1Now when Solomon had made an end of praying , the fire came down from heaven , and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices ; and the glory of the LORD filled the house . 2And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD , because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house . 3And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down , and the glory of the LORD upon the house , they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement , and worshipped , and praised the LORD , saying , For he is good ; for his mercy endureth for ever .
God's Response to Solomon's Prayer
4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD . 5And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen , and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep : so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God . 6And the priests waited on their offices : the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD , which David the king had made to praise the LORD , because his mercy endureth for ever , when David praised by their ministry ; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood . 7Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD : for there he offered burnt offerings , and the fat of the peace offerings , because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings , and the meat offerings , and the fat . 8Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days , and all Israel with him, a very great congregation , from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt . 9And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly : for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days , and the feast seven days . 10And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents , glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David , and to Solomon , and to Israel his people .
The Conditions for God's Blessing
11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD , and the king’s house : and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD , and in his own house , he prosperously effected . 12And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night , and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer , and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice . 13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain , or if I command the locusts to devour the land , or if I send pestilence among my people ; 14If my people , which are called by my name , shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face , and turn from their wicked ways ; then will I hear from heaven , and will forgive their sin , and will heal their land . 15Now mine eyes shall be open , and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place . 16For now have I chosen and sanctified this house , that my name may be there for ever : and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually . 17And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked , and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments ; 18Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom , according as I have covenanted with David thy father , saying , There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel . 19But if ye turn away , and forsake my statutes and my commandments , which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods , and worship them; 20Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house , which I have sanctified for my name , will I cast out of my sight , and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations . 21And this house , which is high , shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say , Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land , and unto this house ? 22And it shall be answered , Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers , which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt , and laid hold on other gods , and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.