Samuel Thru Solomon: Lesson 37-2 Chronicles 5:1-7:10 and 1 Kings 8:1-8:66

Samuel Thru Solomon Lesson 37-2 Chronicles 5:1-7:10 and 1 Kings 8:1-8:66 In the last lesson we studied the construction of the Temple. We saw how Solomon made a treaty with Hiram, the King of Tyre to provide lumber from the Mountains of Lebanon as well as artisans to help in the construction of the Temple. In exchange, Israel provided him with wheat and oil. In addition to that, Hiram sent Solomon a supervising craftsman named Huram-Abi who was half Phoenician and half Israelite. I pointed out that the culture and religion from which both Hiram and Huram-Abi came included both forced prostitution and human sacrifice and that the King of Tyre in scripture is used as a type of Satan. I also pointed out that the Temple was built largely by the forced labor of all the alien males in Israel, which included 153,600 men. This was in spite of the clear dictates of the Law as to how aliens should be treated. It also violated the spirit in which the Tabernacle had been built, by voluntary gifts of time and treasure. In addition to the forced labor, 30,000 Israelites were sent to Lebanon to assist in the cutting and preparation of the lumber. We then looked at the Temple that was built. We saw that everything in the Old Tabernacle with the exception of the Ark and the Lampstand were replaced. The Temple was twelve times as large as the old Tabernacle, and the new Altar was 53 times larger than the old one and the new Bronze Sea was about 300 times larger than the old basin that it replaced. Instead of being made of cloth and skins, it was made of wood and stone. It was mostly stone on the outside, but inside it was gold plated cedar and pine. The wood was covered with gold which would be worth close to a billion dollars today. That did not include the value of all the other gold utensils and artifacts. There is no doubt that this Temple was the most magnificent building in the world in its day. It was finished in seven years, six months. After Solomon finished with this Temple, which David had originally wanted to build after he saw that the palace, in which he lived, made the Tabernacle seem insignificant, Solomon proceeded to build himself a new palace that was four times the size of the Temple. It took thirteen years more to finish just that palace. That did not include all the other palaces he built 1 / 22

for his wives or the other temples for their gods. This time we will look at the dedication of Solomon's Temple. 2 Chronicles 5:1 When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the LORD was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated--the silver and gold and all the furnishings--and he placed them in the treasuries of God's temple. These were evidently not the three stories of side rooms, along the outer Temple walls, but some place of security, and probably secrecy on the Temple grounds. Perhaps it was an underground vault. This may be where and why most of the sacred golden articles were saved from the Egyptians when they pillaged Solomon's Temple. 2 Chronicles 5:2-7 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David. And all the men of Israel came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month. [a] When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, and they brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests, who were Levites, carried them up; and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted. The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 2 / 22

1 Kings 8:1-6 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David. All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month. [b] When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. [c] The priests and Levites carried them up, [d] and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted. The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. They brought the Ark from its old place into the new Temple at the feast of Tabernacles, about 960 BC. The Ark and its tent had evidently been located, during most of David's reign, on Mt. Zion which was part of Jerusalem, the City of David. I believe that it is very likely to have been located on the very spot that David had buried the skull of Goliath years before (1 Samuel 17:54), and was later to be called the "place of the skull" or Golgotha. 2 Chronicles 5:8-9 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 3 / 22

1 Kings 8:7-8 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. We know that both 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles were obviously written after the return from exile because 1 Chronicles refers to that event (1 Chronicles 6:15, 9:1). Since we know that there was no Ark in the post-exilic temple, this remark would seem to inform us that that the carrying poles were all that was left, and were placed in the Zerubbabel Temple in their usual position. The same remark in 1 Kings indicates that 1 and 2 Kings was composed at about the same time from the entire contemporary accounts to which it periodically refers. Of course these summary condensations from the original source material were overseen by the Holy Spirit. We do not know the names of any of the post-exilic writers. 2 Chronicles 5:10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. 1 Kings 8:9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. 4 / 22

