1 & 2 Samuel Catholic Bible study Lesson 26

The United Kingdom of Israel:
Saul, David & Solomon
Foreshadow Christ the King

Lesson 26 Solomon Dedicates the Temple
the First Book of the Kings 8:1–66

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for The United Kingdom of Israel
cross references in The United Kingdom of Israel
next lesson: God Appears Again to Solomon

This material coordinates with Lesson 26 on pages 157–162 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”
—the Second Book of Samuel 7:12–13

welcome to our in-depth study of Saul, David & Solomon
We invite interested groups and individuals to check out the sample first lesson from this 28-lesson Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. These online study pages link to our free lesson videos, as well as to a glossary and cross references in the biblical text. Other study aids include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King has been granted an imprimatur and may be purchased from our website shop. If you have a Bible-study question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

let’s review—the First Book of the Kings 5:1—7:51
In Lesson 25 Solomon Builds the Temple, Hiram, the king of Tyre, provides cedar and cypress for Solomon’s construction of a Temple in Jerusalem. In return, Solomon agrees to send Hiram a large amount of oil and wheat to feed his household. Solomon relies on a levy of 30,000 forced laborers from among the descendants of Jacob in order to build the Temple. During construction, all the stone for the Temple is prepared off-site. Avoiding noise at the site where the Temple is to be points to the sacredness attached to the location. God reminds Solomon that what matters is keeping the commandments. The Temple is made with many precious materials, including large quantities of gold. In the inner sanctuary or holy of holies, Solomon has statues of cherubim installed over the place where he intends to place the ark of the covenant. The construction of the Temple takes seven years. Meanwhile, Solomon embarks on other building projects, including a palace for himself, another for his Egyptian wife, and a number of government buildings. Solomon’s own house takes 13 years to build. The Temple includes a molten sea modeled on the bronze laver that was a fixture of the tabernacle.

map notes—putting down religious roots
David’s work of uniting political and religious interests is cemented when Solomon builds the Temple. Jerusalem is firmly established as the religious center for all of the descendants of Jacob. Solomon’s 40-year reign is characterized by great power and wealth, and that period in the history of God’s people often is described as glorious. Although the seventh chapter in the Second Book of Samuel records the LORD’s promise to David of an eternal kingdom, Solomon’s kingdom isn’t to last. The Temple he constructs will be destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. The Book of Ezra 3:12–13 records that after God’s people return to Judah following their exile in Babylon, many who had seen the original Temple wept as the foundation was being laid for a new and much less impressive building. Click on the map (above right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 161 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. The Turning to God’s Word two-part Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided and Volume II: Restoration & Redemption provide an in-depth look at the destruction of Solomon’s Temple and the later reconstruction of a new Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile.

Solomon’s presumption (24:57)
Looking closely at the description of Solomon’s dedication of the Temple raises the question of how it is that Solomon can be so incredibly wise and still miss the point about what God desires. In the video overview for Lesson 26, “Solomon Dedicates the Temple,” Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps suggests an answer to this question: Wisdom isn’t the most important thing to God. David was beloved by the LORD because David possessed a humble heart. David’s humility allowed him to see and understand the desires of God’s own heart. As important as wisdom is in enabling us to know the difference between right and wrong, it’s far less important than acting on our knowledge.

The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study from Turning to God’s Word match the Scripture ranges for the sets of questions in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. You can follow along as author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 26, “Solomon Dedicates the Temple,” on pages 157–162 in the study book.

what’s inside the ark?
The First Book of the Kings 8:9 records nothing in the ark except two tables of stone that Moses put there at Horeb. These stone tablets contained the written law in the form of the Ten Commandments. The Letter to the Hebrews 9:4, however, records that in addition to the tablets of the law, the ark also contained a jar of manna and Aaron’s staff. The reason behind this discrepancy seems to be that different biblical authors want to emphasize different things. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews is making a Christological point—focusing on the ark of the covenant and its connection to Jesus. In the First Book of the Kings, the covenant is summed up in the law, which was how the people at that time related to the LORD. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation takes an in-depth look at what many scholars consider to be the book of Scripture most concerned with apologetics.

