1 Kings 9:6

_AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM, I HAVE HEARD THY PRAYER AND THY SUPPLICATION, THAT THOU HAST MADE BEFORE ME: I HAVE HALLOWED THIS HOUSE, WHICH THOU HAST BUILT, TO PUT MY NAME THERE FOR EVER; AND MINE EYES AND MINE HEART SHALL BE THERE PERPETUALLY._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-9 God warned Solomon, now he had newly built and dedicated the temple, that he and his people might not be high-minded, but fear. After all the services we can perform, we stand upon the same terms with the Lord as before. Nothing can purchase for us liberty to sin, nor would the true believer desire such a licence. He would rather be chastened of the Lord, than be allowed to go on with ease and prosperity in sin....

AT ALL TURN - Rather, “If ye shall wholly turn from following Me.” (See 2 Chronicles 7:19.) The Israelites were not to be cut off, except for an entire defection....

EXPOSITION THE ANSWER TO SOLOMON'S PRAYER.—This chapter opens with an account of God's second appearance to Solomon. It must not be supposed, however, from the apparent close connexion of this relation with the preceding narrative, that it stands to it in equally close chronological order. It probably finds a place here because the historian has grouped together all the suitable materials in his possession which related to the temple. But see on 1 Kings 9:1. 1 KINGS 9:1 AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN SOLOMON HAD FINISHED THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, AND THE KING'S HOUSE [1 Kings 7:1],

BUT IF YOU SHALL AT ALL TURN FROM FOLLOWING ME, YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN,.... From my worship, as the Targum; either Solomon or his successors, or the people of Israel and their posterity; should they turn their backs on God and his worship, meaning not in a single instance, or in some small degree; but as in the original, "if in turning ye turn" e, that is, utterly, and entirely, or wholly turn from him and his worship to other gods, as follows: AND WILL NOT KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS AND MY STATUTES, WHICH I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU, BUT GO AND SERVE OTHER GODS, AND WORSHIP THEM: neglecting the will and worship of God, go into idolatrous practices, as Solomon himself did. e אם שוב תשבון "si avertendo aversi fueritis", Pagninus, Montanus, c....

5. JEHOVAH APPEARS UNTO SOLOMON AND THE GREATNESS OF THE KING CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The second appearance of the LORD to Solomon (1 Kings 9:1)_ 2. Transactions with Hiram (1 Kings 9:10) 3. The levy of the king (1 Kings 9:15) 4. Pharaoh's daughter occupies the house (1 Kings 9:24) 5. The king's offerings (1 Kings 9:25) 6. Solomon's navy (1 Kings 9:26) Jehovah's righteous government in the midst of His people Israel had

The first few verses are a continuation of 1 Kings 8, and are likewise cast in a thoroughly Deuteronomic mould. Yahweh again appeared to the king and assured him of His protection. In 1 Kings 9:6 there is a sudden change from the singular thou and thee to the plural ye, as if Yahweh were addressing Israel, threatening, in case of disobedience, to destroy the Temple and make its ruins a warning of the punishment He inflicts on those who do not obey His laws. Thus the section about the Temple closes, and the rest of the chapter, devoted to the reign of Solomon, takes up the account in 1 Kings 9:5, and deals with his public work, his splendour, his sin, and the adversaries whom Yahweh raised up against him....

CHILDREN. sons....

But _if you shall at all turn from following me_ The insertion of -at all" here is an attempt to give some force to the Hebrew construction. It is a peculiarity of that language to use the infinitive of a verb followed by a finite tense to give emphasis to an expression. But undoubtedly -at all" weakens the sense here. God's warning is against _utter apostasy_, going and serving other gods. Hence there is more force in R.V. IF YE SHALL TURN AWAY FROM FOLLOWING ME. and _my statutes_ There is no conjunction between the two nouns here, but there is in the parallel place in 2 Chronicles and in the versions it is represented. So small a letter as ו could easily drop out. _which I have set before you_ The LXX. has -which Moses gave before you....

THAT THE LORD APPEARED TO SOLOMON— Lest this young prince's heart should be too much elated by this extraordinary grandeur, God was pleased to appear to himin a dream on the first night of the dedication, when he expressed his acceptance of that sumptuous edifice, and renewed his promises to him and his posterity, provided he and they served him with an upright heart. On the other hand, he assured him, that in case they provoked him by their idolatry and disobedience, that glorious building, which was now the wonder of the world, should infallibly become a desolation, a dwelling for owls and bats, and a proverb of reproach among all nations. See Univ. Hist. REFLECTIONS.—1. God declares his acceptance of Solomon's prayer, and promises to answer it. As he had manifested his presence in his temple, his eye and heart shall be always upon it, and his ear attentive to the prayers of all who co...