you, how much less 00:04:51.009 --> 00:04:53.649 this temple which I have built. Yet regard the 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:55.769 prayer of your servant and his supplication, 00:04:55.769 --> 00:04:58.029 O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the 00:04:58.029 --> 00:05:00.470 prayer which your servant is praying before you, 00:05:00.529 --> 00:05:02.589 that your eyes may be opened toward this temple 00:05:02.589 --> 00:05:05.009 day and night. toward the place where you said 00:05:05.009 --> 00:05:07.389 you would put your name, that you may hear the 00:05:07.389 --> 00:05:09.790 prayer which your servant makes toward this place, 00:05:09.930 --> 00:05:12.029 and may hear the supplications of your servant 00:05:12.029 --> 00:05:14.509 and of your people Israel. When they pray toward 00:05:14.509 --> 00:05:16.829 this place, hear from heaven your dwelling place, 00:05:17.009 --> 00:05:19.990 and when you hear, forgive. If anyone sins against 00:05:19.990 --> 00:05:22.230 his neighbor and is forced to take an oath, and 00:05:22.230 --> 00:05:24.209 comes and takes an oath before your altar in 00:05:24.209 --> 00:05:26.779 this temple, Then hear from heaven, and act and 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:29.180 judge your servants, bringing retribution on 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:31.360 the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.660 and justifying the righteous by giving him according 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:35.959 to his righteousness. Or if your people Israel 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:38.259 are defeated before an enemy, because they have 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:40.240 sinned against you, and return and confess your 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.680 name, and pray and make supplication before you 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.060 in this temple, then hear from heaven, and forgive 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:47.560 the sin of your people Israel, and bring them 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.060 back to the land which you gave to them and their 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:52.500 fathers. When the heavens are shut up and there 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:54.360 is no rain, because they have sinned against 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:56.839 you, when they pray toward this place and confess 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:59.319 your name and turn from their sin because you 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.500 afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:03.600 the sin of your servants, your people Israel, 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:06.319 that you may teach them the good way in which 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.699 they should walk, and send rain on your land 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:10.980 which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:14.240 when there is a famine in the land pestilence 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.759 or blight or mildew locusts or grasshoppers when 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.879 their enemies besiege them in the land of their 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.480 cities whatever plague or whatever sickness there 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:25.259 is whatever prayer whatever supplication is made 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:28.220 by anyone or by all your people israel when each 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:31.160 one knows his own burden and his own grief, and 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.800 spreads out his hands to this temple, then hear 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:35.939 from heaven your dwelling place, and forgive 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:38.560 and give to everyone according to all his ways, 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:41.259 whose heart you know, for you alone know the 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:43.720 hearts of the sons of men, that they may fear 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:46.360 you, to walk in your ways as long as they live 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:50.240 in the land which you gave to our fathers. Moreover, 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.420 concerning a foreigner who is not of your people 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:54.959 Israel, but has come from a far country for the 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:57.100 sake of your great name and your mighty hand 00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:59.540 and your outstretched arm, when they come and 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:01.420 pray in this temple, then hear from heaven your 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:03.980 dwelling place, and do according to all for which 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:06.360 the foreigner calls to you, that all peoples 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.860 of the earth may know your name and fear you, 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.540 as do your people Israel, and that they may know 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:13.759 that this temple which I have built is called 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.740 by your name. When your people go out to battle 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:19.019 against their enemies, wherever you send them, 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:21.399 And when they pray to you toward this city which 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:23.339 you have chosen and the temple which I have built 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:25.339 for your name, then hear from heaven their prayer 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:27.660 and their supplication and maintain their cause. