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;
And when the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 heard H8085 of the fame H8088 of Solomon H8010 concerning the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 she came H935 to prove H5254 him with hard questions. H2420 And she came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 with a very H3966 great H3515 train, H2428 with camels H1581 that bare H5375 spices, H1314 and very H3966 much H7227 gold, H2091 and precious H3368 stones: H68 and when she was come H935 to Solomon, H8010 she communed H1696 with him of all that was in her heart. H3824
And G1161 when G1525 Jesus G2424 was entered G1525 into G1519 Capernaum, G2584 there came G4334 unto him G846 a centurion, G1543 beseeching G3870 him, G846
G1161 There was G2258 a certain G5100 man G435 in G1722 Caesarea G2542 called G3686 Cornelius, G2883 a centurion G1543 of G1537 the band G4686 called G2564 the Italian G2483 band, A devout G2152 man, and G2532 one that feared G5399 God G2316 with G4862 all G3956 his G846 house, G3624 which G5037 gave G4160 much G4183 alms G1654 to the people, G2992 and G2532 prayed G1189 to God G2316 alway. G1275 He saw G1492 in G1722 a vision G3705 evidently G5320 about G5616 the ninth G1766 hour G5610 of the day G2250 an angel G32 of God G2316 coming in G1525 to G4314 him, G846 and G2532 saying G2036 unto him, G846 Cornelius. G2883 And G1161 when he looked G816 on him, G846 he was G1096 afraid, G1719 and G2532 said, G2036 What G5101 is it, G2076 Lord? G2962 And G1161 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Thy G4675 prayers G4335 and G2532 thine G4675 alms G1654 are come up G305 for G1519 a memorial G3422 before G1799 God. G2316
And G2532 he arose G450 and went: G4198 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a man G435 of Ethiopia, G128 an eunuch G2135 of great authority G1413 under Candace G2582 queen G938 of the Ethiopians, G128 who G3739 had G2258 the charge of G1909 all G3956 her G846 treasure, G1047 and G3739 had come G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 for to worship, G4352 G5037 Was G2258 returning, G5290 and G2532 sitting G2521 in G1909 his G846 chariot G716 G2532 read G314 Esaias G2268 the prophet. G4396 Then G1161 the Spirit G4151 said G2036 unto Philip, G5376 Go near, G4334 and G2532 join thyself to G2853 this G5129 chariot. G716 And G1161 Philip G5376 ran G4370 thither to him, and heard G191 him G846 read G314 the prophet G4396 Esaias, G2268 and G2532 said, G2036 Understandest thou G687 G1065 G1097 what G3739 thou readest? G314 And G1161 he said, G2036 How G1063 G4459 can I, G302 G1410 except G3362 some man G5100 should guide G3594 me? G3165 And G5037 he desired G3870 Philip G5376 that he would come up G305 and sit G2523 with G4862 him. G846 G1161 The place G4042 of the scripture G1124 which G3739 he read G314 was G2258 this, G3778 He was led G71 as G5613 a sheep G4263 to G1909 the slaughter; G4967 and G2532 like G5613 a lamb G286 dumb G880 before G1726 his G846 shearer, G2751 so G3779 opened he G455 not G3756 his G846 mouth: G4750 In G1722 his G846 humiliation G5014 his G846 judgment G2920 was taken away: G142 and G1161 who G5101 shall declare G1334 his G846 generation? G1074 for G3754 his G846 life G2222 is taken G142 from G575 the earth. G1093 And G1161 the eunuch G2135 answered G611 Philip, G5376 and said, G2036 I pray G1189 thee, G4675 of G4012 whom G5101 speaketh G3004 the prophet G4396 this? G5124 of G4012 himself, G1438 or G2228 of G4012 some G5100 other man? G2087 Then G1161 Philip G5376 opened G455 his G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 began G756 at G575 the same G5026 scripture, G1124 and