Solomon Blesses the People

2 Chronicles 6

¹ Then _a Solomon spoke:
"The LORD said He would dwell in the _b dark cloud. ² I have surely built You an exalted house,
And _c a place for You to dwell in forever." ³ Then the king turned around and _d blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. ⁴ And he said: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, _e saying, ⁵ 'Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. ⁶ _f 'Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I _g have chosen David to be over My people Israel.' ⁷ "Now _h it was in the heart of my father David to build a ₁ temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. ⁸ "But the LORD said to my father David, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. ⁹ 'Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My _i name.' ¹⁰ "So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and _j sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. ¹¹ "And there I have put the ark, _k in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with the children of Israel."

1. Cross References
   Exodus 19:9
   And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
   Exodus 20:21
   So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
   1 Kings 8:12 - 21
   Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
   
2. Cross References
   Leviticus 16:2
   And the LORD said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
   Psalms 97:2
   Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
   
3. Cross References
   2 Samuel 7:13
   He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
   1 Chronicles 17:12
   He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
   2 Chronicles 7:12
   Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
   
4. Cross References
   2 Samuel 6:18
   And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
   
5. Cross References
   1 Chronicles 17:5
   For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
   
6. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 12:5 - 7
   But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
   2 Chronicles 12:13
   Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.
   Zechariah 2:12
   And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
   
7. Cross References
   1 Samuel 16:7 - 13
   But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
   1 Chronicles 28:4
   However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel.
   
8. Cross References
   2 Samuel 7:2
   That the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.
   1 Chronicles 17:1
   Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.
   1 Chronicles 28:2
   Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.
   Psalms 132:1 - 5
   LORD, remember David And all his afflictions.
   
9. Cross References
   1 Chronicles 28:3 - 6
   "But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.'
   
10. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:12
    Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.
    1 Kings 10:9
    "Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
    
11. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 5:7 - 10
    Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim.