9 There was nothing in the ark H727 save H7535 the two H8147 tables H3871 of stone, H68 which Moses H4872 put H3240 there at Horeb, H2722 when the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant with the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 when they came out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
And thou shalt put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark; H727 and in the ark H727 thou shalt put H5414 the testimony H5715 that I shall give H5414 thee.
Which had G2192 the golden G5552 censer, G2369 and G2532 the ark G2787 of the covenant G1242 overlaid G4028 round about G3840 with gold, G5553 wherein G1722 G3739 was the golden G5552 pot G4713 that had G2192 manna, G3131 and G2532 Aaron's G2 rod G4464 that budded, G985 and G2532 the tables G4109 of the covenant; G1242
And he declared H5046 unto you his covenant, H1285 which he commanded H6680 you to perform, H6213 even ten H6235 commandments; H1697 and he wrote H3789 them upon two H8147 tables H3871 of stone. H68
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Write H3789 thou these words: H1697 for after the tenor H6310 of these words H1697 I have made H3772 a covenant H1285 with thee and with Israel. H3478 And he was there with the LORD H3068 forty H705 days H3117 and forty H705 nights; H3915 he did neither eat H398 bread, H3899 nor drink H8354 water. H4325 And he wrote H3789 upon the tables H3871 the words H1697 of the covenant, H1285 the ten H6235 commandments. H1697
And G2532 the temple G3485 was filled G1072 with smoke G2586 from G1537 the glory G1391 of God, G2316 and G2532 from G1537 his G846 power; G1411 and G2532 no man G3762 was able G1410 to enter G1525 into G1519 the temple, G3485 till G891 the seven G2033 plagues G4127 of the seven G2033 angels G32 were fulfilled. G5055
Then the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 went up H7311 from the cherub, H3742 and stood over the threshold H4670 of the house; H1004 and the house H1004 was filled H4390 with the cloud, H6051 and the court H2691 was full H4390 of the brightness H5051 of the LORD'S H3068 glory. H3519
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 And the priests H3548 could H3201 not enter H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 because the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 had filled H4390 the LORD'S H3068 house. H1004 And when all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 saw H7200 how the fire H784 came down, H3381 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 upon the house, H1004 they bowed H3766 themselves with their faces H639 to the ground H776 upon the pavement, H7531 and worshipped, H7812 and praised H3034 the LORD, H3068 saying, For he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters H2690 H2690 and singers H7891 were as one, H259 to make one H259 sound H6963 to be heard H8085 in praising H1984 and thanking H3034 the LORD; H3068 and when they lifted up H7311 their voice H6963 with the trumpets H2689 and cymbals H4700 and instruments H3627 of musick, H7892 and praised H1984 the LORD, H3068 saying, For he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 that then the house H1004 was filled H4390 with a cloud, H6051 even the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 So that the priests H3548 could H3201 not stand H5975 to minister H8334 by reason H6440 of the cloud: H6051 for the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 had filled H4390 the house H1004 of God. H430
And the LORD H3068 went H1980 before H6440 them by day H3119 in a pillar H5982 of a cloud, H6051 to lead H5148 them the way; H1870 and by night H3915 in a pillar H5982 of fire, H784 to give them light; H215 to go H3212 by day H3119 and night: H3915
And I will write H3789 on the tables H3871 the words H1697 that were in the first H7223 tables H3871 which thou brakest, H7665 and thou shalt put H7760 them in the ark. H727 And I made H6213 an ark H727 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and hewed H6458 two H8147 tables H3871 of stone H68 like unto the first, H7223 and went up H5927 into the mount, H2022 having the two H8147 tables H3871 in mine hand. H3027 And he wrote H3789 on the tables, H3871 according to the first H7223 writing, H4385 the ten H6235 commandments, H1697 which the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto you in the mount H2022 out of the midst H8432 of the fire H784 in the day H3117 of the assembly: H6951 and the LORD H3068 gave H5414 them unto me. And I turned H6437 myself and came down H3381 from the mount, H2022 and put H7760 the tables H3871 in the ark H727 which I had made; H6213 and there they be, as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 me.
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Bring H7725 Aaron's H175 rod H4294 again H7725 before H6440 the testimony, H5715 to be kept H4931 for a token H226 against the rebels; H4805 H1121 and thou shalt quite take away H3615 their murmurings H8519 from me, that they die H4191 not.
And on the day H3117 that the tabernacle H4908 was reared up H6965 the cloud H6051 covered H3680 the tabernacle, H4908 namely, the tent H168 of the testimony: H5715 and at even H6153 there was upon the tabernacle H4908 as it were the appearance H4758 of fire, H784 until the morning. H1242
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Speak H1696 unto Aaron H175 thy brother, H251 that he come H935 not at all times H6256 into the holy H6944 place within H1004 the vail H6532 before H6440 the mercy seat, H3727 which is upon the ark; H727 that he die H4191 not: for I will appear H7200 in the cloud H6051 upon the mercy H3727 seat.
Then a cloud H6051 covered H3680 the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908 And Moses H4872 was not able H3201 to enter H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 because the cloud H6051 abode H7931 thereon, and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 filled H4390 the tabernacle. H4908
And the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 abode H7931 upon mount H2022 Sinai, H5514 and the cloud H6051 covered H3680 it six H8337 days: H3117 and the seventh H7637 day H3117 he called H7121 unto Moses H4872 out of the midst H8432 of the cloud. H6051 And the sight H4758 of the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 was like devouring H398 fire H784 on the top H7218 of the mount H2022 in the eyes H5869 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And Moses H4872 went H935 into the midst H8432 of the cloud, H6051 and gat him up H5927 into the mount: H2022 and Moses H4872 was in the mount H2022 forty H705 days H3117 and forty H705 nights. H3915
And he took H3947 the book H5612 of the covenant, H1285 and read H7121 in the audience H241 of the people: H5971 and they said, H559 All that the LORD H3068 hath said H1696 will we do, H6213 and be obedient. H8085 And Moses H4872 took H3947 the blood, H1818 and sprinkled H2236 it on the people, H5971 and said, H559 Behold the blood H1818 of the covenant, H1285 which the LORD H3068 hath made H3772 with you concerning all these words. H1697
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."