4 And they brought up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and all the holy H6944 vessels H3627 that were in the tabernacle, H168 even those did the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 bring up. H5927
And the king H4428 went H3212 to Gibeon H1391 to sacrifice H2076 there; for that H1931 was the great H1419 high place: H1116 a thousand H505 burnt offerings H5930 did Solomon H8010 offer H5927 upon that altar. H4196
So Solomon, H8010 and all the congregation H6951 with him, went H3212 to the high place H1116 that was at Gibeon; H1391 for there was the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 of God, H430 which Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 had made H6213 in the wilderness. H4057
On the first H7223 day H3117 of the first H259 month H2320 shalt thou set up H6965 the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation. H4150 And thou shalt put H7760 therein H8033 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and cover H5526 the ark H727 with the vail. H6532 And thou shalt bring H935 in the table, H7979 and set in order H6186 the things that are to be set in order H6187 upon it; and thou shalt bring H935 in the candlestick, H4501 and light H5927 the lamps H5216 thereof. And thou shalt set H5414 the altar H4196 of gold H2091 for the incense H7004 before H6440 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and put H7760 the hanging H4539 of the door H6607 to the tabernacle. H4908 And thou shalt set H5414 the altar H4196 of the burnt offering H5930 before H6440 the door H6607 of the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation. H4150 And thou shalt set H5414 the laver H3595 between the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 and the altar, H4196 and shalt put H5414 water H4325 therein. And thou shalt set up H7760 the court H2691 round about, H5439 and hang up H5414 the hanging H4539 at the court H2691 gate. H8179 And thou shalt take H3947 the anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and anoint H4886 the tabernacle, H4908 and all that is therein, and shalt hallow H6942 it, and all the vessels H3627 thereof: and it shall be holy. H6944 And thou shalt anoint H4886 the altar H4196 of the burnt offering, H5930 and all his vessels, H3627 and sanctify H6942 the altar: H4196 and it shall be an altar H4196 most H6944 holy. H6944 And thou shalt anoint H4886 the laver H3595 and his foot, H3653 and sanctify H6942 it. And thou shalt bring H7126 Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and wash H7364 them with water. H4325 And thou shalt put H3847 upon Aaron H175 the holy H6944 garments, H899 and anoint H4886 him, and sanctify H6942 him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. H3547 And thou shalt bring H7126 his sons, H1121 and clothe H3847 them with coats: H3801 And thou shalt anoint H4886 them, as thou didst anoint H4886 their father, H1 that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: H3547 for their anointing H4888 shall surely be an everlasting H5769 priesthood H3550 throughout their generations. H1755 Thus did H6213 Moses: H4872 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him, so did H6213 he. And it came to pass in the first H7223 month H2320 in the second H8145 year, H8141 on the first H259 day of the month, H2320 that the tabernacle H4908 was reared up. H6965 And Moses H4872 reared up H6965 the tabernacle, H4908 and fastened H5414 his sockets, H134 and set up H7760 the boards H7175 thereof, and put H5414 in the bars H1280 thereof, and reared up H6965 his pillars. H5982 And he spread abroad H6566 the tent H168 over the tabernacle, H4908 and put H7760 the covering H4372 of the tent H168 above H4605 upon it; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he took H3947 and put H5414 the testimony H5715 into the ark, H727 and set H7760 the staves H905 on the ark, H727 and put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark: H727 And he brought H935 the ark H727 into the tabernacle, H4908 and set up H7760 the vail H6532 of the covering, H4539 and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the testimony; H5715 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he put H5414 the table H7979 in the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 upon the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 northward, H6828 without H2351 the vail. H6532 And he set H6187 the bread H3899 in order H6186 upon it before H6440 the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he put H7760 the candlestick H4501 in the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 over against H5227 the table, H7979 on the side H3409 of the tabernacle H4908 southward. H5045 And he lighted H5927 the lamps H5216 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he put H7760 the golden H2091 altar H4196 in the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the vail: H6532 And he burnt H6999 sweet H5561 incense H7004 thereon; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he set up H7760 the hanging H4539 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle. H4908 And he put H7760 the altar H4196 of burnt offering H5930 by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and offered H5927 upon it the burnt offering H5930 and the meat offering; H4503 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he set H7760 the laver H3595 between the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 and the altar, H4196 and put H5414 water H4325 there, to wash H7364 withal. And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 washed H7364 their hands H3027 and their feet H7272 thereat: When they went H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and when they came near H7126 unto the altar, H4196 they washed; H7364 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he reared up H6965 the court H2691 round about H5439 the tabernacle H4908 and the altar, H4196 and set up H5414 the hanging H4539 of the court H2691 gate. H8179 So Moses H4872 finished H3615 the work. H4399
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."