King Huram of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”

He designated 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.

Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple; its length (determined according to the old standard of measure) was 90 feet, and its width 30 feet.

He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right side and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin, and the one on the left Boaz.

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

The priests and Levites carried the ark, the tent where God appeared to his people, and all the holy items in the tent.

The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubs.

The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s splendor filled God’s temple.

He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David.

and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites.”

You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.

listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.

“If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help before you in this temple,

then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help, vindicate them, and forgive your sinful people.

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the Lord’s splendor filled the temple.

The priests were unable to enter the Lord’s temple because the Lord’s splendor filled the Lord’s temple.

the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: “I have answered your prayer and chosen this place to be my temple where sacrifices are to be made.

Now I have chosen and consecrated this temple by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there.

Then I will establish your dynasty, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor ruling over Israel.’

Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given him and settled Israelites there.