Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, 'I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice — In a nocturnal vision (וַיֵּרָא יְהוָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה בַּלַּיְלָה), God responded to Solomon's dedication prayer. The divine words: 'I have heard your prayer' (שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת־תְּפִלָּתְךָ) and 'I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice' (בָּחַרְתִּי בַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה לִי לְבֵית־זֶבַח). God validated the temple's sanctity: it was chosen (בָּחַר) as the permanent sacrifice-dwelling. The formula 'chosen...for myself' (בָּחַרְתִּי...לִי) emphasized divine ownership and choice—not human construction, but divine election. The designation 'house of sacrifice' (בֵית־זֶבַח) defined the temple's primary function: it was sacrifice-center where God's people approached through prescribed offerings. This theophanic affirmation parallels the earlier cloud/fire manifestation: God verbally endorsed what had been demonstrated visibly.

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