Solomon’s Prayer: Solomon now turns to address God in a prayer that is of great importance for our understanding of the book of Kings as a whole. After further attention to the link between temple-building and Davidic promise (vv. 22–26), he offers us significant reflections on the nature of God’s “dwelling” in the temple (vv. 27–30; cf. v. 13), followed by a seven-fold petitionary prayer about the response of God to those who will approach through this new medium (vv. 31–51), and a brief summarizing tailpiece (vv. 52–53).

8:22–26 The main concern of the first part of the prayer is to pick up the third part of the divine promise to David that has already been alluded to in verses 15–21: the promise of an eternal dynasty. The incomparable God (there is no God like you; cf. Exod. 15:11) has t…