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
And G2532 when he rose up G450 from G575 prayer, G4335 and was come G2064 to G4314 his G846 disciples, G3101 he found G2147 them G846 sleeping G2837 for G575 sorrow, G3077
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
And he stood H5975 before H6440 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 in the presence of all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 and spread forth H6566 his hands: H3709 For Solomon H8010 had made H6213 a brasen H5178 scaffold, H3595 of five H2568 cubits H520 long, H753 and five H2568 cubits H520 broad, H7341 and three H7969 cubits H520 high, H6967 and had set H5414 it in the midst H8432 of the court: H5835 and upon it he stood, H5975 and kneeled down H1288 upon his knees H1290 before all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 and spread forth H6566 his hands H3709 toward heaven, H8064
Now when Solomon H8010 had made an end H3615 of praying, H6419 the fire H784 came down H3381 from heaven, H8064 and consumed H398 the burnt offering H5930 and the sacrifices; H2077 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the house. H1004
O come, H935 let us worship H7812 and bow down: H3766 let us kneel H1288 before H6440 the LORD H3068 our maker. H6213
And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that, as G1722 he G846 was G1511 praying G4336 in G1722 a certain G5100 place, G5117 when G5613 he ceased, G3973 one G5100 of his G846 disciples G3101 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Lord, G2962 teach G1321 us G2248 to pray, G4336 as G2531 John G2491 also G2532 taught G1321 his G846 disciples. G3101
And G2532 he G846 was withdrawn G645 from G575 them G846 about G5616 a stone's G3037 cast, G1000 and G2532 kneeled down, G5087 G1119 and prayed, G4336
And G2532 when he had thus G5023 spoken, G2036 he G846 kneeled G1119 down, G5087 and prayed G4336 with G4862 them G846 all. G3956
And G1161 when G3753 we G2248 had G1096 accomplished G1822 those days, G2250 we departed G1831 and went our way; G4198 and they all G3956 brought G4311 us G2248 on our way, G4311 with G4862 wives G1135 and G2532 children, G5043 till G2193 we were out of G1854 the city: G4172 and G2532 we kneeled down G5087 G1119 on G1909 the shore, G123 and prayed. G4336
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 8
Commentary on 1 Kings 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The building and furniture of the temple were very glorious, but the dedication of it exceeds in glory as much as prayer and praise, the work of saints, exceed the casting of metal and the graving of stones, the work of the craftsman. The temple was designed for the keeping up of the correspondence between God and his people; and here we have an account of the solemnity of their first meeting there.
1Ki 8:1-11
The temple, though richly beautified, yet while it was without the ark was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or (to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. All the cost and pains bestowed on this stately structure are lost if God do not accept them; and, unless he please to own it as the place where he will record his name, it is after all but a ruinous heap. When therefore all the work is ended (ch. 7:51), the one thing needful is yet behind, and that is the bringing in of the ark. This therefore is the end which must crown the work, and which here we have an account of the doing of with great solemnity.
1Ki 8:12-21
Here,
1Ki 8:22-53
Solomon having made a general surrender of this house to God, which God had signified his acceptance of by taking possession, next follows Solomon's prayer, in which he makes a more particular declaration of the uses of that surrender, with all humility and reverence, desiring that God would agree thereto. In short, it is his request that this temple may be deemed and taken, not only for a house of sacrifice (no mention is made of that in all this prayer, that was taken for granted), but a house of prayer for all people; and herein it was a type of the gospel church; see Isa. 56:7, compared with Mt. 21:13. Therefore Solomon opened this house, not only with an extraordinary sacrifice, but with an extraordinary prayer.
1Ki 8:54-61
Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called his blessing the people, v. 55. He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them.
1Ki 8:62-66
We read before that Judah and Israel were eating and drinking, and very cheerful under their own vines and fig-trees; here we have them so in God's courts. Now they found Solomon's words true concerning Wisdom's ways, that they are ways of pleasantness.