9. On the eighth day there was an assembly. They had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for ⌊another⌋ seven days.
10. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon dismissed the people to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings the Lord had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.
11. Solomon finished the Lord’s temple and the royal palace and completed everything he had in mind for the Lord’s temple and his own palace.
12. Then the Lord appeared to him at night. He said to Solomon,“I have heard your prayerand have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13. I may shut the sky so that there is no rain,or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside,or send an epidemic among my people.
14. However, if my people, who are called by my name,will humble themselves,pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,then I will hear ⌊their prayer⌋ from heaven, forgive their sins,and heal their country.