preached G2097 unto him G846 Jesus. G2424 And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 on G2596 their way, G3598 they came G2064 unto G1909 a certain G5100 water: G5204 and G2532 the eunuch G2135 said, G5346 See, G2400 here is water; G5204 what G5101 doth hinder G2967 me G3165 to be baptized? G907 And G1161 Philip G5376 said, G2036 If G1487 thou believest G4100 with G1537 all thine G3650 heart, G2588 thou mayest. G1832 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I believe G4100 that Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 is G1511 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the chariot G716 to stand still: G2476 and G2532 they went down G2597 both G297 into G1519 the water, G5204 both G5037 Philip G5376 and G2532 the eunuch; G2135 and G2532 he baptized G907 him. G846 And G1161 when G3753 they were come up G305 out of G1537 the water, G5204 the Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 caught away G726 Philip, G5376 G2532 that the eunuch G2135 saw G1492 G3756 him G846 no more: G3765 and G1063 he went G4198 on his G846 way G3598 rejoicing. G5463 But G1161 Philip G5376 was found G2147 at G1519 Azotus: G108 and G2532 passing G1330 through he preached G2097 in all G3956 the cities, G4172 till G2193 he G846 came G2064 to G1519 Caesarea. G2542
And, G2532 behold, G2400 a woman G1135 of Canaan G5478 came G1831 out of G575 the same G1565 coasts, G3725 and cried G2905 unto him, G846 saying, G3004 Have mercy G1653 on me, G3165 O Lord, G2962 thou Son G5207 of David; G1138 my G3450 daughter G2364 is grievously G2560 vexed with a devil. G1139 But G1161 he answered G611 her G846 not G3756 a word. G3056 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 came G4334 and besought G2065 him, G846 saying, G3004 Send G630 her G846 away; G630 for G3754 she crieth G2896 after G3693 us. G2257 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I am G649 not G3756 sent G649 but G1508 unto G1519 the lost G622 sheep G4263 of the house G3624 of Israel. G2474 Then G1161 came she G2064 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 help G997 me. G3427 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 meet G2570 to take G2983 the children's G5043 bread, G740 and G2532 to cast G906 it to dogs. G2952 And G1161 she said, G2036 Truth, G3483 Lord: G2962 yet G2532 G1063 the dogs G2952 eat G2068 of G575 the crumbs G5589 which G3588 fall G4098 from G575 their G846 masters' G2962 table. G5132 Then G5119 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto her, G846 O G5599 woman, G1135 great G3173 is thy G4675 faith: G4102 be it G1096 unto thee G4671 even as G5613 thou wilt. G2309 And G2532 her G846 daughter G2364 was made whole G2390 from G575 that very G1565 hour. G5610
The queen G938 of the south G3558 shall rise up G1453 in G1722 the judgment G2920 with G3326 this G5026 generation, G1074 and G2532 shall condemn G2632 it: G846 for G3754 she came G2064 from G1537 the uttermost parts G4009 of the earth G1093 to hear G191 the wisdom G4678 of Solomon; G4672 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a greater than G4119 Solomon G4672 is here. G5602
When G1161 Jesus G2424 heard G191 it, he marvelled, G2296 and G2532 said G2036 to them that followed, G190 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 I have G2147 not G3761 found G2147 so great G5118 faith, G4102 no, not G3761 in G1722 Israel. G2474 And G1161 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 many G4183 shall come G2240 from G575 the east G395 and G2532 west, G1424 and G2532 shall sit down G347 with G3326 Abraham, G11 and G2532 Isaac, G2464 and G2532 Jacob, G2384 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of heaven. G3772
