1 Kings 9:8

_AND AT THIS HOUSE, WHICH IS HIGH, EVERY ONE THAT PASSETH BY IT SHALL BE ASTONISHED, AND SHALL HISS; AND THEY SHALL SAY, WHY HATH THE LORD DONE THUS UNTO THIS LAND, AND TO THIS HOUSE?_ This house, which is high - "high," either in point of situation-for it was built on a hill, and, therefore conspicuous to every beholder; or "high" in respect to privilege, honour, and renown; or this house 'of the Most High,' notwithstanding all its beauty and magnificence, shall be destroyed, and remain in such a state of ruin and degradation as to be a striking monument of the just judgment of God. The record of this second vision, in which were rehearsed the conditions of God's covenant with Solomon and the consequences of breaking them, is inserted here as a proper introduction, to the narrative about to be given of this king's commercial enterprises and ambitious desire for worldly glory. For this...

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....

The Hebrew text runs - “And this house shall be high: every one,” etc. The meaning appears to be, “This house shall be high” (i. e., conspicuous) “in its ruin as in its glory.” AND SHALL HISS - In contempt. This expression first appears in the time of Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 29:8; Micah 6:16. It is especially familiar to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8, etc.)....

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],

AND AT THIS HOUSE WHICH IS HIGH,.... The house of the most High, as some render it, and in high esteem, fame, and glory, as well as it was built on an high hill, and was itself one hundred and twenty cubits high, 2 Chronicles 3:4, the Targum is, "and this house which was high shall be destroyed:'' EVERYONE THAT PASSETH BY IT SHALL BE ASTONISHED; at the ruins of the temple, and of the city of Jerusalem, which had been so magnificent: AND SHALL HISS; in scorn and derision of the people of Israel, rejoicing in their ruin: AND THEY SHALL SAY, WHY HATH THE LORD DONE THUS UNTO THIS LAND, AND TO THIS HOUSE? or suffered it to be done, to lie thus in waste and ruins; a land in which it had been said he delighted, and looked unto from one end of the year to the other, and a house he had taken up his dwelling in; surely some

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....

AND AT THIS HOUSE, &C. Render thus: "And this house will become conspicuous; every passer by will be astonished, and hiss; and they will say", &c....

_And_at _this house_which _is high_ The connexion of these words is very difficult. The Hebrew text, standing alone, must be rendered -And this house shall be high." But in 2 Chron. the relative is expressed, and there can be little doubt that the text here is somehow faulty. The passage in 2 Chron. (1 Kings 7:21) reads -And this house which is high shall be an astonishment." To come as near to this sense as possible, while introducing no relative, R.V. gives - AND THOUGH THIS HOUSE BE HIGH." Yet that rendering is somewhat doubtful. The text of the LXX. shows that they had our Hebrew before them: καὶ ὁ οἶκος οὖτος ἔσται ὁ ὑψηλός, πᾶς ὁ διαπορευόμενος κ.τ.λ....

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...