2 Chronicles 7:1–11

Solomon Dedicates the Temple

7 When aSolomon had finished praying, bfire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and cthe glory of the Lord filled the 1temple. 2 dAnd the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying:

e“For He is good,

fFor His mercy endures forever.”

4 gThen the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 hAnd the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the Lord, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their 2ministry. iThe priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.

7 Furthermore jSolomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.

8 kAt that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly lfrom the entrance of Hamath to mthe 3Brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they held a nsacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 oOn the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel. 11 Thus pSolomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house.