1 Kings 8:64

_THE SAME DAY DID THE KING HALLOW THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT THAT WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: FOR THERE HE OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS, AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS: BECAUSE THE BRASEN ALTAR THAT WAS BEFORE THE LORD WAS TOO LITTLE TO RECEIVE THE BURNT OFFERINGS, AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS._ The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court - i:e., the whole extent of the priests' court, the altar of burnt offerings, though large (2 Chronicles 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....

62-66 Solomon offered a great sacrifice. He kept the feast of tabernacles, as it seems, after the feast of dedication. Thus should we go home, rejoicing, from holy ordinances, thankful for God's Goodness...

Verse 64. _DID THE KING HALLOW THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT_] The great altar of burnt-offerings was not sufficient for the number of sacrifices which were then made; therefore the middle of the court was set apart, and an altar erected there for the same purpose....

THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT - Or, “the whole area of the court “ - all the “mid” space within the enclosing walls, which thus became one huge altar, on any part of which victims might be offered at one and the same time....

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 ...

THE SAME DAY DID THE KING HALLOW THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT THAT WAS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,.... The court of the priests that was before the holy place, adjoining to it, in which was the altar of burnt offering; this, or, however, the middle part of it, he sanctified for present use, to offer sacrifices on, for a reason hereafter given: FOR THERE HE OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS AND MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS; which was the reason why the middle of the great court was for this time set apart for this service....

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,...

_meat offerings_ These consisted (see Leviticus 2:4-7) of fine flour with oil and incense. In modern English the sense of -meat" has become so restricted to flesh, that the R.V., to give a nearer idea of the true nature of the offering, has changed the word to MEAL-OFFERING, though this does not quite adequately convey the meaning. In 2 Chronicles 7:6 we read that the Levites accompanied these sacrifices with music, on instruments which David had made for religious services, and the priests blew the trumpets before them....

D. THE DEDICATORY CELEBRATION 8:62-66 TRANSLATION (62) And the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the LORD. (63) And Solomon offered for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred twenty thousand sheep. So did the king and all the children of Israel dedicate the house of the LORD. (64) In that day the king sanctified the middle court which was before the house of the LORD, for there he made burnt offerings and meal offerings and the fat of peace offerings, because the bronze altar which was before the LORD was too small to contain the burnt offerings and the meal offerings and the fat of peace offerings. (65) And at that time Solomon made a great feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven days, fourt...