Solomon makes a big mistake that Christians should avoid
In his dedication of the Temple recorded in the First Book of the Kings 8:21, Solomon says of the inner sanctuary: “And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of Egypt.” These words disclose a flaw in Solomon’s basic understanding of what constitutes the covenant between God and humanity. When Solomon describes the covenant being inside the ark he’s indicating that he considers this written law to be the covenant. The words of the law are not the covenant; the covenant consists in honoring the law. We become related to God by our actions and not through our knowledge.

consecration—you could look it up in our archives
In the eighth chapter in the First Book of the Kings, Solomon consecrates the new Temple. To learn the meaning of the word “consecration” and why Christians are consecrated, read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

God has chosen to be present in the Temple
Once the ark has been installed, a cloud fills the Temple and the priests are unable to minister because of it. The First Book of the Kings 8:10–11 equates the cloud with the glory of the LORD. This is consistent with the cloud that envelops the tabernacle in the book of Exodus 40:34. The same image of a cloud appears in the book of Revelation 14:8 as a proof of God’s presence and approval. You can learn more in Lesson 15 On Mount Zion Stood the Lamb in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

When a cloud fills Solomon’s Temple, it can be taken to mean that the LORD has chosen to be in the Temple. This represents a fundamental shift in how people think about God’s living situation. The Temple doesn’t represent the same idea as the tabernacle. When God associated himself with the tabernacle, this showed that God always was with his people, no matter where they traveled. The tabernacle was not restricted to a fixed location. Wherever God’s people went, the LORD went with them. The Temple is in a fixed location—which isn’t all bad. The people have been exhibiting the need for standardized worship practices. The problem is that in one sense at least, Solomon appears to be attempting to cram God into a single spot (the Temple)—a sacred location, indeed, but nevertheless one that could be considered limiting. Restricting interaction with God to a fixed place (or a fixed time) can suggest that God’s people don’t have to be involved with God when they’re in any other place (or at times not set aside specifically for worship). This is Solomon’s idea and not God’s. It remains to be seen how it will work out for the people then—or how such an attitude works in the present day.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about Solomon’s speech?
The eighth chapter in the First Book of the Kings primarily consists of the speech that Solomon makes when he dedicates the Temple in Jerusalem.

? Read the LORD’s promise to David in the Second Book of Samuel 7:4–17. In the First Book of the Kings, God never claims that Solomon’s construction of the Temple is fulfilling the covenant the LORD made with David. What evidence can you find in Solomon’s dedication speech that points to the idea that he’s trying to carry out the human terms of the covenant in order to receive the things God has promised to an unnamed future descendant of David?
? What do you think has motivated Solomon to build the Temple?
? Consider what kind of house God intended for a descendant of David to build.
? In the First Book of the Kings 8:46–53, Solomon acknowledges that it’s impossible for anyone but God to carry out the terms of the covenant. Consider whether Solomon met all of the conditions imposed by God on David’s descendants.
? Both Solomon and Jesus consecrate the Temple of the LORD with sacrifice. What sort of sacrifice does Solomon make?
? Read the Letter to the Hebrews 7:26–27. According to that biblical author, what sacrifice does Jesus offer?
? Based on your previous knowledge of Scripture, what constitutes the Temple that Jesus consecrates with his sacrifice?

establishing a place for worship
A surprising thing appears in Solomon’s dedication speech recorded in the First Book of the Kings 8:27–30. Solomon attempts to tie all religious supplication to the Temple. Prior to the building of the Temple, however, the most effective way to ensure that your prayers and supplications would be heard by the LORD was to find the holiest person possible and ask that person to talk to God for you. The previous kings—Saul and David—relied on prophets to serve as intermediaries in their more sensitive communications with the LORD.

This points to an important feature of the relationship between the LORD and his people. Men and women are intended to address God through holy people and not holy places. The prophets are exemplary holy persons doing things that God wants done. Holiness is connected to deeds and not tied to any specific location. Solomon’s desire to build a house for the LORD isn’t totally misguided. Consistent, standardized worship practices are desperately needed. Nevertheless, after Solomon no longer is ruling, the permanent religious structure he builds will create problems for the descendants of Jacob. It shifts the religious focus away from loving and serving God wherever one happens to be. Instead, Jerusalem comes to be seen as the single place where it’s proper to worship the LORD. Even in the days of Jesus, all good Jews were required to go to Jerusalem three specific times a year to worship. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided provides an in-depth look at the fate of God’s people after the death of Solomon.

pray with the Psalms—the LORD is behind all that we do
Psalm 127 begins with the statement that if the LORD doesn’t build the house, all of the builder’s labors are in vain. This Psalm can be understood as a reminder that no matter how grand and glorious Solomon’s Temple is, God ultimately isn’t all that interested in religion that relies on lots of expensive trappings. The big question raised by the First Book of the Kings is whether Solomon’s actions are founded on proper motivation. Prayed at Monday Vespers (Week II), Psalm 127 is included as part of Lesson 19 For the Peace of Jerusalem Pray in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers.

