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216 by the Lord) so that a cloud would engulf the Ark; for, Yahweh told Moses, "it is in the cloud that 1 shall appear, above the Ark's cover." But when two of Aaron's sons "prought near before the Lord a strange fire," one that (pre- sumably) failed to create the proper cloud, "a fire went out from before Yahweh and consumed them." Such "supernatural" forces, bringing to pass the dream- oracle of Samuel and the dream-vision of David, continued to permeate the Tabernacle even after the Ark itself was moved out, as evidenced by the dream-oracle of Solomon. Ready to commence the building of the Temple, he went to Gibeon, the latest resting place of the Tent of Appointment (the part of the Residence where the Holy of Holies was). The Ark itself had already been moved to Jerusalem by David, in anticipation of placing it in its permanent location within the future Temple; but the Tent of Appointment remained in Gib- eon, and Solomon went there—perhaps just to worship, per- haps to see for himself some details of the construction. He offered sacrifices to Yahweh and went to sleep; and then— And it was in Gibeon that Yahweh appeared unto Solomon in a nighttime dream. And Elohim said: "Ask what I shall give thee." The epiphany developed into a two-way conversation in which Solomon asked to be granted "an understanding heart to judge my people, that I may discern between good and bad." Yahweh liked the answer, for Solomon had asked nei- ther for riches nor for long life, nor for the death of his enemies. Therefore, said Yahweh, he would grant him ex- traordinary Wisdom and Understanding, as well as riches and long life. And Solomon awoke, and lo—it was a dream! Although the relevant section in the Bible begins with the statement that it was a dream epiphany, the vision and dia- DIVINE ENCOUNTERS