22 And Solomon H8010 stood H5975 before H6440 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 in the presence of H5048 all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 and spread forth H6566 his hands H3709 toward heaven: H8064
23 And he said, H559 LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 there is no God H430 like thee, in heaven H8064 above, H4605 or on earth H776 beneath, who keepest H8104 covenant H1285 and mercy H2617 with thy servants H5650 that walk H1980 before H6440 thee with all their heart: H3820
24 Who hast kept H8104 with thy servant H5650 David H1732 my father H1 that thou promisedst H1696 him: thou spakest H1696 also with thy mouth, H6310 and hast fulfilled H4390 it with thine hand, H3027 as it is this day. H3117
25 Therefore now, LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 keep H8104 with thy servant H5650 David H1732 my father H1 that thou promisedst H1696 him, saying, H559 There shall not fail H3772 thee a man H376 in my sight H6440 to sit H3427 on the throne H3678 of Israel; H3478 so H7535 that thy children H1121 take heed H8104 to their way, H1870 that they walk H3212 before H6440 me as thou hast walked H1980 before H6440 me.
26 And now, O God H430 of Israel, H3478 let thy word, H1697 I pray thee, be verified, H539 which thou spakest H1696 unto thy servant H5650 David H1732 my father. H1
27 But will God H430 indeed H552 dwell H3427 on the earth? H776 behold, the heaven H8064 and heaven H8064 of heavens H8064 cannot contain H3557 thee; how much less H637 this house H1004 that I have builded? H1129
28 Yet have thou respect H6437 unto the prayer H8605 of thy servant, H5650 and to his supplication, H8467 O LORD H3068 my God, H430 to hearken H8085 unto the cry H7440 and to the prayer, H8605 which thy servant H5650 prayeth H6419 before H6440 thee to day: H3117
29 That thine eyes H5869 may be open H6605 toward this house H1004 night H3915 and day, H3117 even toward the place H4725 of which thou hast said, H559 My name H8034 shall be there: that thou mayest hearken H8085 unto the prayer H8605 which thy servant H5650 shall make H6419 toward this place. H4725
30 And hearken H8085 thou to the supplication H8467 of thy servant, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 when they shall pray H6419 toward this place: H4725 and hear H8085 thou in heaven H8064 thy dwelling H3427 place: H4725 and when thou hearest, H8085 forgive. H5545
31 If any man H376 trespass H2398 against his neighbour, H7453 and an oath H423 be laid H5375 upon him to cause him to swear, H422 and the oath H423 come H935 before H6440 thine altar H4196 in this house: H1004
32 Then hear H8085 thou in heaven, H8064 and do, H6213 and judge H8199 thy servants, H5650 condemning H7561 the wicked, H7563 to bring H5414 his way H1870 upon his head; H7218 and justifying H6663 the righteous, H6662 to give H5414 him according to his righteousness. H6666
33 When thy people H5971 Israel H3478 be smitten down H5062 before H6440 the enemy, H341 because they have sinned H2398 against thee, and shall turn again H7725 to thee, and confess H3034 thy name, H8034 and pray, H6419 and make supplication H2603 unto thee in this house: H1004
34 Then hear H8085 thou in heaven, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and bring them again H7725 unto the land H127 which thou gavest H5414 unto their fathers. H1
35 When heaven H8064 is shut up, H6113 and there is no rain, H4306 because they have sinned H2398 against thee; if they pray H6419 toward this place, H4725 and confess H3034 thy name, H8034 and turn H7725 from their sin, H2403 when thou afflictest H6031 them:
36 Then hear H8085 thou in heaven, H8064 and forgive H5545 the sin H2403 of thy servants, H5650 and of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 that thou teach H3384 them the good H2896 way H1870 wherein they should walk, H3212 and give H5414 rain H4306 upon thy land, H776 which thou hast given H5414 to thy people H5971 for an inheritance. H5159
