DAVID and SOLOMON

 

David once prayed for Solomon:

1 Chronicles 29:18-19

King James Version

18 O Lord God of Abraham, 

Isaac, and of Israel, 

our fathers, 

keep this for ever in the imagination 

of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, 

and prepare their heart unto thee:

19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, 

to keep thy commandments, 

thy testimonies, and thy statutes, 

and to do all these things, 

and to build the palace, 

for the which I have made provision.

What a rich history between king David and his son, Solomon.

And how GOD loved both so much!

Anointing both, to be king.

One was a man of war.

The other, a "man of rest".

David ruled for 40 years.

Solomon ruled for 40 years, too.

Solomon was charged to build the HOUSE for GOD.

1 Chronicles 22:5-6

King James Version

5 And David said, 

Solomon my son is young and tender, 

and the house that is to be builded for the Lord 

must be exceeding magnifical, 

of fame and of glory throughout all countries: 

I will therefore now make preparation for it. 

So David prepared abundantly before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son, 

and charged him to build an house 

for the Lord God of Israel.

King David couldn't build the house for this reason.

1 Chronicles 22:7-8

King James Version

7 And David said to Solomon, 

My son, as for me, 

it was in my mind to build an house 

unto the name of the Lord my God:

8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 

Thou hast shed blood abundantly, 

and hast made great wars: 

thou shalt not build an house unto my name, 

because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth 

in my sight.

In place of David, a son was prophesied to build GOD's temple.

Solomon was his name.

1 Chronicles 22:9-10

King James Version

9 Behold, 

a son shall be born to thee, 

who shall be a man of rest; 

and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: 

for his name shall be Solomon, 

and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

10 He shall build an house for my name; 

and he shall be my son, 

and I will be his father; 

and I will establish the throne of his kingdom 

over Israel for ever.

David blesses Solomon.

1 Chronicles 22:11-16

King James Version

11 Now, my son, 

the Lord be with thee; 

and prosper thou, 

and build the house of the Lord thy God, 

as he hath said of thee.

12 Only the Lord give thee 

wisdom and understanding, 

and give thee charge concerning Israel, 

that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God.

13 Then shalt thou prosper,

if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments 

which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: 

be strong, and of good courage; 

dread not, nor be dismayed.

14 Now, behold, 

in my trouble 

I have prepared for the house of the Lord 

an hundred thousand talents of gold, 

and a thousand thousand talents of silver; 

and of brass and iron without weight; 

for it is in abundance: 

timber also and stone have I prepared; 

and thou mayest add thereto.

15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, 

hewers and workers of stone and timber, 

and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.

16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, 

there is no number. 

Arise therefore, 

and be doing, 

and the Lord be with thee.

He also commands all his princes to help Solomon.

1 Chronicles 22:17-19

King James Version

17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel 

to help Solomon his son, saying,

18 Is not the Lord your God with you? 

and hath he not given you rest on every side? 

for he hath given the inhabitants of the land 

into mine hand; 

and the land is subdued before the Lord, 

and before his people.

19 Now set your heart and your soul 

to seek the Lord your God; 

arise therefore, 

and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, 

to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, 

and the holy vessels of God,

 into the house that is to be built 

to the name of the Lord.

At his deathbed, David told Solomon:

1 Kings 2:2-12

King James Version

2 I go the way of all the earth: 

be thou strong therefore, 

and shew thyself a man;

3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, 

to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, 

and his commandments, and his judgments, 

and his testimonies,

 as it is written in the law of Moses, 

that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, 

and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

4 That the Lord may continue his word 

which he spake concerning me, saying, 

If thy children take heed to their way, 

to walk before me in truth 

with all their heart and with all their soul, 

there shall not fail thee 

(said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab 

the son of Zeruiah did to me, 

and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, 

unto Abner the son of Ner, 

and unto Amasa the son of Jether, 

whom he slew, 

and shed the blood of war in peace, 

and put the blood of war 

upon his girdle that was about his loins, 

and in his shoes that were on his feet.

6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, 

and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai 

the Gileadite, 

and let them be of those that eat at thy table: 

for so they came to me when I fled 

because of Absalom thy brother.

8 And, behold, 

thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, 

a Benjamite of Bahurim, 

which cursed me with a grievous curse 

in the day when I went to Mahanaim: 

but he came down to meet me at Jordan, 

and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, 

I will not put thee to death with the sword.

9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: 

for thou art a wise man, 

and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; 

but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

10 So David slept with his fathers, 

and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the days that David reigned over Israel 

were forty years: 

seven years reigned he in Hebron, 

and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; 

and his kingdom was established greatly.

Two great kings.

One loved nation.

ONE, GREAT GOD.

What a magnificent story!

