1 Then Solomon H8010 assembled H6950 the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and all the heads H7218 of the tribes, H4294 the chief H5387 of the fathers H1 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto king H4428 Solomon H8010 in Jerusalem, H3389 that they might bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 out of the city H5892 of David, H1732 which is Zion. H6726
Then Solomon H8010 assembled H6950 the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and all the heads H7218 of the tribes, H4294 the chief H5387 of the fathers H1 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto Jerusalem, H3389 to bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 out of the city H5892 of David, H1732 which is Zion. H6726 Wherefore all the men H376 of Israel H3478 assembled H6950 themselves unto the king H4428 in the feast H2282 which was in the seventh H7637 month. H2320 And all the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 came; H935 and the Levites H3881 took up H5375 the ark. H727 And they brought up H5927 the ark, H727 and the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and all the holy H6944 vessels H3627 that were in the tabernacle, H168 these did the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 bring up. H5927 Also king H4428 Solomon, H8010 and all the congregation H5712 of Israel H3478 that were assembled H3259 unto him before H6440 the ark, H727 sacrificed H2076 sheep H6629 and oxen, H1241 which could not be told H5608 nor numbered H4487 for multitude. H7230 And the priests H3548 brought in H935 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 unto his place, H4725 to the oracle H1687 of the house, H1004 into the most H6944 holy H6944 place, even under the wings H3671 of the cherubims: H3742 For the cherubims H3742 spread forth H6566 their wings H3671 over the place H4725 of the ark, H727 and the cherubims H3742 covered H3680 the ark H727 and the staves H905 thereof above. H4605 And they drew out H748 the staves H905 of the ark, that the ends H7218 of the staves H905 were seen H7200 from the ark H727 before H6440 the oracle; H1687 but they were not seen H7200 without. H2351 And there it is unto this day. H3117 There was nothing in the ark H727 save the two H8147 tables H3871 which Moses H4872 put H5414 therein at Horeb, H2722 when the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant with the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 when they came out H3318 of Egypt. H4714
So David, H1732 and the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and the captains H8269 over thousands, H505 went H1980 to bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 out of the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 with joy. H8057
And it was told H5046 king H4428 David, H1732 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 the house H1004 of Obededom, H5654 and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark H727 of God. H430 So David H1732 went H3212 and brought up H5927 the ark H727 of God H430 from the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 into the city H5892 of David H1732 with gladness. H8057 And it was so, that when they that bare H5375 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 had gone H6805 six H8337 paces, H6806 he sacrificed H2076 oxen H7794 and fatlings. H4806 And David H1732 danced H3769 before H6440 the LORD H3068 with all his might; H5797 and David H1732 was girded H2296 with a linen H906 ephod. H646 So David H1732 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 brought up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 with shouting, H8643 and with the sound H6963 of the trumpet. H7782 And as the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 came H935 into the city H5892 of David, H1732 Michal H4324 Saul's H7586 daughter H1323 looked H8259 through a window, H2474 and saw H7200 king H4428 David H1732 leaping H6339 and dancing H3769 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 and she despised H959 him in her heart. H3820 And they brought H935 in the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and set H3322 it in his place, H4725 in the midst H8432 of the tabernacle H168 that David H1732 had pitched H5186 for it: and David H1732 offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
And David H1732 assembled H6950 all the princes H8269 of Israel, H3478 the princes H8269 of the tribes, H7626 and the captains H8269 of the companies H4256 that ministered H8334 to the king H4428 by course, H4256 and the captains H8269 over the thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over the hundreds, H3967 and the stewards H8269 over all the substance H7399 and possession H4735 of the king, H4428 and of his sons, H1121 with the officers, H5631 and with the mighty men, H1368 and with all the valiant men, H2428 unto Jerusalem. H3389
