CHAPTER 8
Now
at the end
of the twenty
years
during which
Solomon
had built
the house
of the LORD
and
his own palace,
as well as
Baalath,
all
the store
cities
that
belonged to
Solomon,
all
the cities
for his chariots
and
horses,
and everything
he
desired
to build
in Jerusalem,
Lebanon,
and throughout
the land
of his dominion.
As for all
the people
who remained
of
the Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Hivites,
and Jebusites
(the people who
were not
Israelites
)—
their descendants
who
remained
in the land,
those whom
the Israelites
were unable
to destroy completely—
Solomon
conscripted these people
to be forced laborers,
as they are to
this
day.
But
Solomon
did not
consign
any of the Israelites
to slave
labor,
because
they were
his men
of war,
his officers
and captains,
and the commanders
of his chariots
and cavalry.
Solomon
brought
the daughter
of Pharaoh
up from the City
of David
to the palace
he had built
for her.
For
he said,
“My wife
must not
live
in the house
of David
king
of Israel,
because
the places
the ark
of the LORD
has entered
are holy."
At that time
Solomon
offered
burnt offerings
to the LORD
on
the altar
of the LORD
he had built
in front
of the portico.
He observed the daily
requirement
for offerings
according to the commandment
of Moses
for Sabbaths,
New Moons,
and the three
annual
appointed feasts—
the Feast
of Unleavened Bread,
the Feast
of Weeks,
and the Feast
of Tabernacles.
In keeping with the ordinances
of his father
David,
he appointed
the divisions
of the priests
over
their service,
and the Levites
for
their duties
to offer praise
and to minister
before
the priests
according to the daily
requirement.
He also appointed gatekeepers
by their divisions
at each gate,
for
this
had been the command
of David,
the man
of God.
They did not
turn aside
from the king’s
command
regarding
the priests
or the Levites
or any
matter
concerning the treasuries.
Thus all
the work
of Solomon
was carried out,
from
the day
the foundation was laid
for the house
of the LORD
until
it was finished.
So the house
of the LORD
was completed.
So Hiram
sent
him
ships
by
his servants,
along with crews
of experienced sailors.
They went
with
Solomon’s
servants
to Ophir
and acquired
from there
450
talents
of gold,
which they delivered
to
King
Solomon.