This meant that the pot of manna and Aaron's rod that budded were missing. How and why did they disappear? The scripture does not give us an answer. While it could be argued that these items were removed by the Philistines when they had possession of the Ark (1 Samuel 6), neither their presence nor absence at that time is noted in Scripture. Those non - priests who looked in the Ark when it was returned were killed (1 Samuel 6:19), but there was no occasion given in the Law where anyone was allowed to look into the Ark. I have to believe these articles could not have been removed apart from the will of God. Since the manna stood for the incarnation of Christ, and the rod that budded stood for the death and resurrection of Christ, perhaps God removed those from Solomon's temple, and left only the Law. Remember, as we have seen, Solomon was claiming the role of messiah for himself. Perhaps, God was making a point. All he asked of Solomon was that he perfectly keeps the Law. He couldn't even begin to fulfill that! 2 Chronicles 5:11-14 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians--asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives--stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God. 1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. 5 / 22

The LORD accepted this Temple as a substitute for the Tabernacle, even though it wasn't in His will. He had done the same thing when the people wanted a King like all the other nations. Also, at least in the Temple, the Ark was reunited with the Table of Presence, the Golden Lampstand and the Bronze Altar from which it had been separated for over a hundred years. It is worth noting that although God honored this temple with His presence, all the types of Christ referred to in the New Testament refer back to the original Tabernacle of Moses. (Hebrews 9) 2 Chronicles 6:1-2 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever." 1 Kings 8:12-13 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever." Solomon seems to be quoting Exodus 19:9, [e] however, if so, it seems to be misquoted as that passage only refers to one occasion during the Exodus. The statement sounds rather arrogant, which he tries to correct later in his speech. 2 Chronicles 6:3-7 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said: "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, 6 / 22

who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.' 1 Kings 8:14-16 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said: "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.' This quote does not exist in the Bible, although parts of it are true. Psalm 68 and other Psalms do indicate that Jerusalem was the chosen place and were written prior to Solomon's statement here. The general tenor is the temple was built at God's command and Solomon is His man. 2 Chronicles 6:8-9 "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood--he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.' 7 / 22

1 Kings 8:17-19 "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood--he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.' Here Solomon completely misrepresents what God actually said to David. 2 Samuel 7 tells us what the LORD actually said: 2 Samuel 7:5-7 "Go and tell my servant David, This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' There is no "you did well." To be fair, this was probably what David told Solomon. We know that the "son" who was to be the builder was Jesus Christ, and the building was his own body and life. 8 / 22

2 Chronicles 6:10-11 "The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel." 1 Kings 8:20 "The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt." Here Solomon claims to be the fulfillment of God's promise to David. 2 Chronicles 6:12-13 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 1 Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 9 / 22

Solomon was in the outer court on a platform raised up so everyone could see. The crowd would have included all the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, as well as all those others who had gathered for this special Feast of Tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 6:14-16 He said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it--as it is today. "Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.' 1 Kings 8:23-25 and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it--as it is today. "Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me as you have done.' 10 / 22

Here Solomon is referring to the Davidic Covenant recorded in 2 Samuel 7:13-16 and 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, and Psalm 132:12. Nowhere in that did God say that David kept the Law. Only one person ever did! Jesus Christ!! Also notice that Solomon's misquotation of God's promise has the Davidic Covenant and its promise that the Messiah would come through the line of David as conditional. It is not. God states it correctly in 1 Kings 9:4-9, which states that if the generations of the line of David fail, the consequences will be disaster and exile. 2 Chronicles 6:17-18 And now, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true. "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 1 Kings 8:26-27 And now, O God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true. "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Here Solomon tries to correct the arrogant impression of his earlier opening remark. 11 / 22

2 Chronicles 6:19-21 Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. 1 Kings 8:28-30 Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. The concept of praying toward the Temple that Solomon states here is nowhere in the Mosaic Law or anywhere else in scripture. God never prescribed the direction of prayer. However, this is no doubt the basis on which Jewish Synagogues since the second century AD have been oriented toward the where the Temple was in Jerusalem. Prior to that they had faced the sun rising (east) like the Temple itself. 2 Chronicles 6:22-25 "When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence. "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and confess your name, praying 12 / 22

and making supplication before you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers. 1 Kings 8:31-34 "When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple, then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty, and so establish his innocence. "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers. Both versions are identical, and are basically praying that the LORD will now accept the Temple as the new venue for those activities which had previously had been prescribed by the Law of Moses to take place at the Tabernacle. 2 Chronicles 6:26-31 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel--each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple-- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, 13 / 22