37 If there be in the land H776 famine, H7458 if there be pestilence, H1698 blasting, H7711 mildew, H3420 locust, H697 or if there be caterpiller; H2625 if their enemy H341 besiege H6887 them in the land H776 of their cities; H8179 whatsoever plague, H5061 whatsoever sickness H4245 there be;
38 What prayer H8605 and supplication H8467 soever be made by any man, H120 or by all thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 which shall know H3045 every man H376 the plague H5061 of his own heart, H3824 and spread forth H6566 his hands H3709 toward this house: H1004
39 Then hear H8085 thou in heaven H8064 thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 and forgive, H5545 and do, H6213 and give H5414 to every man H376 according to his ways, H1870 whose heart H3824 thou knowest; H3045 (for thou, even thou only, knowest H3045 the hearts H3824 of all the children H1121 of men;) H120
40 That they may fear H3372 thee all the days H3117 that they live H2416 in H6440 the land H127 which thou gavest H5414 unto our fathers. H1
41 Moreover concerning a stranger, H5237 that is not of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 but cometh out H935 of a far H7350 country H776 for H4616 thy name's H8034 sake;
42 (For they shall hear H8085 of thy great H1419 name, H8034 and of thy strong H2389 hand, H3027 and of thy stretched out H5186 arm;) H2220 when he shall come H935 and pray H6419 toward this house; H1004
43 Hear H8085 thou in heaven H8064 thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 and do H6213 according to all that the stranger H5237 calleth H7121 to thee for: that all people H5971 of the earth H776 may know H3045 thy name, H8034 to fear H3372 thee, as do thy people H5971 Israel; H3478 and that they may know H3045 that this house, H1004 which I have builded, H1129 is called H7121 by thy name. H8034
44 If thy people H5971 go out H3318 to battle H4421 against their enemy, H341 whithersoever H1870 thou shalt send H7971 them, and shall pray H6419 unto the LORD H3068 toward H1870 the city H5892 which thou hast chosen, H977 and toward the house H1004 that I have built H1129 for thy name: H8034
45 Then hear H8085 thou in heaven H8064 their prayer H8605 and their supplication, H8467 and maintain H6213 their cause. H4941
46 If they sin H2398 against thee, (for there is no man H120 that sinneth H2398 not,) and thou be angry H599 with them, and deliver H5414 them to the enemy, H341 so that they carry them away H7617 captives H7617 unto H6440 the land H776 of the enemy, H341 far H7350 or near; H7138
47 Yet if they shall bethink H7725 themselves in the land H776 whither they were carried captives, H7617 and repent, H7725 H3820 and make supplication H2603 unto thee in the land H776 of them that carried them captives, H7617 saying, H559 We have sinned, H2398 and have done perversely, H5753 we have committed wickedness; H7561
48 And so return H7725 unto thee with all their heart, H3824 and with all their soul, H5315 in the land H776 of their enemies, H341 which led them away captive, H7617 and pray H6419 unto thee toward H1870 their land, H776 which thou gavest H5414 unto their fathers, H1 the city H5892 which thou hast chosen, H977 and the house H1004 which I have built H1129 for thy name: H8034
49 Then hear H8085 thou their prayer H8605 and their supplication H8467 in heaven H8064 thy dwelling H3427 place, H4349 and maintain H6213 their cause, H4941
50 And forgive H5545 thy people H5971 that have sinned H2398 against thee, and all their transgressions H6588 wherein they have transgressed H6586 against thee, and give H5414 them compassion H7356 before H6440 them who carried them captive, H7617 that they may have compassion H7355 on them:
51 For they be thy people, H5971 and thine inheritance, H5159 which thou broughtest forth H3318 out of Egypt, H4714 from the midst H8432 of the furnace H3564 of iron: H1270
52 That thine eyes H5869 may be open H6605 unto the supplication H8467 of thy servant, H5650 and unto the supplication H8467 of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 to hearken H8085 unto them in all that they call H7121 for unto thee.