And Moses H4872 told H5608 his father in law H2859 all that the LORD H3068 had done H6213 unto Pharaoh H6547 and to the Egyptians H4714 for Israel's H3478 sake, H182 and all the travail H8513 that had come H4672 upon them by the way, H1870 and how the LORD H3068 delivered H5337 them. And Jethro H3503 rejoiced H2302 for all the goodness H2896 which the LORD H3068 had done H6213 to Israel, H3478 whom he had delivered H5337 out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians. H4714 And Jethro H3503 said, H559 Blessed H1288 be the LORD, H3068 who hath delivered H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians, H4714 and out of the hand H3027 of Pharaoh, H6547 who hath delivered H5337 the people H5971 from under the hand H3027 of the Egyptians. H4714 Now I know H3045 that the LORD H3068 is greater H1419 than all gods: H430 for in the thing H1697 wherein they dealt proudly H2102 he was above them. And Jethro, H3503 Moses' H4872 father in law, H2859 took H3947 a burnt offering H5930 and sacrifices H2077 for God: H430 and Aaron H175 came, H935 and all the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 to eat H398 bread H3899 with Moses' H4872 father in law H2859 before H6440 God. H430
Now G1161 when Jesus G2424 was born G1080 in G1722 Bethlehem G965 of Judaea G2449 in G1722 the days G2250 of Herod G2264 the king, G935 behold, G2400 there came G3854 wise men G3097 from G575 the east G395 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2414
Arise, H6965 shine; H215 for thy light H216 is come, H935 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 is risen H2224 upon thee. For, behold, the darkness H2822 shall cover H3680 the earth, H776 and gross darkness H6205 the people: H3816 but the LORD H3068 shall arise H2224 upon thee, and his glory H3519 shall be seen H7200 upon thee. And the Gentiles H1471 shall come H1980 to thy light, H216 and kings H4428 to the brightness H5051 of thy rising. H2225 Lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 round about, H5439 and see: H7200 all they gather themselves together, H6908 they come H935 to thee: thy sons H1121 shall come H935 from far, H7350 and thy daughters H1323 shall be nursed H539 at thy side. H6654 Then thou shalt see, H7200 H3372 and flow together, H5102 and thine heart H3824 shall fear, H6342 and be enlarged; H7337 because the abundance H1995 of the sea H3220 shall be converted H2015 unto thee, the forces H2428 of the Gentiles H1471 shall come H935 unto thee. The multitude H8229 of camels H1581 shall cover H3680 thee, the dromedaries H1070 of Midian H4080 and Ephah; H5891 all they from Sheba H7614 shall come: H935 they shall bring H5375 gold H2091 and incense; H3828 and they shall shew forth H1319 the praises H8416 of the LORD. H3068 All the flocks H6629 of Kedar H6938 shall be gathered together H6908 unto thee, the rams H352 of Nebaioth H5032 shall minister H8334 unto thee: they shall come up H5927 with acceptance H7522 on mine altar, H4196 and I will glorify H6286 the house H1004 of my glory. H8597 Who are these that fly H5774 as a cloud, H5645 and as the doves H3123 to their windows? H699 Surely the isles H339 shall wait H6960 for me, and the ships H591 of Tarshish H8659 first, H7223 to bring H935 thy sons H1121 from far, H7350 their silver H3701 and their gold H2091 with them, unto the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and to the Holy One H6918 of Israel, H3478 because he hath glorified H6286 thee. And the sons H1121 of strangers H5236 shall build up H1129 thy walls, H2346 and their kings H4428 shall minister H8334 unto thee: for in my wrath H7110 I smote H5221 thee, but in my favour H7522 have I had mercy H7355 on thee.