Related posts:

DAVID and BATHSHEBA

HOUSE for GOD

SOLOMON succeeds DAVID

SOLOMON and HIRAM

Solomon's FALL

Image: Free Bible Images

GOD answers SOLOMON

 

1 Kings 9:1-2

King James Version

9 And it came to pass, 

when Solomon had finished 

the building of the house of the Lord, 

and the king's house, 

and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,

2 That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, 

as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

The first time GOD appeared to Solomon, it was through that dream at Gibeon.

Now, GOD appears a second time.

And answers his prayer, and supplication.

1 Kings 9:3-9

King James Version

3 And the Lord said unto him, 

have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, 

that thou hast made before me: 

I have hallowed this house, 

which thou hast built, 

to put my name there for ever; 

and mine eyes and mine heart 

shall be there perpetually.

4 And if thou wilt walk before me, 

as David thy father walked, 

in integrity of heart, 

and in uprightness,

to do according to all that I have commanded thee, 

and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:

5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom 

upon Israel for ever, 

as I promised to David thy father, saying, 

There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, 

ye or your children, 

and will not keep my commandments 

and my statutes which I have set before you, 

but go and serve other gods, 

and worship them:

7 Then will I cut off Israel 

out of the land which I have given them; 

and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, 

will I cast out of my sight; 

and Israel shall be a proverb 

and a byword among all people:

8 And at this house, 

which is high, 

every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, 

and shall hiss; and they shall say, 

Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, 

and to this house?

9 And they shall answer, 

Because they forsook the Lord their God, 

who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, 

and have taken hold upon other gods, 

and have worshipped them, 

and served them: 

therefore hath the Lord brought upon them 

all this evil.

Did Solomon fulfill GOD's command?

About not serving other gods?

We shall find out on the next post.

More articles here.

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The ARK enters the HOUSE

 

1 Kings 8:6-7

King James Version

6 And the priests brought in 

the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, 

into the oracle of the house, 

to the most holy place, 

even under the wings of the cherubims.

7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings 

over the place of the ark, 

and the cherubims covered the ark 

and the staves thereof above.

After the HOUSE of GOD was built, Solomon had the ark of the covenant brought into the holy place built for it.

Here's what the ark contained:

1 Kings 8:9

King James Version

9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, 

which Moses put there at Horeb, 

when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, 

when they came out of the land of Egypt.

After the priests came out of the holy place, the GLORY of GOD filled the HOUSE of the LORD.

1 Kings 8:10-12

King James Version

10 And it came to pass, 

when the priests were come out of the holy place, 

that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,

11 So that the priests could not stand to minister 

because of the cloud: 

for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

12 Then spake Solomon, 

The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Then Solomon prays to GOD:

1 Kings 8:22

King James Version

22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord 

in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, 

and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

1 Kings 8:23-53

King James Version

23 And he said, 

Lord God of Israel, 

there is no God like thee, 

in heaven above, or on earth beneath, 

who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants 

that walk before thee with all their heart:

24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father 

that thou promisedst him: 

thou spakest also with thy mouth, 

and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, 

as it is this day.

25 Therefore now, 

Lord God of Israel, 

keep with thy servant David my father 

that thou promisedst him, saying, 

There shall not fail thee a man in my sight 

to sit on the throne of Israel; 

so that thy children take heed to their way, 

that they walk before me 

as thou hast walked before me.

26 And now, 

O God of Israel, 

let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, 

which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? 

behold, 

the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; 

how much less this house that I have builded?

28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, 

and to his supplication, 

O Lord my God, 

to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, 

which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:

29 That thine eyes 

may be open toward this house night and day, 

even toward the place of which thou hast said, 

My name shall be there: 

that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer 

which thy servant shall make toward this place.

30 And hearken thou 

to the supplication of thy servant, 

and of thy people Israel, 

when they shall pray toward this place: 

and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: 

and when thou hearest, 

forgive.

31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, 

and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, 

and the oath come before thine altar in this house:

32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do,

 and judge thy servants, 

condemning the wicked, 

to bring his way upon his head; 

and justifying the righteous, 

to give him according to his righteousness.

33 When thy people Israel 

be smitten down before the enemy, 

because they have sinned against thee, 

and shall turn again to thee, 

and confess thy name, 

and pray, 

and make supplication unto thee in this house:

34 Then hear thou in heaven, 

and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, 

and bring them again unto the land 

which thou gavest unto their fathers.

35 When heaven is shut up, 

and there is no rain, 

because they have sinned against thee; 

if they pray toward this place, 

and confess thy name, 

and turn from their sin, 

when thou afflictest them:

36 Then hear thou in heaven, 

and forgive the sin of thy servants, 

and of thy people Israel, 

that thou teach them the good way 

wherein they should walk, 

and give rain upon thy land, 

which thou hast given to thy people 

for an inheritance.

