11–22 (= 1 Kings ix. 1–9).
The Night Vision in answer to Solomon’s Prayer.
¹¹Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. ¹²And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
12. appeared ... by night] Compare i. 7.
an house of sacrifice] Compare ii. 6.
¹³If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴if my people, which are called by my name[¹], shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ¹⁵Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.
[¹] Hebrew upon whom my name is called.
13–15. These verses have no parallel in 1 Kings ix. 1–9, but are closely modelled upon the language of Solomon’s prayer in vi. 26–28, 40.
13. to devour the land] LXX. to devour the trees; compare Exodus x. 15; Joel i. 6, 7.
15. Now ... in this place] Compare vi. 40.
¹⁶For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ¹⁷And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgements; ¹⁸then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. ¹⁹But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them: ²⁰then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.