¹Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the dark cloud.[#Ex 20:21; 1Ki 8:12–50]

²But I have built for You an exalted house, even a habitation where You can continually dwell.”

Solomon’s Speech

³Then the king turned his face around, and he blessed the entire assembly of Israel while all the assembly of Israel was standing before him.[#1Ki 8:14]

⁴And he said:

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

¹²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

¹³For Solomon made a bronze platform and set it in the midst of the enclosure. It was five cubits in length, five cubits in width, and three cubits in height. And he stood on it and knelt down before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven.[#1Ki 8:54; Ne 8:4; #6:13 About 71/2 feet long and wide, and 41/2 feet high; or 2.3 meters long and wide, and 1.4 meters high.]

¹⁴And he said:

⁴¹“Now rise up, O Lord God, to Your resting place,[#1Ch 28:2]

both You and the ark of Your strength.

And let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed in salvation

and Your loyal ones rejoice in goodness.

⁴²O Lord God, do not turn Your face from Your anointed.

Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”