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
And the children H1123 of Israel, H3479 the priests, H3549 and the Levites, H3879 and the rest H7606 of the children H1123 of the captivity, H1547 kept H5648 the dedication H2597 of this H1836 house H1005 of God H426 with joy, H2305 And offered H7127 at the dedication H2597 of this H1836 house H1005 of God H426 an hundred H3969 bullocks, H8450 two hundred H3969 rams, H1798 four H703 hundred H3969 lambs; H563 and for a sin offering H2402 H2409 for H5922 all H3606 Israel, H3479 twelve H8648 H6236 he H6841 goats, H5796 according to the number H4510 of the tribes H7625 of Israel. H3479
And if his oblation H7133 be a sacrifice H2077 of peace offering, H8002 if he offer H7126 it of the herd; H1241 whether it be a male H2145 or female, H5347 he shall offer H7126 it without blemish H8549 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of his offering, H7133 and kill H7819 it at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 the priests H3548 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 upon the altar H4196 round about. H5439 And he shall offer H7126 of the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offering H8002 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is on them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And Aaron's H175 sons H1121 shall burn H6999 it on the altar H4196 upon the burnt sacrifice, H5930 which is upon the wood H6086 that is on the fire: H784 it is an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And if his offering H7133 for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offering H8002 unto the LORD H3068 be of the flock; H6629 male H2145 or female, H5347 he shall offer H7126 it without blemish. H8549 If he offer H7126 a lamb H3775 for his offering, H7133 then shall he offer H7126 it before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of his offering, H7133 and kill H7819 it before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and Aaron's H175 sons H1121 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 thereof round about H5439 upon the altar. H4196 And he shall offer H7126 of the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offering H8002 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 thereof, and the whole H8549 rump, H451 it shall he take off H5493 hard H5980 by the backbone; H6096 and the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is upon them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 it upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And if his offering H7133 be a goat, H5795 then he shall offer H7126 it before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall lay H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of it, and kill H7819 it before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 shall sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 thereof upon the altar H4196 round about. H5439 And he shall offer H7126 thereof his offering, H7133 even an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD; H3068 the fat H2459 that covereth H3680 the inwards, H7130 and all the fat H2459 that is upon the inwards, H7130 And the two H8147 kidneys, H3629 and the fat H2459 that is upon them, which is by the flanks, H3689 and the caul H3508 above the liver, H3516 with the kidneys, H3629 it shall he take away. H5493 And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 them upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 for a sweet H5207 savour: H7381 all the fat H2459 is the LORD'S. H3068 It shall be a perpetual H5769 statute H2708 for your generations H1755 throughout all your dwellings, H4186 that ye eat H398 neither fat H2459 nor blood. H1818
And the princes H5387 offered H7126 for dedicating H2598 of the altar H4196 in the day H3117 that it was anointed, H4886 even the princes H5387 offered H7126 their offering H7133 before H6440 the altar. H4196 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 They shall offer H7126 their offering, H7133 each H259 prince H5387 on his day, H3117 for the dedicating H2598 of the altar. H4196
This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 in the day H3117 when it was anointed, H4886 by the princes H5387 of Israel: H3478 twelve H6240 H8147 chargers H7086 of silver, H3701 twelve silver H3701 bowls, H4219 twelve H6240 H8147 spoons H3709 of gold: H2091 Each H259 charger H7086 of silver H3701 weighing an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, each H259 bowl H4219 seventy: H7657 all the silver H3701 vessels H3627 weighed two thousand H505 and four H702 hundred H3967 shekels, after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944 The golden H2091 spoons H3709 were twelve, H6240 H8147 full H4392 of incense, H7004 weighing ten H6235 shekels apiece, H3709 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944 all the gold H2091 of the spoons H3709 was an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 shekels. All the oxen H1241 for the burnt offering H5930 were twelve H8147 H6240 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 twelve, H8147 H6240 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 twelve, H8147 H6240 with their meat offering: H4503 and the kids H8163 of the goats H5795 for sin offering H2403 twelve. H8147 H6240 And all the oxen H1241 for the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offerings H8002 were twenty H6242 and four H702 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 sixty, H8346 the he goats H6260 sixty, H8346 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 sixty. H8346 This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 after H310 that it was anointed. H4886
And the number H4557 of the burnt offerings, H5930 which the congregation H6951 brought, H935 was threescore and ten H7657 bullocks, H1241 an hundred H3967 rams, H352 and two hundred H3967 lambs: H3532 all these were for a burnt offering H5930 to the LORD. H3068 And the consecrated things H6944 were six H8337 hundred H3967 oxen H1241 and three H7969 thousand H505 sheep. H6629 But the priests H3548 were too few, H4592 so that they could H3201 not flay H6584 all the burnt offerings: H5930 wherefore their brethren H251 the Levites H3881 did help H2388 them, till the work H4399 was ended, H3615 and until the other priests H3548 had sanctified H6942 themselves: for the Levites H3881 were more upright H3477 in heart H3824 to sanctify H6942 themselves than the priests. H3548 And also the burnt offerings H5930 were in abundance, H7230 with the fat H2459 of the peace offerings, H8002 and the drink offerings H5262 for every burnt offering. H5930 So the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 was set in order. H3559
And Josiah H2977 gave H7311 to the people, H1121 H5971 of the flock, H6629 lambs H3532 and kids, H1121 H5795 all for the passover offerings, H6453 for all that were present, H4672 to the number H4557 of thirty H7970 thousand, H505 and three H7969 thousand H505 bullocks: H1241 these were of the king's H4428 substance. H7399 And his princes H8269 gave H7311 willingly H5071 unto the people, H5971 to the priests, H3548 and to the Levites: H3881 Hilkiah H2518 and Zechariah H2148 and Jehiel, H3171 rulers H5057 of the house H1004 of God, H430 gave H5414 unto the priests H3548 for the passover offerings H6453 two thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 small cattle, and three H7969 hundred H3967 oxen. H1241 Conaniah H3562 also, and Shemaiah H8098 and Nethaneel, H5417 his brethren, H251 and Hashabiah H2811 and Jeiel H3273 and Jozabad, H3107 chief H8269 of the Levites, H3881 gave H7311 unto the Levites H3881 for passover offerings H6453 five H2568 thousand H505 small cattle, and five H2568 hundred H3967 oxen. H1241
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."