until I went into your Temple. Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.

An inner room, called the Most Holy Place, was built in the rear of the Temple. It was 30 feet long and was partitioned off by cedar boards reaching from the floor to the ceiling.

"When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies and they pray to you, wherever they are, facing this city which you have chosen and this Temple which I have built for you,

listen to their prayers. Hear them in heaven and give them victory.

They have lived here and have built a temple to honor you, knowing

that if any disaster struck them to punish them---a war, an epidemic, or a famine---then they could come and stand in front of this Temple where you are worshiped. They could pray to you in their trouble, and you would hear them and rescue them.

(But David did capture their fortress of Zion, and it became known as "David's City.")

They brought the Box and put it in its place in the Tent that David had set up for it. Then he offered sacrifices and fellowship offerings to the LORD.

Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing! Israel's holy God is great, and he lives among his people."

How shall we answer the messengers that come to us from Philistia? We will tell them that the LORD has established Zion and that his suffering people will find safety there.

He will go back by the same road he came, without entering this city. I, the LORD, have spoken.

I will defend this city and protect it, for the sake of my own honor and because of the promise I made to my servant David.' "