53 For thou didst separate H914 them from among all the people H5971 of the earth, H776 to be thine inheritance, H5159 as thou spakest H1696 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 thy servant, H5650 when thou broughtest H3318 our fathers H1 out of Egypt, H4714 O Lord H136 GOD. H3069
54 And it was so, that when Solomon H8010 had made an end H3615 of praying H6419 all this prayer H8605 and supplication H8467 unto the LORD, H3068 he arose H6965 from before H6440 the altar H4196 of the LORD, H3068 from kneeling H3766 on his knees H1290 with his hands H3709 spread up H6566 to heaven. H8064
55 And he stood, H5975 and blessed H1288 all the congregation H6951 of Israel H3478 with a loud H1419 voice, H6963 saying, H559
56 Blessed H1288 be the LORD, H3068 that hath given H5414 rest H4496 unto his people H5971 Israel, H3478 according to all that he promised: H1696 there hath not failed H5307 one H259 word H1697 of all his good H2896 promise, H1697 which he promised H1696 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 his servant. H5650
57 The LORD H3068 our God H430 be with us, as he was with our fathers: H1 let him not leave H5800 us, nor forsake H5203 us:
58 That he may incline H5186 our hearts H3824 unto him, to walk H3212 in all his ways, H1870 and to keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 and his statutes, H2706 and his judgments, H4941 which he commanded H6680 our fathers. H1
59 And let these my words, H1697 wherewith I have made supplication H2603 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 be nigh H7138 unto the LORD H3068 our God H430 day H3119 and night, H3915 that he maintain H6213 the cause H4941 of his servant, H5650 and the cause H4941 of his people H5971 Israel H3478 at all times, H3117 H3117 as the matter H1697 shall require:
60 That all the people H5971 of the earth H776 may know H3045 that the LORD H3068 is God, H430 and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart H3824 therefore be perfect H8003 with the LORD H3068 our God, H430 to walk H3212 in his statutes, H2706 and to keep H8104 his commandments, H4687 as at this day. H3117
62 And the king, H4428 and all Israel H3478 with him, offered H2076 sacrifice H2077 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
63 And Solomon H8010 offered H2076 a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 which he offered H2076 unto the LORD, H3068 two H8147 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 oxen, H1241 and an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 sheep. H6629 So the king H4428 and all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 dedicated H2596 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
64 The same day H3117 did the king H4428 hallow H6942 the middle H8432 of the court H2691 that was before H6440 the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 for there he offered H6213 burnt offerings, H5930 and meat offerings, H4503 and the fat H2459 of the peace offerings: H8002 because the brasen H5178 altar H4196 that was before H6440 the LORD H3068 was too little H6996 to receive H3557 the burnt offerings, H5930 and meat offerings, H4503 and the fat H2459 of the peace offerings. H8002
65 And at that time H6256 Solomon H8010 held H6213 a feast, H2282 and all Israel H3478 with him, a great H1419 congregation, H6951 from the entering H935 in of Hamath H2574 unto the river H5158 of Egypt, H4714 before H6440 the LORD H3068 our God, H430 seven H7651 days H3117 and seven H7651 days, H3117 even fourteen H702 H6240 days. H3117
66 On the eighth H8066 day H3117 he sent H7971 the people H5971 away: H7971 and they blessed H1288 the king, H4428 and went H3212 unto their tents H168 joyful H8056 and glad H2896 of heart H3820 for all the goodness H2896 that the LORD H3068 had done H6213 for David H1732 his servant, H5650 and for Israel H3478 his people. H5971
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Kings 8
Commentary on 1 Kings 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
1Ki 8:1-12. The Dedication of the Temple.
2-6. at the feast in the month Ethanim—The public and formal inauguration of this national place of worship did not take place till eleven months after the completion of the edifice. The delay, most probably, originated in Solomon's wish to choose the most fitting opportunity when there should be a general rendezvous of the people in Jerusalem (1Ki 8:2); and that was not till the next year. That was a jubilee year, and he resolved on commencing the solemn ceremonial a few days before the feast of tabernacles, which was the most appropriate of all seasons. That annual festival had been instituted in commemoration of the Israelites dwelling in booths during their stay in the wilderness, as well as of the tabernacle, which was then erected, in which God promised to meet and dwell with His people, sanctifying it with His glory. As the tabernacle was to be superseded by the temple, there was admirable propriety in choosing the feast of tabernacles as the period for dedicating the new place of worship, and praying that the same distinguished privileges might be continued to it in the manifestation of the divine presence and glory. At the time appointed for the inauguration, the king issued orders for all the heads and representatives of the nation to repair to Jerusalem and take part in the august procession [1Ki 8:1]. The lead was taken by the king and elders of the people, whose march must have been slow, as priests were stationed to offer an immense number of sacrifices at various points in the line of road through which the procession was to go. Then came the priests bearing the ark and the tabernacle—the old Mosaic tabernacle which was brought from Gibeon. Lastly, the Levites followed, carrying the vessels and ornaments belonging to the old, for lodgment in the new, house of the Lord. There was a slight deviation in this procedure from the order of march established in the wilderness (Nu 3:31; 4:15); but the spirit of the arrangement was duly observed. The ark was deposited in the oracle; that is, the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim—not the Mosaic cherubim, which were firmly attached to the ark (Ex 37:7, 8), but those made by Solomon, which were far larger and more expanded.
8. they drew out the staves—a little way, so as to project (see on Ex 25:15; Nu 4:6); and they were left in that position. The object was, that these projecting staves might serve as a guide to the high priest, in conducting him to that place where, once a year, he went to officiate before the ark; otherwise he might miss his way in the dark, the ark being wholly overshadowed by the wings of the cherubim.