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.420 When they sin against you, for there is no one 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:32.920 who does not sin, and you become angry with them 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:35.110 and deliver them to the enemy. And they take 00:07:35.110 --> 00:07:37.870 them captive to a land far or near. Yet when 00:07:37.870 --> 00:07:39.970 they come to themselves in the land where they 00:07:39.970 --> 00:07:42.470 were carried captive, and repent and make supplication 00:07:42.470 --> 00:07:44.470 to you in the land of their captivity, saying, 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:47.089 We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have 00:07:47.089 --> 00:07:49.269 committed wickedness. And when they return to 00:07:49.269 --> 00:07:51.410 you with all their heart and with all their soul 00:07:51.410 --> 00:07:53.790 in the land of their captivity, where they have 00:07:53.790 --> 00:07:56.089 been carried captive, and pray toward their land 00:07:56.089 --> 00:07:58.110 which you gave to their fathers, the city which 00:07:58.110 --> 00:07:59.569 you have chosen, and toward the temple which 00:07:59.569 --> 00:08:01.930 I have built for your name, then hear from heaven 00:08:01.930 --> 00:08:04.970 your dwelling place their prayer. and their supplications, 00:08:05.029 --> 00:08:07.610 and maintain their cause. And forgive your people 00:08:07.610 --> 00:08:10.389 who have sinned against you. Now, my God, I pray, 00:08:10.529 --> 00:08:12.850 let your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive 00:08:12.850 --> 00:08:16.430 to the prayer made in this place. Now, therefore, 00:08:16.649 --> 00:08:19.089 arise, O Lord God, to your resting place, you 00:08:19.089 --> 00:08:21.470 and the ark of your strength. Let your priest, 00:08:21.569 --> 00:08:24.029 O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let 00:08:24.029 --> 00:08:26.449 your saints rejoice in goodness. O Lord God, 00:08:26.689 --> 00:08:29.389 do not turn away the face of your anointed. Remember 00:08:29.389 --> 00:08:33.879 the mercies of your servant, David. Chapter 7 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.840 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:38.899 down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.799 and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.299 filled the temple. And the priests could not 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:45.200 enter the house of the Lord, because the glory 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.940 of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. When 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:49.919 all the children of Israel saw how the fire came 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.899 down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:54.440 they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:56.500 and worshipped and praised the Lord, saying, 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:59.340 For He is good, for His mercy endures forever. 00:08:59.850 --> 00:09:02.049 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices 00:09:02.049 --> 00:09:04.870 before the Lord. King Solomon offered the sacrifice 00:09:04.870 --> 00:09:08.889 of 22 ,000 bulls and 120 ,000 sheep. So the king 00:09:08.889 --> 00:09:10.850 and all the people dedicated the house of God. 00:09:11.070 --> 00:09:13.570 And the priests attended to their services. The 00:09:13.570 --> 00:09:16.149 Levites also with instruments of the music of 00:09:16.149 --> 00:09:18.509 the Lord, which King David had made to praise 00:09:18.509 --> 00:09:20.690 the Lord, saying, For his mercy endures forever. 00:09:20.970 --> 00:09:23.529 Whenever David offered praise by their ministry, 00:09:23.710 --> 00:09:26.389 the priests sounded trumpets opposite them while 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:29.889 all Israel stood. Furthermore, Solomon consecrated 00:09:29.889 --> 00:09:31.950 the middle of the court that was in front of 00:09:31.950 --> 00:09:34.309 the house of the Lord, for there he offered burnt 00:09:34.309 --> 00:09:36.549 offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, 00:09:36.730 --> 00:09:39.029 because the bronze altar which Solomon had made 00:09:39.029 --> 00:09:41.029 was not able to receive the burnt offerings, 00:09:41.169 --> 00:09:43.909 the grain offerings, and the fat. At that time 00:09:43.909 --> 00:09:46.409 Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel 00:09:46.409 --> 00:09:48.769 with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance 00:09:48.769 --> 00:09:51.590 of Hamad to the brook of Egypt. And on the eighth 00:09:51.590 --> 00:09:54.549 day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed 00:09:54.549 --> 00:09:57.450 the dedication of the altar seven days, and the 00:09:57.450 --> 00:10:00.110 feast seven days. On the twenty -third day of 00:10:00.110 --> 00:10:02.590 the seventh month, he sent the people away to 00:10:02.590 --> 00:10:05.269 their tents, joyful and glad of heart, for the 00:10:05.269 --> 00:10:07.730 good that the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, 00:10:07.889 --> 00:10:10.710 and for his people Israel. Thus Solomon finished 00:10:10.710 --> 00:10:12.649 the house of the Lord and the king's house, and 00:10:12.649 --> 00:10:15.070 Solomon successfully accomplished all that came 00:10:15.070 --> 00:10:17.509 into his heart to make in the house of the Lord 00:10:17.509 --> 00:10:20.379 and in his own house. Then the Lord appeared 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:22.700 to Solomon by night and said to him, I have heard 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.820 your prayer and have chosen this place for myself 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:27.519 as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.840 and there is no rain or command the locusts to 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.539 devour the land or send pestilence among my people, 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:35.100 if my people who are called by my name will humble 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:37.899 themselves and pray and seek my face and turn 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:40.080 from their wicked ways, then I will hear from 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.539 heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:45.679 land. now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.740 to prayer made in this place for now i have chosen 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:51.500 and sanctified this house that my name may be 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:54.360 there forever and my eyes and my heart will be 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.259 there perpetually as for you if you walk before 00:10:57.259 --> 00:10:59.960 me as your father david walked and do according 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:02.440 to all that i have commanded you and if you keep 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:05.259 my statutes and my judgments then i will establish 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:08.629 the throne of your kingdom As I covenanted with 00:11:08.629 --> 00:11:11.250 David your father, saying, You shall not fail 00:11:11.250 --> 00:11:14.090 to have a man as ruler in Israel. But if you 00:11:14.090 --> 00:11:16.750 turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments, 00:11:16.950 --> 00:11:19.029 which I have said before you, and go and serve 00:11:19.029 --> 00:11:21.529 other gods and worship them, then I will uproot 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:24.190 them from my land which I have given