7. On that same day, Solomon dedicated the courtyard in front of the temple and got it ready to be used for worship. The bronze altar he had made was too small, so he used the courtyard to offer sacrifices to please the Lord and grain sacrifices, and also to send up in smoke the fat from the other offerings.
8. For seven days, Solomon and the crowd celebrated the Festival of Shelters, and people came from as far away as the Egyptian Gorge in the south and Lebo-Hamath in the north.
9. Then on the next day, everyone came together for worship. They had celebrated a total of fourteen days, seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven more days for the festival.
10. Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent everyone home. They left very happy because of all the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon, and for his people Israel.
11. The Lord's temple and Solomon's palace were now finished. In fact, everything Solomon had planned to do was completed.
12. Some time later, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said:I heard your prayer, and I have chosen this temple as the place where sacrifices will be offered to me.
13. Suppose I hold back the rain or send locusts to eat the crops or make my people suffer with deadly diseases.
14. If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.
15. I will hear the prayers made in this temple,
16. because it belongs to me, and this is where I will be worshipped for ever. I will never stop watching over it.
17. Your father David obeyed me, and now, Solomon, you must do the same. Obey my laws and teachings,