37 If there be in the land famine, 

if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, 

or if there be caterpiller; 

if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; 

whatsoever plague, 

whatsoever sickness there be;

38 What prayer and supplication soever 

be made by any man, 

or by all thy people Israel, 

which shall know every man 

the plague of his own heart, 

and spread forth his hands toward this house:

39 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, 

and forgive, and do, 

and give to every man according to his ways, 

whose heart thou knowest;

 (for thou, even thou only, 

knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

40 That they may fear thee all the days that they live 

in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

41 Moreover concerning a stranger, 

that is not of thy people Israel, 

but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;

42 (For they shall hear of thy great name, 

and of thy strong hand, 

and of thy stretched out arm;) 

when he shall come and pray toward this house;

43 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, 

and do according to all 

that the stranger calleth to thee for: 

that all people of the earth may know thy name, 

to fear thee, 

as do thy people Israel; 

and that they may know that this house, 

which I have builded, 

is called by thy name.

44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, 

whithersoever thou shalt send them, 

and shall pray unto the Lord toward the city 

which thou hast chosen, 

and toward the house that I have built for thy name:

45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer 

and their supplication, 

and maintain their cause.

46 If they sin against thee, 

(for there is no man that sinneth not,) 

and thou be angry with them, 

and deliver them to the enemy, 

so that they carry them away 

captives unto the land of the enemy, 

far or near;

47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves 

in the land whither they were carried captives, 

and repent, 

and make supplication unto thee 

in the land of them that carried them captives, 

saying, 

We have sinned, 

and have done perversely, 

we have committed wickedness;

48 And so return unto thee with all their heart, 

and with all their soul, 

in the land of their enemies, 

which led them away captive, 

and pray unto thee toward their land, 

which thou gavest unto their fathers, 

the city which thou hast chosen, 

and the house which I have built for thy name:

49 Then hear thou their prayer 

and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, 

and maintain their cause,

50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, 

and all their transgressions 

wherein they have transgressed against thee, 

and give them compassion 

before them who carried them captive, 

that they may have compassion on them:

51 For they be thy people, 

and thine inheritance, 

which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, 

from the midst of the furnace of iron:

52 That thine eyes may be open 

unto the supplication of thy servant, 

and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, 

to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.

53 For thou didst separate them 

from among all the people of the earth, 

to be thine inheritance, 

as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, 

when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, 

O Lord God.

What did GOD do?

He answers Solomon's prayer and supplication.

That's for the next page.

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SOLOMON and HIRAM

 

1 Kings 5:1

King James Version

5 And Hiram king of Tyre 

sent his servants unto Solomon; 

for he had heard that they had anointed him 

king in the room of his father: 

for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

Here's the wonderful team work between the two kings, Hiram and Solomon, as the latter built a HOUSE for GOD.

First, Solomon explains the circumstances to the HOUSE.

1 Kings 5:2-5

King James Version

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, 

saying,

3 Thou knowest how that David my father 

could not build an house 

unto the name of the Lord his God 

for the wars which were about him on every side, 

until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God 

hath given me rest on every side, 

so that there is neither adversary 

nor evil occurrent.

5 And, behold, 

I purpose to build an house 

unto the name of the Lord my God, 

as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, 

Thy son, 

whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, 

he shall build an house unto my name.

With Solomon requesting Hiram:

1 Kings 5:6

King James Version

6 Now therefore command thou 

that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; 

and my servants shall be with thy servants: 

and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants 

according to all that thou shalt appoint: 

for thou knowest that there is not among us 

any that can skill to hew timber 

like unto the Sidonians.

Hiram was delighted to help:

1 Kings 5:7-10

King James Version

7 And it came to pass, 

when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, 

that he rejoiced greatly, and said, 

Blessed be the Lord this day, 

which hath given unto David 

a wise son over this great people.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, 

I have considered the things 

which thou sentest to me for: 

and I will do all thy desire 

concerning timber of cedar, 

and concerning timber of fir.

9 My servants shall bring them down 

from Lebanon unto the sea: 

and I will convey them by sea in floats 

unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, 

and will cause them to be discharged there,

 and thou shalt receive them: 

and thou shalt accomplish my desire, 

in giving food for my household.

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees 

according to all his desire.

In turn, Solomon provided for Hiram and his household.

1 Kings 5:11

King James Version

11 And Solomon gave Hiram 

twenty thousand measures of wheat 

for food to his household, 

and twenty measures of pure oil: 

thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

The two excited kings "made a league together".

1 Kings 5:12-18

King James Version

12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, 

as he promised him: 

and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; 

and they two made a league together.

