CHAPTER VIII _Solomon assembles the elders of Israel, and brings up the ark,_ _and the holy vessels, and the tabernacle, out of the city of_ _David, and places them in the temple; on which account a vast_ _number of sheep and oxen are sacrificed_, 1-8. _There was nothing in the ark save the two... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:2. _AT THE FEAST IN THE MONTH ETHANIM_] The feast of tabernacles, which was celebrated in the _seventh_ month of what is called the _ecclesiastical gear_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:4. _THEY BROUGHT UP - THE TABERNACLE_] It is generally agreed that there were now _two_ tabernacles at Gibeon, and the other in the city of David, which one David had constructed as a temporary residence for the ark, in the event of a temple being built. Which of these tabernacles wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:8. _AND THERE THEY ARE UNTO THIS DAY._] This proves that the book was written before the destruction of the first temple, but how long before we cannot tell.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:9. _SAVE THE TWO TABLES OF STONE_] Hebrews 9:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:10. _WHEN THE PRIESTS WERE COME OUT_] That is, after having carried the ark into the holy of holies, before any sacred service had yet commenced.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:11. _THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAD FILLED THE HOUSE_] The cloud, the symbol of the Divine glory and presence, appears to have filled not only the holy of holies, but the whole temple, court and all, and to have become evident to the people; and by this Solomon knew that God had honoured... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:12. _THE LORD SAID - HE WOULD DWELL_] It was under the appearance of a cloud that God showed himself present with Israel in the wilderness; see Exodus 14:19-2. And at the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God manifested himself in the same way that he did here at the de... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:13. _I HAVE SURELY BUILT THEE A HOUSE_] He was now fully convinced that the thing pleased God, and that he had taken this place for his settled habitation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:14. _BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATION_] Though this blessing is not particularly stated, yet we may suppose that it was such as the high priest pronounced upon the people: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee! The Lord li... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:16. _SINCE THE DAY, C._] Mention is here made, says Dr. Kennicott, of some _one place_ and some one person preferred before all others and the preference is that of _Jerusalem_ to other _places_, and of _David_ to other _men_. In consequence of this remark, we shall see the necessity... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:21. _WHEREIN_ IS _THE COVENANT OF THE LORD_] As it is said, 1 Kings 8:9, that _there was nothing in the ark but the two tables of stone_, consequently these are called _the Covenant_, i.e., a _sign_ of the covenant; as our Lord calls the _cup_ the _new covenant in his blood_, that is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:22. _STOOD_] He ascended the _brazen scaffold_, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and then _kneeled down upon his knees_, with his hands spread up to heaven, and offered up the following prayer: see 1 Kings 8:54, and 2 Chronicles 5:12. _AND SPREAD FORT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:24. _WHO HAS KEPT WITH THY SERVANT DAVID_] This is in reference to 2 Samuel 7:13, where God promises to David that Solomon shall build a house for the name of the Lord. The temple being now completed, this promise was literally fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:27. _BUT WILL GOD INDEED DWELL ON THE EARTH?_] This expression is full of astonishment, veneration, and delight. He is struck with the immensity, dignity, and grandeur of the Divine Being, but especially at his _condescension_ to dwell with men: and though he sees, by his filling the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _MY NAME SHALL BE THERE_] I will there show forth my power and my glory by enlightening, quickening, pardoning, sanctifying, and saving all my sincere worshippers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _TOWARD THIS PLACE_] Both tabernacle and temple were types of our Lord Jesus, or of _God manifested in the flesh_; and he was and is the Mediator between God and man. All prayer, to be acceptable, and to be entitled to a hearing, must go to God _through Him_. The _human nature_ of Christ i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _IF ANY MAN TRESPASS AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR_] Solomon puts here _seven cases_, in all of which the mercy and intervention of God would be indispensably requisite; and he earnestly bespeaks that mercy and intervention on condition that the people pray towards that holy place, and with a feel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _WHEN THY PEOPLE ISRAEL BE SMITTEN DOWN, C._] The SECOND case. When their enemies make inroads upon them, and defeat them in battle, and lead them into captivity, because God, being displeased with their transgressions, has delivered them up then if they shall turn again, confess the name... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _WHEN THE HEAVEN IS SHUT UP, AND THERE IS NO RAIN_] The THIRD case. When, because of their sin, and their ceasing to _walk_ _in the good way_ in which they should have walked, God refuses to send the _early_ and _latter rain_, so that the appointed weeks of harvest come in vain, as there i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:37. _IF THERE BE IN THE LAND FAMINE - PESTILENCE_] The FOURTH case includes several kinds of evils: 1. _Famine_; a scarcity or total want of bread, necessarily springing from the preceding cause, _drought_. 2. _Pestilence_; any general and contagious disease. 3. _Blasting_; any th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _MOREOVER, CONCERNING A STRANGER_] The FIFTH case relates to heathens coming from other countries with the design to become proselytes to the true religion; that they might be received, blessed, and protected as the true Israelites, that the name of Jehovah might be known over the face of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 44. _IF THY PEOPLE GO OUT TO BATTLE_] The SIXTH case refers to wars undertaken by Divine appointment: _whithersoever thou shalt_ _send them_; for in no other wars could they expect the blessing and concurrence of the Lord; in none other could the God of truth and justice _maintain their cause_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:46. _IF THEY SIN AGAINST THEE_] This SEVENTH case must refer to some general defection from truth, to some species of false worship, idolatry, or corruption of the truth and ordinances of the Most High; as for it they are here stated to be _delivered into_ _the hands of their enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 50. _AND GIVE THEM COMPASSION BEFORE THEM WHO CARRIED THEM_ _CAPTIVE_] He does not pray that they may be delivered out of that captivity, but that their enemies may use them well; and that they may, as formerly, be kept a separate and distinct people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 55. _HE STOOD, AND BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATION_] This blessing is contained in 1 Kings 8:57-11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 59. _AND LET THESE MY WORDS_] This and the following verse is a sort of supplement to the prayer which ended 1 Kings 8:53; but there is an important addition to this prayer in the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 6:41-14: "Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou and the ark o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 61. _LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE PERFECT_] Be sincere in your faith, be irreproachable in your conduct.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 63. _TWO AND TWENTY THOUSAND OXEN_] This was the whole amount of the victims that had been offered during the _fourteen_ _days_; i.e., the _seven_ days of the _dedication_, and the _seven_ days of the _feast of tabernacles_. In what way could they dispose of the _blood_ of so many victims?... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 65. _FROM - HAMATH_] Supposed to be _Antioch_ of Syria; _unto the_ _river of Egypt _- to the _Rhinocorura_; the former being on the _north_, the latter on the _south_: i.e., from one extremity of the land to the other.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 8:66. _THEY BLESSED THE KING_] Wished him all spiritual and temporal happiness. They were contented with their king, at peace among themselves, and happy in their God; so that they returned to their houses magnifying their God for all his bounty to them, their country, and their king.... [ Continue Reading ]