9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone—Nothing else was ever in the ark, the articles mentioned (Heb 9:4) being not in, but by it, being laid in the most holy place before the testimony (Ex 16:33; Nu 17:10).
10, 11. the cloud filled the house of the Lord—The cloud was the visible symbol of the divine presence, and its occupation of the sanctuary was a testimony of God's gracious acceptance of the temple as of the tabernacle (Ex 40:34). The dazzling brightness, or rather, perhaps, the dense portentous darkness of the cloud, struck the minds of the priests, as it formerly had done Moses, which such astonishment and terror (Le 16:2-13; De 4:24; Ex 40:35) that they could not remain. Thus the temple became the place where the divine glory was revealed, and the king of Israel established his royal residence.
1Ki 8:12-21. Solomon's Blessing.
12. Then spake Solomon—For the reassurance of the priests and people, the king reminded them that the cloud, instead of being a sign ominous of evil, was a token of approval.
The Lord said—not in express terms, but by a continuous course of action (Ex 13:21; 24:16; Nu 9:15).
13. I have surely built thee an house—This is an apostrophe to God, as perceiving His approach by the cloud, and welcoming Him to enter as guest or inhabitant of the fixed and permanent dwelling-place, which, at His command, had been prepared for His reception.
14. the king turned his face about—From the temple, where he had been watching the movement of the mystic cloud, and while the people were standing, partly as the attitude of devotion, partly out of respect to royalty, the king gave a fervent expression of praise to God for the fulfilment of His promise (2Sa 7:6-16).
1Ki 8:22-61. His Prayer.
22. Solomon stood before the altar—This position was in the court of the people, on a brazen scaffold erected for the occasion (2Ch 6:13), fronting the altar of burnt offering, and surrounded by a mighty concourse of people. Assuming the attitude of a suppliant, kneeling (1Ki 8:54; compare 2Ch 6:24) and with uplifted hands, he performed the solemn act of consecration—an act remarkable, among other circumstances, for this, that it was done, not by the high priest or any member of the Aaronic family, but by the king in person, who might minister about, though not in, holy things. This sublime prayer [1Ki 8:22-35], which breathes sentiments of the loftiest piety blended with the deepest humility, naturally bore a reference to the national blessing and curse contained in the law—and the burden of it—after an ascription of praise to the Lord for the bestowment of the former, was an earnest supplication for deliverance from the latter. He specifies seven cases in which the merciful interposition of God would be required; and he earnestly bespeaks it on the condition of people praying towards that holy place. The blessing addressed to the people at the close is substantially a brief recapitulation of the preceding prayer [1Ki 8:56-61].
1Ki 8:62-64. His Sacrifice of Peace Offering.
62. the king, and all Israel … offered sacrifice before the Lord—This was a burnt offering with its accompaniments, and being the first laid on the altar of the temple, was, as in the analogous case of the tabernacle, consumed by miraculous fire from heaven (see 2Ch 7:1). On remarkable occasions, the heathens sacrificed hecatombs (a hundred animals), and even chiliombs (a thousand animals), but the public sacrifices offered by Solomon on this occasion surpassed all the other oblations on record, without taking into account those presented by private individuals, which, doubtless, amounted to a large additional number. The large proportion of the sacrifices were peace offerings, which afforded the people an opportunity of festive enjoyment.
63. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord—The dedication was not a ceremony ordained by the law, but it was done in accordance with the sentiments of reverence naturally associated with edifices appropriated to divine worship. [See on 2Ch 7:5.]
64. The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court—that is, the whole extent of the priests' court—the altar of burnt offerings, though large (2Ch 4:1), being totally inadequate for the vast number of sacrifices that distinguished this occasion. It was only a temporary erection to meet the demands of an extraordinary season, in aid of the established altar, and removed at the conclusion of the sacred festival. [See on 2Ch 7:7.]
1Ki 8:65. The People Joyful.
65. from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt—that is, from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. The people flocked from all quarters.
seven days and seven days, even fourteen days—The first seven were occupied with the dedication, and the other seven devoted to the feast of tabernacles (2Ch 7:9). The particular form of expression indicates that the fourteen days were not continuous. Some interval occurred in consequence of the great day of atonement falling on the tenth of the seventh month (1Ki 8:2), and the last day of the feast of tabernacles was on the twenty-third (2Ch 7:10), when the people returned to their homes with feelings of the greatest joy and gratitude "for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people."