13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; 

and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 

ten thousand a month by courses: 

a month they were in Lebanon, 

and two months at home: 

and Adoniram was over the levy.

15 And Solomon had threescore 

and ten thousand that bare burdens, 

and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers 

which were over the work, 

three thousand and three hundred, 

which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17 And the king commanded, 

and they brought great stones, 

costly stones, 

and hewed stones, 

to lay the foundation of the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders 

did hew them, 

and the stonesquarers: 

so they prepared timber and stones 

to build the house.

This rare friendship, surely was done for the GLORY of GOD, and also to honor Hiram's friendship with Solomon's father, king DAVID.

If you're wondering the extent of Solomon's power given him by GOD, click here.

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HOUSE for GOD

 

1 Kings 6:1

King James Version

6 And it came to pass in the four hundred 

and eightieth year after the children of Israel 

were come out of the land of Egypt, 

in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel,

in the month Zif, 

which is the second month, 

that he began to build the house of the Lord.

Solomon builds a house for GOD.

And this is how he went about it:

1 Kings 6:2-10

King James Version

2 And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, 

the length thereof was threescore cubits, 

and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, 

and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3 And the porch before the temple of the house, 

twenty cubits was the length thereof, 

according to the breadth of the house; 

and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

5 And against the wall of the house 

he built chambers round about, 

against the walls of the house round about, 

both of the temple and of the oracle: 

and he made chambers round about:

6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, 

and the middle was six cubits broad, 

and the third was seven cubits broad: 

for without in the wall of the house 

he made narrowed rests round about, 

that the beams should not be fastened 

in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, when it was in building, 

was built of stone made ready 

before it was brought thither: 

so that there was neither hammer nor axe 

nor any tool of iron heard in the house, 

while it was in building.

8 The door for the middle chamber 

was in the right side of the house: 

and they went up with winding stairs 

into the middle chamber, 

and out of the middle into the third.

9 So he built the house, 

and finished it; 

and covered the house with beams 

and boards of cedar.

10 And then he built chambers against all the house, 

five cubits high: 

and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

Of course, GOD reminds Solomon the whole objective of it all:

1 Kings 6:11-14

King James Version

11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 

saying,

12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, 

if thou wilt walk in my statutes, 

and execute my judgments, 

and keep all my commandments to walk in them; 

then will I perform my word with thee, 

which I spake unto David thy father:

13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, 

and will not forsake my people Israel.

14 So Solomon built the house, 

and finished it.

How the HOUSE looks like:

1  Kings 6:15-37

King James Version

15 And he built the walls of the house 

within with boards of cedar, 

both the floor of the house, 

and the walls of the ceiling: 

and he covered them on the inside with wood, 

and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, 

both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: 

he even built them for it within, 

even for the oracle, 

even for the most holy place.

17 And the house, 

that is, the temple before it, 

was forty cubits long.

18 And the cedar of the house within was carved 

with knops and open flowers: 

all was cedar; 

there was no stone seen.

19 And the oracle he prepared in the house within, 

to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

20 And the oracle in the forepart 

was twenty cubits in length, 

and twenty cubits in breadth, 

and twenty cubits in the height thereof: 

and he overlaid it with pure gold; 

and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: 

and he made a partition 

by the chains of gold before the oracle; 

and he overlaid it with gold.

22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, 

until he had finished all the house: 

also the whole altar that was by the oracle 

he overlaid with gold.

23 And within the oracle 

he made two cherubims of olive tree, 

each ten cubits high.

24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, 

and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: 

from the uttermost part of the one wing 

unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: 

both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, 

and so was it of the other cherub.

27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: 

and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, 

so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, 

and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; 

and their wings touched one another 

in the midst of the house.

28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about 

with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees 

and open flowers, 

within and without.

30 And the floors of the house he overlaid with gold, 

within and without.

31 And for the entering of the oracle 

he made doors of olive tree: 

the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

32 The two doors also were of olive tree; 

and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims 

and palm trees and open flowers,

and overlaid them with gold, 

and spread gold upon the cherubims, 

and upon the palm trees.

33 So also made he 

for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, 

a fourth part of the wall.

34 And the two doors were of fir tree: 

the two leaves of the one door were folding, 

and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 And he carved thereon 

cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: 

and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36 And he built the inner court 

with three rows of hewed stone, 

and a row of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year 

was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, 

in the month Zif:

It took SEVEN years to build this HOUSE for GOD.

1 Kings 6:38

King James Version

38 And in the eleventh year, 

in the month Bul, 

which is the eighth month, 

was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, 

and according to all the fashion of it. 

So was he seven years in building it.

But we must also know about Hiram and Solomon.

How they both helped build the HOUSE for GOD.

And that's for the next post.

Related link:

More details on the HOUSE for GOD

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