them, and 00:11:24.190 --> 00:11:26.470 this house which I have sanctified for my name 00:11:26.470 --> 00:11:29.330 I will cast out of my sight, and will make it 00:11:29.330 --> 00:11:53.610 a proverb and a byword among all peoples. Chapter 00:11:53.610 --> 00:11:58.169 8 It came to pass at the end of 20 years, when 00:11:58.169 --> 00:12:00.309 Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his 00:12:00.309 --> 00:12:03.049 own house, that the cities which Hiram had given 00:12:03.049 --> 00:12:05.629 to Solomon, Solomon built them, and he settled 00:12:05.629 --> 00:12:07.809 the children of Israel there. And Solomon went 00:12:07.809 --> 00:12:11.590 to Hamad Zobah and seized it. He also built Tadmor 00:12:11.590 --> 00:12:13.710 in the wilderness and all the storage cities 00:12:13.710 --> 00:12:16.710 which he built in Hamad. He built upper Beit 00:12:16.710 --> 00:12:19.389 Horon and lower Beit Horon, fortified cities 00:12:19.389 --> 00:12:22.960 with walls, gates, and bars. Also Balat, and 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.159 all the storage cities that Solomon had, and 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:27.259 all the chariot cities, and the cities of the 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:29.820 cavalry, and all that Solomon desired to build 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:32.120 in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:34.580 of his dominion. All the people who were left 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:37.519 of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:40.259 and Jebusites, who were not of Israel, that is, 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:42.059 their descendants, who were left in the land 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.500 after them, whom the children of Israel did not 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:47.480 destroy. From these Solomon raised forced labor, 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.279 as it is to this day. But Solomon did not make 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.399 the children of Israel servants for his work. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:55.379 Some were men of war, captains of his officers, 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:58.799 captains of his chariots, and his cavalry. And 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.340 others were chiefs of the officials of King Solomon, 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:06.059 250, who ruled over the people. Now Solomon brought 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.320 the daughter of Pharaoh up from the city of David 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.659 to the house he had built for her. For he said, 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.080 My wife shall not dwell in the house of David, 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:15.559 king of Israel, because the places to which the 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.659 ark of the Lord has come are holy. Then Solomon 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:20.779 offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:23.559 of the Lord, which he had built before the vestibule, 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:25.960 according to the daily rate, offering according 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:28.240 to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbath, 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:30.639 the new moon, and the three appointed yearly 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.460 feasts, the feast of unleavened bread, the feast 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:36.340 of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles. And according 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.600 to the order of David his father, he appointed 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.899 the divisions of the priests for their service, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.580 the Levites for their duties, to praise and serve 00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:46.580 before the priests, as the duty of each day required. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:49.360 and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:52.240 gate, for so David the man of God had commanded. 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:54.740 They did not depart from the command of the king 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:57.580 to the priests and Levites concerning any matter 00:13:57.580 --> 00:14:00.639 or concerning the treasuries. Now all the work 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.980 of Solomon was well ordered, from the day of 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:04.860 the foundation of the house of the Lord until 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.159 it was finished. So the house of the Lord was 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.059 completed. Then Solomon went to Ezion -Geber, 00:14:10.409 --> 00:14:13.129 and elad on the sea coast in the land of edom 00:14:13.129 --> 00:14:15.870 and hiram sent him ships by the hand of his servants 00:14:15.870 --> 00:14:18.350 and servants who knew the sea they went with 00:14:18.350 --> 00:14:20.370 the servants of solomon to ophir and acquired 00:14:20.370 --> 00:14:23.009 four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there 00:14:23.009 --> 00:14:28.090 and brought it to king solomon chapter nine now 00:14:28.090 --> 00:14:30.490 when the queen of sheba heard of the fame of 00:14:30.490 --> 00:14:32.830 solomon she came to jerusalem to test solomon 00:14:32.830 --> 00:14:35.809 with hard questions having a very great retinue 00:14:35.809 --> 00:14:38.970 camels that bore spices golden abundance and 00:14:38.970 --> 00:14:41.149 precious stones and when she came to solomon 00:14:41.149 --> 00:14:43.509 she spoke with him about all that was in her 00:14:43.509 --> 00:14:46.429 heart so solomon answered all her questions there 00:14:46.429 --> 00:14:48.730 was nothing so difficult for solomon that he 00:14:48.730 --> 00:14:51.000 could not explain it to her And when the queen 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.320 of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.940 house that he had built, the food on his table, 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.580 the seating of his servants, the service of his 00:14:58.580 --> 00:15:01.039 waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:03.700 their apparel, and his entryway by which he went 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.940 up to the house of the Lord, there was no more 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:08.899 spirit in her. Then she said to the king, It 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:11.139 was a true report which I heard in my own land 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:13.690 about your words and your wisdom. However, I 00:15:13.690 --> 00:15:15.769 did not believe their words until I came and 00:15:15.769 --> 00:15:18.350 saw with my own eyes, and indeed the half of 00:15:18.350 --> 00:15:20.629 the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. 