introducing foreigners to God
The First Book of the Kings 8:41–43 includes Solomon’s petition that all the nations be blessed, and that the LORD do this by answering prayers of foreigners who visit the Temple in Jerusalem. While Solomon is showing an interest in introducing other nations to God, Solomon’s idea can be contrasted with the method that Jesus suggests in the Gospel According to Matthew 28:18–20 (also known as the great commission). The last words spoken by Jesus to his disciples encourage them to go out to all the world. The underlying questions are how are prayers granted, and how does one get to know God? Prayers are granted by God, who hasn’t set any spatial limitations about the location where prayers must be offered. One gets to know God by invitation, but at issue is whether it’s necessary to require people to travel to a specific place. Solomon is trying to establish Jerusalem as a holy city and the only location in which it’s possible to communicate with the LORD. Jesus, on the other hand, repeatedly sends his disciples out to minister to people in the world. By insisting on the priority of Jerusalem as a centralized worship location, Solomon is disclosing his own self-centered approach to religion.

the biggest flaw in Solomon’s plan for the Temple
Solomon’s prayer of dedication turns prophetic in the First Book of the Kings 8:46–52, in which Solomon admits that God might at some future time still get angry at his people, and the people’s sinful behavior might carry consequences. Solomon’s solution is that, in a such a pinch, the people always can pray toward Jerusalem and the Temple. If the only way to make amends with God is in the Temple in Jerusalem, then there’s a big problem if Jerusalem is conquered, the Temple destroyed, and the people exiled. God’s people then have no recourse or approved way to make amends for sin.

The covenant relationship between the LORD and his people works without the Temple. Solomon’s dedication of the Temple assumes that this centralized worship location is the only legitimate place for people to approach the LORD. In reality, Solomon doesn’t have the authority to bind the relationship between God and the people to the Temple. That he thinks he does will prove problematic.

In the First Book of the Kings 8:57–58, Solomon eventually does get around to making an excellent point. The LORD will be with his people always as long as they keep his commandments. There’s no new covenant being introduced at this time. God hasn’t changed how religion works. There’s nothing wrong with God’s original plan, and even though there may be solid political reasons for a centralized worship location, building the Temple doesn’t place any limitations with how the LORD chooses to be with his people. God accepts the Temple as a place for his name to dwell, but he in no way agrees to restrict his interactions with humanity to that location. That’s all Solomon’s idea.

Christians have the advantage of hindsight
Solomon doesn’t understand the play on words in the LORD’s promise to David about who will build a house for whom. Solomon goofs when he thinks that all he has to do to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promises to David is to construct a building. Instead of enshrining the ark in a Temple building, the law of God is to be enshrined in the hearts of men and women who love God. The real Temple of God is the person who can enact and carry out the law. What matters most isn’t the law itself but the person who brings it alive. Learn more about how Jesus changed the concept of what constitutes a proper place to worship God in Lesson 5 There Came a Woman of Samaria in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about the seven days of consecration?
It is easy to forget that sacrifice doesn’t mean holocaust. Solomon’s week-long feast is basically a seven-day party.

? Based on other incidents involving seven days, what do you think might be significant about length of Solomon’s party to celebrate the consecration of the Temple?
? How does Solomon’s seven-day feast reflect the liturgical calendar of the Church?

Q&A—questions about Questions
A reader has brought up some valid concerns about establishing a date for when the ark of the covenant was constructed, which calls attention to the related problem of establishing a date for when the Exodus from Egypt occurred.

Q: Our discussion group this week had difficulty answering the first couple of questions in this lesson. We’re used to reading the section and having the answer right there in the related biblical text or having a reference pointing to where in Scripture we can find the answer, but the answer to Question 1 for this lesson couldn’t be found in the associated passage—at least if it is, it isn’t apparent. Our thinking is that question should include a line “If necessary, refer to the First Book of the Kings 6:1.” We decided that the descendants of Jacob measure their time based on the Exodus from Egypt. Is that right?

Question 2 then sends us to the First Book of the Kings 6:1 to answer the question of how long it’s been since the ark of the covenant was built. The First Book of the Kings 6:1 doesn’t mention when the ark was built and is instead about how long it’s been since the Exodus from Egypt. The ark was built after the descendants of Jacob left Egypt, but we’re not sure how long after.

A: Thank you. Those two questions are indeed confusing, and we apologize. In future printings, the reference to the First Book of the Kings 6:1 will be moved to Question 1 where it belongs. Then it should be relatively easy for people to figure out that the descendants of Jacob dated events based on the year when the Exodus from Egypt occurred. In the modern world, we date events based on the year that Jesus was born—although almost everyone understands that this system probably is off by a few years. The exact date of the Exodus is even more difficult to pinpoint, and scholars continue to debate the issue. For purposes of this Bible study, we’re only concerned with the date of the Exodus in relationship to when Solomon’s Temple was built, and the First Book of the Kings 6:1 sets 480 years as the amount of time that passed between those two events.

