Page:The Books of Chronicles (1916).djvu/261

Rh and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away unto their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that the had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. Thus Solomon finished the house of the, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. And the 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. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; if 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. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and

Chronicler, or the tradition he follows, did not deem it fitting that there should be no special festival for the dedication of the Temple. His statement of events is therefore: a seven days Dedication Feast (from the 8th to the 14th of the month), followed by the Feast of Tabernacles, seven days plus one day of holy assembly (from the 15th to the 22nd); and finally on the 23rd of the month the dismissal of the people to their homes (see ver. 10).

10. unto their tents] The Hebrew word (ōhel) here approaches in meaning the corresponding Arabic word (ahl), which denotes household or one's own people, e.g. in the phrase ahlu 'linjil, "the household of the Gospel," i.e. "the Christians," a phrase found in the Koran. Cp. x. 16, xxv. 22.

11—22 (= 1 Kin. ix. 1—9).&emsp;

12. appeared by night] Cp. i. 7.

an house of sacrifice] Cp. ii. 6.

13—15. These vv. have no parallel in 1 Kings ix. 1—9, but are closely modelled upon the language of Solomon's prayer in vi. 26—28, 40.

13. to devour the land] LXX. to devour the trees; cp. Ex. x. 15; Joel i. 6, 7.

15. Now in this place] Cp. vi. 40.