the Lord appeared - This appearance was, like the former one at Gibeon, most probably made in a supernatural vision, and on the night immediately following the dedication of the temple (2Ch 7:12). The strain of it corresponds to this view, for it consists of direct answers to his solemn inaugural prayer (1Ki 9:3 is in answer to 1Ki 8:29; 1Ki 9:4, 1Ki 9:5 is in answer to 1Ki 8:25, 1Ki 8:26; 1Ki 9:6-9 to 1Ki 8:33-46; see also Deu 29:22-24).