8. So there at the Temple, King Solomon and all the people of Israel celebrated the festival. People came from as far away as Hamath Pass in the north and the border of Egypt in the south. This huge crowd of people enjoyed themselves for seven days.
9. On the eighth day, they had a holy meeting because they had celebrated for seven days. They made the altar holy and it was to be used only for worshiping the Lord. And they celebrated the festival for seven days.
10. On the 23rd day of the seventh month, Solomon told the people to go home. All the people thanked the king, said goodbye, and went home. They were happy because of all the good things that the Lord had done for David his servant and for his people Israel.
11. So Solomon finished building the Lord’S Temple and the king’s palace. Solomon did everything that he had planned to do in building a house for the Lord and for himself.
12. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “Solomon, I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for myself to be a house for sacrifices.
13. When I close the sky so that there is no rain, or command the locusts to destroy the land, or send sicknesses to my people
14. and if my people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn away from their evil ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15. Now, my eyes are open, and my ears will pay attention to the prayers prayed in this place.
16. I have chosen this Temple, and I have made it a holy place. So I will be honored there forever. I will watch over it and think of it always.
17. You must serve me with a pure and honest heart, just as your father David did. You must obey my laws and do everything that I commanded you. If you obey all I have commanded, and if you obey my laws and rules,
18. then I will make you a strong king and your kingdom will be great. That is the agreement I made with David your father when I told him that Israel would always be ruled by one of his descendants.