1 Kings 8:36

_IF ANY MAN TRESPASS AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND AN OATH BE LAID UPON HIM TO CAUSE HIM TO SWEAR, AND THE OATH COME BEFORE THINE ALTAR IN THIS HOUSE:_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

22-53 In this excellent prayer, Solomon does as we should do in every prayer; he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God's promises call for larger praises. He sues for grace and favour from God. The experiences we have of God's performing his promises, should encourage us to depend upon them, and to plead them with him; and those who expect further mercies, must be thankful for former mercies. God's promises must be the guide of our desires, and the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer. The sacrifices, the incense, and the whole service of the temple, were all typical of the Redeemer's offices, oblation, and intercession. The temple, therefore, was continually to be remembered. Under one word, "forgive," Solomon expressed all that he could ask in behalf of his people. For, as all misery springs from sin, forgiveness of sin prepares the way for the removal of...

TEACH THEM ... - Rather, “when thou art teaching them (by thy chastisement) the good way that they should walk in,” i. e. when thou art still teaching, not taking vengeance....

EXPOSITION THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE.—The stately and impressive service with which the Temple, the character and contents of which have now been described, was dedicated, is related in this chapter, and divides itself into four sections. We have (1) the removal of the ark and Solomon's ascription of praise on the occasion (1 Kings 8:1). (2) The prayer of consecration (1 Kings 8:23-11). (3) The benediction of the congregation (1 Kings 8:55-11), and (4) the festal sacrifices which followed on and completed the dedication ...

THEN HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN, AND FORGIVE THE SIN OF THY SERVANTS, AND OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL,.... By removing the judgment of drought upon them: THAT THOU TEACH THEM THE GOOD WAY WHEREIN THEY SHOULD WALK; the way of worship and duty prescribed by the Lord which was good in itself, and good for them, good things being enjoyed by them that walk therein; and this the Lord sometimes teaches by afflictions, as well as by his word; but whenever he does it, it is by his Spirit, and then afflictions are blessings, Psalms 104:19 where the same phrase is differently rendered: AND GIVE RAIN UPON THE LAND WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN TO THY PEOPLE FOR AN INHERITANCE; as he did at the prayer of Elijah, James 5:18....

CHAPTER 8THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE _ 1. The great assembly (1 Kings 8:1)_ 2. The transportation of the ark (1 Kings 8:3) 3. The glory of the LORD filling the house (1 Kings 8:10) 4. Solomon's opening words (1 Kings 8:12) 5. Solomon's great prayer (1 Kings 8:22) 6. Solomon's benediction (1 Kings 8:54) 7. The sacrifices and the feast ...

SOLOMON'S DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE, PRAYER AND ADDRESS. This chapter is mainly Deuteronomic, being clearly written from the standpoint of one who has seen the Temple as the one national sanctuary of Israel, and has either witnessed its downfall or perceived that it was imminent. 1 Kings 8:1 is, however, probably from the early record of how the house of Yahweh was dedicated by Solomon, of which 1 Kings 8:62 is the continuation, the prayer of Solomon being Deuteronomic. In 1 Kings 8:12 f. we may have preserved an authentic poetic utterance of Solomon himself in the words of the dedication of the Temple. As they are given in the LXX they read as follows: Yahweh set the sun in heaven,...

THAT THOU TEACH. because Thou wilt teach....

_forgive the sin of thy servants and of thy people Israel_ Probably Solomon means by -servants" the kings who should hereafter reign over Israel. The LXX. evidently thought this, for there we only have -thy servant" meaning the king at the time being. _that thou teach them_ The rendering should rather be - WHEN thou teachest them," as at the close of the previous verse. The forgiveness is to come, when the lesson of chastisement has been given and learnt....

C. THE DEDICATORY PRAYER 8:22-53 The dedicatory prayer of Solomon is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. No doubt the author of Kings copied this composition from the _book of the acts of Solomon_ (1 Kings 11:41), or possibly from the _book of Nathan_ (2 Chronicles 9:29). Modern critics have attacked the authenticity of the prayer on the dubious grounds that it contains too many references to the Pentateuch! Of course if the Pentateuch in its entirety be regarded as Mosaic in origin, there is no reason in the world why Solomon could not or would not have alluded to it frequently. It is interesting to note that in the entire prayer there is not one reference to offering sacrifice in the Temple. The concept of the Temple as a house of prayer was not, then, a postexilic e