The Streets Ran Red with Blood

The phrase “Solomon’s sacrifice, the streets ran red with blood” is a vivid and evocative statement referencing the massive animal sacrifices offered by King Solomon during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Here’s a breakdown of the elements and their meaning:

1. Solomon’s Sacrifice:

• Context: King Solomon, known for his wisdom and wealth, built the First Temple in Jerusalem as a permanent place of worship for the Israelites.
• Dedication Ceremony: The dedication of the Temple was a momentous occasion, marked by extravagant sacrifices to God. 1 Kings 8:⁵ There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!
• Scale of Sacrifices: The Bible describes Solomon sacrificing an immense number of animals, including 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, among other offerings.

2. “The Streets Ran Red with Blood”:

• Hyperbole: The statement is likely a hyperbolic description, emphasizing the sheer quantity of blood that would have resulted from the sacrifices.
• Symbolism: The image of streets running red with blood symbolizes the magnitude of Solomon’s offering and the importance of atonement in the Old Testament sacrificial system.
• Atonement: Animal sacrifices were a central part of ancient Israelite worship, used to atone for sins and establish a relationship with God.
• Foreshadowing: Some interpretations suggest that the blood from Solomon’s sacrifices foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood is believed to atone for the sins of all humanity.

In essence, the phrase highlights the immense scale of Solomon’s dedication to God during the Temple’s inauguration, using the striking image of blood flowing like rivers to emphasize the profound nature of the event and the concept of sacrifice in the Israelite faith.

God visited this sacrifice with His glory: 1 Kings 8:

¹⁰ When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. ¹¹ The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord.

Solomon Praises the Lord

¹² Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. ¹³ Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!^[d]”

For those of us who serve JESUS, this concept of being washed in His blood is a powerful reminder of the power from heaven released to us, through the precious blood of JESUS.

 

As we invoke to power of the precious blood of Jesus today, let us pray like Solomon:

‘Father God, reveal Your glory! Visit us with Your presence this very day, I cry. I ask, knowing I am heard and answered for I ask in your precious and mighty name Lord JESUS!’ Amen.