Question 2 is more problematic. Once again, the important point isn’t to establish a precise date for when the ark of the covenant was constructed but rather to get a feeling for how much time has passed before Solomon’s Temple is built. While it’s impossible to say exactly how long it was after the descendants of Jacob left Egypt before they built the ark of the covenant, we can make a good guess based on knowing that the purpose of the ark is to house the tablets of the law and that instructions for how to construct it were given along with the instructions for the tabernacle. The twenty-fifth chapter in the book of Exodus introduces the ark of the covenant. The thirty-second chapter describes the incident with the golden calf, after which the thirty-seventh chapter describes the actual construction of the ark. The fourth chapter in the book of Numbers describes duties of the Levites in connection with transporting the ark. In the fourteenth chapter in the book of Numbers God decrees that the descendants of Jacob are to wander in the wilderness 40 years. The total amount of time spent in the wilderness commonly is believed to be 40 years, give or take a year. Because the ark already is constructed before the LORD sets this amount of time, it can be assumed that the ark of the covenant was constructed fairly soon after the Israelites left Egypt.

So roughly 480 years before the construction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, God’s people were traveling in the wilderness where they built the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. What’s interesting about that, aside from the parallel construction of places where God could dwell with his people, is that a lot can happen in 480 years. It doesn’t seem all that long when we look at salvation history from the beginning of Creation. If we think about what was going on 480 years ago from today, however, we can get a better sense of the passage of time. Dating from now, 480 years ago was about 50 years after Columbus sailed to the new world and 70 years before the oldest known church in the United States was built. Henry VIII had just declared himself head of the Church of England. Shakespeare hadn’t yet been born. The first colony hadn’t been established at Jamestown. There was no electricity, no automobiles, no computers.

The point is that a lot can change in that amount of time, but during the reign of Solomon God’s people still have the ark of the covenant and still are worshiping the LORD. Future printings of this study, however, will leave out the part of Question 2 that asks about when the ark was constructed. This material will remain posted here, but the question in the study book will focus on discrepancies in the scriptural accounts of what was in the ark, and on the cloud in the Temple as a sign of the presence of God. Because the First Book of the Kings 6:1 is part of the main biblical text for Lesson 25, future printings also will add a question in that lesson about the amount of time that’s passed between the Exodus and construction of the Temple. A little repetition can aid memory and understanding, and it may help when people get to this lesson.

clarifications in the study book
The updated Question 1 and Question 2 for this lesson now read:

Question 1 Read the First Book of the Kings 8:1–8. By what event do the descendants of Jacob mark their history? If necessary, refer to the First Book of the Kings 6:1. How many years have passed since that event and construction of the Temple? Who assemble for the dedication of the Temple? Why is it fitting that the ark of the covenant be placed in the most holy area of the Temple? What is the most holy area of present-day parish churches? Consider what it is that makes those areas holy.

Question 2 Read the First Book of the Kings 8:9–13. The Letter to the Hebrews 9:4 lists additional items contained in the ark. What might these items represent theologically to the descendants of Jacob? If necessary, refer to the book of Exodus 16:1–15 and the book of Numbers 17:1–11. Why might the First Book of the Kings fail to mention these items? What would lead the people to recognize a cloud in the Temple as a sign of the presence of the LORD? In necessary, refer to the book of Exodus 33:7–10.

The updated Question 3 for Lesson 25 Solomon Builds the Temple now reads:

Question 3 Read the First Book of the Kings 6:1–10. How many years have passed since the Exodus from Egypt? Scholars estimate that the cubit used in constructing Solomon’s Temple was 20.4 inches. What would be the Temple’s dimensions using today’s measurements? What conclusion can be drawn from knowing that an effort was made to avoid excess noise at the construction site?

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however.

the First Book of the Kings 8:10–12—paragraph 697
the First Book of the Kings 8:10–61—paragraph 2583

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the First Book of the Kings 8:1–66 (NIV)

close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on the biblical text in this lesson in the study book The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

O God, you honored Solomon’s wish to build a house for your name.
Foster in us the desire to honor you by honoring your commandments.
Give us the wisdom to understand the importance of obedience
and the humility to live our lives in accordance with your will.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, whose purpose
in coming to earth was to teach us to love you and our neighbors. Amen.

Lesson 27 God Appears Again to Solomon—the First Book of the Kings 9:1—11:8
Lesson 25 Solomon Builds the Temple—the First Book of the Kings 5:1—7:51

you also may like our study of Scripture & the Rosary (digital only)
Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels, a 26-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, looks at the biblical foundations of the Rosary. The study includes lessons on Pope St. John Paul II’s Rosarium Virginis Mariae (Rosary of the Virgin Mary), the Apostles’ Creed, and the Luminous Mysteries as well as the original 15 Mysteries of the Rosary. Color photographs of stained glass windows depict key scenes in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Free digital lessons rotate throughout the year on our website.

start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus—but the same books aren’t found in existing Hebrew manuscripts, which aren’t as old as the oldest version of the Septuagint. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces those with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.