How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar. (NRSV 1:50)
When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah though he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and grasped the horns of the altar. (NRSV 2:28)
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. (KJV 1:50)
Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. (KJV 2:28)
When you're backed into a corner, you can always turn to religion for protection. At least until you can't, that is. Why do you think this trick worked for Adonijah but not for Joab? Were there any differences between their two situations?
Quote #2
The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. (NRSV 3:2-3)
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. (KJV 3:2-3)
It seems clear that faithful Israelites couldn't just offer sacrifices and burn incense anywhere they pleased. They had to go to special "high" places to do that. Do you think there are spiritual benefits to going to a distinct physical place to exercise religious functions? Any downsides to this approach?
Quote #3
The Lord our God […] incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our ancestors. Let these words of mine, with which I pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires; so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Therefore devote yourselves completely to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.' (NRSV 8:57-61)
The Lord our God […] incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. (KJV 8:57-61)
There's a lot here in Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the temple. He's praying not just that the Israelites, but "all the peoples of the earth" can know that the Lord is the only legit god around. At the same time, he's admonishing the people—who on "this day" seem to be pretty faithful to God—to stay that way always, keeping the rules and refining their hearts until they're perfect.