1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:1 The ark of the covenant of God was the great symbol of the Lord’s presence with his people and the place where the tablets of the law were kept (Exodus 25:10; Deuteronomy 10:1; Joshua 3:1). It had remained for some time in a tent sanctuary somewhere in the old city of Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:2 THE FEAST IN... THE SEVENTH MONTH is the Feast of Booths (see vv. 1 Kings 8:65; Leviticus 23:33), during which the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters as a reminder of the exodus. It was observed in September/October. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTa... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:3 THE PRIESTS TOOK UP THE ARK. The ark had remained in a tent sanctuary somewhere in the old city of David (2 Samuel 6:16; 2 Samuel 7:2; 1 Kings 3:15). Only priests could have taken it right into the inner sanctuary of the temple. Moving the ark, along with the TENT OF MEET... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:9 Though the ark had once contained the jar of manna and Aaron’s rod (Hebrews 9:4; see Exodus 16:32; Numbers 17:10), there was now NOTHING IN THE ARK EXCEPT THE TWO TABLETS OF STONE on which were written the Ten Commandments. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:10 A CLOUD was often associated with God’s appearing in the OT (e.g., Exodus 13:21; Exodus 16:10; Exodus 19:9). A cloud also covered the tabernacle upon its completion in Exodus 40:34. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:12 THICK DARKNESS. Compare Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 4:11. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:17 A HOUSE FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD. The word “name” is used in vv. 1 Kings 8:16 and in vv. 1 Kings 8:22 to avoid saying that God himself actually dwells in the temple (see also 1 Kings 3:2; 1 Kings 5:3, 1 Kings 5:5). God’s presence in the temple was real, for God’s “name”... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:22 The ark of the covenant has arrived in the temple (vv. 1 Kings 8:1), and Solomon has addressed the people about the meaning of the event (vv. 1 Kings 8:14). He now prays to the Lord, reflecting on how God “dwells” in the temple. Each of the seven sections of the prayer i... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:27 WILL GOD INDEED DWELL ON THE EARTH? The temple is a special place where God’s NAME is, a place toward which his EYES are OPEN (see Isaiah 66:1). Though God will dwell in the temple (1 Kings 8:10, 1 Kings 8:13; see note on 1 Sam. 4:3–4), it is not to be thought of as the... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:31 IF A MAN SINS AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOR. This is the first of seven specific petitions in Solomon’s prayer. It concerns a legal case that is impossible to resolve in any normal way because of difficulty with evidence or witnesses (see 1 Kings 3:16). A priestly ritual is invol... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:33 WHEN YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE DEFEATED. The second, third, and fourth petitions concern defeat in battle, followed by exile from the LAND (vv. 1 Kings 8:33), drought (vv. 1 Kings 8:35), and other difficulties. In each case the cause of the problem is sin. The people need t... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:46 CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE. The seventh petition returns to defeat and exile, the major concern of the prayer. In exile, if the people should REPENT and pray toward LAND, CITY, and temple (v. 1 Kings 8:48; see Daniel 6:10 for the practice), then God is asked to take them back... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:54 These verses tell of Solomon’s second address to the people (1 Kings 8:54), of the conclusion of the temple’s dedication (1 Kings 8:62), and of God’s second appearance to Solomon. The Lord responds to Solomon’s prayer with some solemn words about dynasty and temple, peop... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 8:65 FROM LEBO-HAMATH TO THE BROOK OF EGYPT. This phrase designates the whole Solomonic empire. It is similar to phrases in 1 Kings 4:21, 1 Kings 4:24. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]