Wherefore G1352 also G2532 it is contained G4023 in G1722 the scripture, G1124 Behold, G2400 I lay G5087 in G1722 Sion G4622 a chief corner G204 stone, G3037 elect, G1588 precious: G1784 and G2532 he that believeth G4100 on G1909 him G846 shall G2617 not be G3364 confounded. G2617
Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 Behold, I lay H3245 in Zion H6726 for a foundation a stone, H68 a tried H976 stone, H68 a precious H3368 corner H6438 stone, a sure H3245 foundation: H4143 he that believeth H539 shall not make haste. H2363
And when the seventh H7637 month H2320 was come, H5060 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were in the cities, H5892 the people H5971 gathered themselves together H622 as one H259 man H376 to Jerusalem. H3389
And Hezekiah H3169 sent H7971 to all Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 and wrote H3789 letters H107 also to Ephraim H669 and Manasseh, H4519 that they should come H935 to the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 at Jerusalem, H3389 to keep H6213 the passover H6453 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
That the princes H5387 of Israel, H3478 heads H7218 of the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 who were the princes H5387 of the tribes, H4294 and were over H5975 them that were numbered, H6485 offered: H7126 And they brought H935 their offering H7133 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 six H8337 covered H6632 wagons, H5699 and twelve H6240 oxen; H1241 a wagon H5699 for two H8147 of the princes, H5387 and for each one H259 an ox: H7794 and they brought H7126 them before H6440 the tabernacle. H4908
And David H1732 gathered H6950 all Israel H3478 together H6950 to Jerusalem, H3389 to bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 unto his place, H4725 which he had prepared H3559 for it.
And David H1732 consulted H3289 with the captains H8269 of thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and with every leader. H5057 And David H1732 said H559 unto all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 If it seem good H2895 unto you, and that it be of the LORD H3068 our God, H430 let us send H7971 abroad H6555 unto our brethren H251 every where, that are left H7604 in all the land H776 of Israel, H3478 and with them also to the priests H3548 and Levites H3881 which are in their cities H5892 and suburbs, H4054 that they may gather H6908 themselves unto us: And let us bring again H5437 the ark H727 of our God H430 to us: for we enquired H1875 not at it in the days H3117 of Saul. H7586 And all the congregation H6951 said H559 that they would do so: H6213 for the thing H1697 was right H3474 in the eyes H5869 of all the people. H5971 So David H1732 gathered H6950 all Israel H3478 together, H6950 from Shihor H7883 of Egypt H4714 even unto the entering H935 of Hemath, H2574 to bring H935 the ark H727 of God H430 from Kirjathjearim. H7157
And Solomon H8010 awoke; H3364 and, behold, it was a dream. H2472 And he came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and stood H5975 before H6440 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 and offered up H5927 burnt offerings, H5930 and offered H6213 peace offerings, H8002 and made H6213 a feast H4960 to all his servants. H5650
And when they came H935 to Nachon's H5225 threshingfloor, H1637 Uzzah H5798 put forth H7971 his hand to the ark H727 of God, H430 and took hold H270 of it; for the oxen H1241 shook H8058 it.
Again, David H1732 gathered together H622 H3254 all the chosen H977 men of Israel, H3478 thirty H7970 thousand. H505 And David H1732 arose, H6965 and went H3212 with all the people H5971 that were with him from Baale of Judah, H1184 to bring up H5927 from thence the ark H727 of God, H430 whose name H8034 is called H7121 by the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 that dwelleth H3427 between the cherubims. H3742
Nevertheless David H1732 took H3920 the strong hold H4686 of Zion: H6726 the same is the city H5892 of David. H1732 And David H1732 said H559 on that day, H3117 Whosoever getteth up H5060 to the gutter, H6794 and smiteth H5221 the Jebusites, H2983 and the lame H6455 and the blind, H5787 that are hated H8130 of David's H1732 soul, H5315 he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, H559 The blind H5787 and the lame H6455 shall not come H935 into the house. H1004 So David H1732 dwelt H3427 in the fort, H4686 and called H7121 it the city H5892 of David. H1732 And David H1732 built H1129 round about H5439 from Millo H4407 and inward. H1004
And Joshua H3091 gathered H622 all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to Shechem, H7927 and called H7121 for the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and for their heads, H7218 and for their judges, H8199 and for their officers; H7860 and they presented H3320 themselves before H6440 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."