00:15:20.690 --> 00:15:23.850 You exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are 00:15:23.850 --> 00:15:25.769 your men, and happy are these your servants, 00:15:25.909 --> 00:15:28.389 who stand continually before you and hear your 00:15:28.389 --> 00:15:31.190 wisdom. Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted 00:15:31.190 --> 00:15:33.610 in you, setting you on his throne to be king 00:15:33.610 --> 00:15:36.580 for the Lord your God. Because your God has loved 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:39.559 Israel to establish them forever, therefore he 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.480 made you king over them to do justice and righteousness. 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:46.679 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, spices 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.399 in great abundance, and precious stones. There 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.899 never were any spices such as those the queen 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:55.340 of Sheba gave to king Solomon. Also the servants 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:57.600 of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:00.460 gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.980 stones. And the king made walkways of the algum 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.409 wood. for the house of the lord and for the king's 00:16:05.409 --> 00:16:07.970 house also harps and stringed instruments for 00:16:07.970 --> 00:16:10.909 singers and there were none such as these seen 00:16:10.909 --> 00:16:13.629 before in the land of judah now king solomon 00:16:13.629 --> 00:16:16.690 gave to the queen of sheba all she desired whatever 00:16:16.690 --> 00:16:19.450 she asked much more than she had brought to the 00:16:19.450 --> 00:16:22.289 king So she turned and went to her own country, 00:16:22.389 --> 00:16:25.090 she and her servants. The weight of gold that 00:16:25.090 --> 00:16:29.029 came to Solomon yearly was 666 talents of gold, 00:16:29.149 --> 00:16:31.750 besides what the traveling merchants and traders 00:16:31.750 --> 00:16:34.490 brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors 00:16:34.490 --> 00:16:37.389 of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.840 And King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.299 gold, 600 shekels of hammered gold went into 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:47.480 each shield. He also made 300 shields of hammered 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.480 gold, 300 shekels of gold went into each shield. 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:52.759 The king put them in the house of the forest 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.720 of Lebanon. Moreover, the king made a great throne 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:58.700 of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. The 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:01.360 throne had six steps with a footstool of gold 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.980 which were fastened to the throne. There were 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.779 armrests on either side of the place of the seat, 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:09.599 and two lions stood beside the armrests. Twelve 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.559 lions stood there, one on each side of the six 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.460 steps. Nothing like this had been made for any 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:18.420 other kingdom. All King Solomon's drinking vessels 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.779 were gold, and all the vessels of the house of 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:23.700 the forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:26.180 was silver, for this was accounted as nothing 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:28.819 in the days of Solomon. For the king's ships 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:31.460 went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.700 Once every three years the merchant ships came 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:38.460 bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.440 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:44.039 earth in riches and wisdom, and all the kings 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:46.460 of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:48.900 hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.960 Each man brought his present, articles of silver 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:56.539 and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:59.789 mules, at a set rate year by year. Solomon had 00:17:59.789 --> 00:18:02.690 four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, 00:18:02.710 --> 00:18:05.730 and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed 00:18:05.730 --> 00:18:08.349 in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 00:18:08.630 --> 00:18:11.390 So he reigned over all the kings from the river 00:18:11.390 --> 00:18:13.890 to the land of the Philistines, as far as the 00:18:13.890 --> 00:18:16.750 border of Egypt. The king made silver as common 00:18:16.750 --> 00:18:19.289 in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees 00:18:19.289 --> 00:18:21.950 as abundant as the sycamores which are in the 00:18:21.950 --> 00:18:24.529 lowland. And they brought horses to Solomon from 00:18:24.529 --> 00:18:27.630 Egypt and from all lands. Now the rest of the 00:18:27.630 --> 00:18:30.069 acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not 00:18:30.069 --> 00:18:32.329 written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in 00:18:32.329 --> 00:18:34.650 the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in 00:18:34.650 --> 00:18:37.349 the visions of Edo the seer, concerning Jeroboam 00:18:37.349 --> 00:18:40.210 the son of Nebat? Solomon reigned in Jerusalem 00:18:40.210 --> 00:18:43.470 over all Israel forty years. Then Solomon rested 00:18:43.470 --> 00:18:45.630 with his fathers, and was buried in the city 00:18:45.630 --> 00:18:48.769 of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned 00:18:48.769 --> 00:18:56.140 in his place. I hope you enjoyed today's reading 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:58.460 as much as I did and I look forward to seeing 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.519 you again tomorrow to continue on our journey. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.319 God bless you and have a great day.