You are to guard King Joash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed."

He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple,

Put in front of the Tent the altar for burning offerings.

Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar and raised his arms in prayer.

So he took me to the inner courtyard of the Temple. There near the entrance of the sanctuary, between the altar and the porch, were about twenty-five men. They had turned their backs to the sanctuary and were bowing low toward the east, worshiping the rising sun.

The priests, serving the LORD between the altar and the entrance of the Temple, must weep and pray: "Have pity on your people, LORD. Do not let other nations despise us and mock us by saying, 'Where is your God?' "

As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, from the murder of innocent Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar.

from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!