All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake.

Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.

All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon’s lifetime.

As the temple was being built, only stones shaped at the quarry were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any other iron tool was not heard at the temple while it was being built.

He built an extension all around the temple; it was seven and a half feet high and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams.

The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible.

On all the walls around the temple, inside and out, he carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom.

All of these were built with the best stones, chiseled to the right size and cut with a saw on all sides, from the foundation to the edge of the roof and from the outside to the great courtyard.

Solomon also made all these items for the Lord’s temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which was kept the Bread of the Presence,

All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival in the month Ethanim (the seventh month).

The priests and Levites carried the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy items in the tent.

Then they will obey you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.

Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them.

“May you be attentive to your servant’s and your people Israel’s requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you.

May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors.

After Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple, the royal palace, and all the other construction projects he had planned,

You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.

Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.

There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.