Neither let the son H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that hath joined H3867 himself to the LORD, H3068 speak, H559 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath utterly H914 separated H914 me from his people: H5971 neither let the eunuch H5631 say, H559 Behold, I am a dry H3002 tree. H6086 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto the eunuchs H5631 that keep H8104 my sabbaths, H7676 and choose H977 the things that please H2654 me, and take hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285 Even unto them will I give H5414 in mine house H1004 and within my walls H2346 a place H3027 and a name H8034 better H2896 than of sons H1121 and of daughters: H1323 I will give H5414 them an everlasting H5769 name, H8034 that shall not be cut off. H3772 Also the sons H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that join H3867 themselves to the LORD, H3068 to serve H8334 him, and to love H157 the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 to be his servants, H5650 every one that keepeth H8104 the sabbath H7676 from polluting H2490 it, and taketh hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285 Even them will I bring H935 to my holy H6944 mountain, H2022 and make them joyful H8055 in my house H1004 of prayer: H8605 their burnt offerings H5930 and their sacrifices H2077 shall be accepted H7522 upon mine altar; H4196 for mine house H1004 shall be called H7121 an house H1004 of prayer H8605 for all people. H5971
Moreover concerning the stranger, H5237 which is not of thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 but is come H935 from a far H7350 country H776 for thy great H1419 name's H8034 sake, and thy mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and thy stretched out H5186 arm; H2220 if they come H935 and pray H6419 in this house; H1004
But he said, H559 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 before H6440 whom I stand, H5975 I will receive H3947 none. And he urged H6484 him to take H3947 it; but he refused. H3985 And Naaman H5283 said, H559 Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given H5414 to thy servant H5650 two H6776 mules' H6505 burden H4853 of earth? H127 for thy servant H5650 will henceforth offer H6213 neither burnt offering H5930 nor sacrifice H2077 unto other H312 gods, H430 but unto the LORD. H3068
Now Naaman, H5283 captain H8269 of the host H6635 of the king H4428 of Syria, H758 was a great H1419 man H376 with H6440 his master, H113 and honourable, H5375 because by him the LORD H3068 had given H5414 deliverance H8668 unto Syria: H758 he was also a mighty H1368 man H376 in valour, H2428 but he was a leper. H6879 And the Syrians H758 had gone out H3318 by companies, H1416 and had brought away captive H7617 out of the land H776 of Israel H3478 a little H6996 maid; H5291 and she waited on H6440 Naaman's H5283 wife. H802 And she said H559 unto her mistress, H1404 Would H305 God my lord H113 were with H6440 the prophet H5030 that is in Samaria! H8111 for H227 he would recover H622 him of his leprosy. H6883 And one went in, H935 and told H5046 his lord, H113 saying, H559 Thus and thus said H1696 the maid H5291 that is of the land H776 of Israel. H3478 And the king H4428 of Syria H758 said, H559 Go to, H3212 go, H935 and I will send H7971 a letter H5612 unto the king H4428 of Israel. H3478 And he departed, H3212 and took H3947 with him H3027 ten H6235 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 and six H8337 thousand H505 pieces of gold, H2091 and ten H6235 changes H2487 of raiment. H899 And he brought H935 the letter H5612 to the king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Now when this letter H5612 is come H935 unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent H7971 Naaman H5283 my servant H5650 to thee, that thou mayest recover H622 him of his leprosy. H6883 And it came to pass, when the king H4428 of Israel H3478 had read H7121 the letter, H5612 that he rent H7167 his clothes, H899 and said, H559 Am I God, H430 to kill H4191 and to make alive, H2421 that this man H2088 doth send H7971 unto me to recover H622 a man H376 of his leprosy? H6883 wherefore H389 consider, H3045 I pray you, and see H7200 how he seeketh a quarrel H579 against me.
And Boaz H1162 answered H6030 and said H559 unto her, It hath fully H5046 been shewed H5046 me, all that thou hast done H6213 unto thy mother in law H2545 since H310 the death H4194 of thine husband: H376 and how thou hast left H5800 thy father H1 and thy mother, H517 and the land H776 of thy nativity, H4138 and art come H3212 unto a people H5971 which thou knewest H3045 not heretofore. H8543 H8032
And Ruth H7327 said, H559 Intreat H6293 me not to leave H5800 thee, or to return H7725 from following after H310 thee: for whither thou goest, H3212 I will go; H3212 and where thou lodgest, H3885 I will lodge: H3885 thy people H5971 shall be my people, H5971 and thy God H430 my God: H430
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."