since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers. 1 Kings 8:35-40 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel--each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple-- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men), so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers. Both versions are identical, and are basically praying that the LORD will now accept the Temple as the new venue for those activities which had previously had been prescribed by the Law of Moses to take place at the Tabernacle. 2 Chronicles 6:32-35 "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward 14 / 22

this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 1 Kings 8:41-45 "As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name-- for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. "When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. Both versions are identical, and are basically praying that the LORD will now accept the Temple as the new venue for those activities which had previously had been prescribed by the Law of Moses to take place at the Tabernacle. 2 Chronicles 6:36-39 "When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you. 15 / 22

1 Kings 8:46-50a "When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; Both versions are identical, and are basically praying that the LORD will now accept the Temple as the new venue for those activities which had previously had been prescribed by the Law of Moses to take place at the Tabernacle. 1 Kings 8:50b-53 forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace. "May your eyes be open to your servant's plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, O Sovereign LORD, brought our fathers out of Egypt." 16 / 22

The forgoing section is unique to 1 Kings. 2 Chronicles 6:40-42 "Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. "Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness. O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant." The forgoing section is unique to 2 Chronicles. It basically concludes the theme of this long prayer and asks that God show acceptance of the Temple. He had already started by filling the Holy Place with a cloud. 1 Kings 8:54-61 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time." 17 / 22

This section is unique to 1 Kings and contains a blessing that Solomon said over the people of Israel. Sadly, Solomon did not live by his own words. They were just words. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever." This section is unique to 2 Chronicles. It records the LORD's graphic visual answer to Solomon's prayer. It certainly vividly consecrated the New Temple as the replacement of the old Tabernacle. No one could doubt it. 2 Chronicles 7:4-5 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 18 / 22

1 Kings 8:62-63 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD. Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD. This records the vast number of sacrifices. This was a unique sacrifice not described in the Law of Moses. However, in most animal sacrifices just the fat was burned, the blood was poured out, but the meat was eaten. Deuteronomy 12:27 "Present your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God, both the meat and the blood. The blood of your sacrifices must be poured beside the altar of the LORD your God, but you may eat the meat." After these sacrifices there was a lot of meat left, since it was not burned in the sacrifice, only the fat. [f] This would have left a lot of free food for those assembled for the Feast of Tabernacles and the dedication of the New Temple. 2 Chronicles 7:6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. Unique to 2 Chronicles. 19 / 22

2 Chronicles 7:7 Solomon consecrated [g] the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions. 1 Kings 8:64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings. Because there was such a volume of offerings, Solomon had the middle part of the courtyard consecrated to be an additional venue for offerings. As in this whole scenario, Solomon was operating outside of any instructions of the Law of Moses because it had never provided for a Temple. God was merciful and allowed it, although I can't help thinking that eventually Solomon took it to mean he was allowed to make his own law. 2 Chronicles 7:8-10 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him--a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the 20 / 22

LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel. 1 Kings 8:65-66 So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him--a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel. This celebration involved a huge gathering of all Israel, which might have numbered in the millions. They came all the way from the far south at the Wadi of Egypt [h] to the far north at Lebo Hamath which is on the slopes of Mt. Hermon. Every body went home happy and well fed. [a] The Feast of Tabernacles. [b] In other words, the Feast of Tabernacles. [c] Although, we know that everything in the new Temple was new except the Golden Lampstand and the Ark, evidently the old furnishings were stored in the treasuries of the new Temple. [d] As per the Mosaic Law and in contrast to David's first time he moved the Ark. [e] Exodus 19:9 "The LORD said to Moses, I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in 21 / 22

you.'" [f] Leviticus 6:12, Leviticus 16:25, Leviticus 17:6 [g] Solomon had no authority to consecrate anything. Only priests could consecrate. [h] The Wadi of Egypt is usually identified with the Wadi el-arish which enters the Mediterranean from the south at the town of Arish, Egypt about 45 miles from Gaza and about 75 miles from the start of the fertile land of the Nile Delta and 160 miles from Cairo. 22 / 22