There seems to be a contrast here between the more popular proceedings of David 2 Samuel 6:1, and the statelier system of his son, who merely summons the chief men as representatives of the nation. The rest of the people “assembled themselves” 1 Kings 8:2, and were mere spectators of the solemnity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAST IN THE MONTH ETHANIM - i. e. the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Ingathering, the commemoration of the dwelling in booths at the time of the Exodus (margin reference), and the festival of thanksgiving on account of the completion of harvest Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:39; Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]
In 2 Chronicles 5:4, ““the Levites” took up the ark;” and by the Law the ark was the special charge of the Kohathites Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15. But all priests were Levites Joshua 3:3, though all Levites were not priests. And as Joshua had done Joshua 3:6; Joshua 6:6, so Solomon called upon the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION - Not the tented structure erected for the ark on Mount Zion 2 Samuel 6:17 by David, but the original tabernacle made by Moses, which had hitherto remained at Gibeon (margin reference). The tabernacle and its holy vessels were probably placed in the treasury.... [ Continue Reading ]
It was forbidden to withdraw the staves wholly from the rings (margin reference); but they appear to have been now drawn forward in such a way that their ends or heads could be seen from the holy place, or great chamber of the temple, though without their being visible from the porch or vestibule. E... [ Continue Reading ]
Comparing this statement with Hebrews 9:4, it would seem that Solomon, now that the sacred chest had reached its final resting-place, and stood in a large chamber surrounded by tables 2 Chronicles 4:8, removed the pot of manna and the rod from the interior, and set them elsewhere in the holy of holi... [ Continue Reading ]
The cloud - the visible symbol of the divine presence - the Shechinah of the Targums - which halt been promised before the ark was begun Exodus 29:43, and had filled the tabernacle as soon as it was completed Exodus 40:34, and which had probably been seen from time to time during the long interval w... [ Continue Reading ]
As in the case of Moses Exodus 40:35, so now the glory of the Lord, the manifestation of the divine presence, which the cloud usually veiled, shone forth from it with such brilliancy, that mortal man could not bear the sight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather, “The Lord spake of dwelling in the thick darkness” (margin reference). Solomon sees in the cloud the visible symbol of God’s presence, and accepts the token as a proof that He has taken possession of the house built for Him, and will thenceforth dwell there 1 Kings 8:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon had spoken the preceding words, addressed to God, with his face directed to the holy of holies. He now turned around and looked outward toward the people. The people “stood” to hear him the attitude of respect and attention. This first blessing seems to have been without speech - an inward p... [ Continue Reading ]
The exact words of 2 Samuel 7 are not reproduced; only their general sense is given. In 1 Kings 8:18, what was merely tacitly implied was regarded as actually “said.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The marginal reference completes the sense of this verse here. The passage is in accordance with archaic modes of speech, and is probably the more verbally accurate of the two.... [ Continue Reading ]
The margin reference shows that the king was so placed as to be seen by all present, and that, before beginning his prayer, he knelt down upon his knees (compare 1 Kings 8:54).... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare Deuteronomy 7:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon’s prayer is, perhaps, generally for the fulfillment of all the promises made to David in connection with the building of the temple. But there seems to be special allusion in this verse to the promise recorded in Psalms 132:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAVEN OF HEAVENS - Compare Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalms 148:4. It seems to mean the heaven in its most extended compass. Solomon combines with his belief in Yahweh’s special presence in the temple, the strongest conviction that He is no local or finite deity, but is ever present everywhere. Compare Ps... [ Continue Reading ]
The choice of Jerusalem as the place seems to have been made by special revelation to David. See Psalms 78:68; Psalms 132:13; and compare 1 Chronicles 22:1. TOWARD THIS PLACE - Better (here and in 1 Kings 8:30) than the marginal “in.” Wherever they were, the Jews always worshipped toward the temple... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE - literally, “both hear and forgive” - i. e., “hear the prayer, and forgive the sin” which alone causes God to chasten men or to withhold from them His choicest blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OATH COME BEFORE ... - “The oath” is equivalent to “the man who swears the oath.” A slight alteration in the present Hebrew text gives the sense “and he (the accused) go and swear before thine altar,” etc. The threats and the promises, the punishments and calamities of 1 Kings 8:31 were distinct... [ Continue Reading ]
TEACH THEM ... - Rather, “when thou art teaching them (by thy chastisement) the good way that they should walk in,” i. e. when thou art still teaching, not taking vengeance.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAND OF THEIR CITIES - literally, “in the land of their gates.” Hence, the marginal translation “jurisdiction,” because judgments were pronounced in the town gates Deuteronomy 16:18. Another reading gives “in one of their cities.”... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW EVERY MAN THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART - i. e. perceive one’s sinfulness, or recognize one’s sufferings as divine chastisements, and sin as their cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nothing is more remarkable in the Mosaic Law than its liberality with regard to strangers, both in general Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 10:19 and in religious matters Numbers 15:14; Deuteronomy 31:12. It is quite in the spirit of these enactments that Solomon, having first prayed to Go... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT NAME - A somewhat rare expression. It does not occur at all in the Pentateuch; though “mighty hand” and the “stretched out arm” are so frequent Exodus 6:6; Exodus 13:9; Deuteronomy 9:29 : only once in Joshua Joshua 7:9; and twice in the Psalms Psalms 76:1; Psalms 99:3. About the time of the ca... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THY NAME, TO FEAR THEE - Solomon prays that the result of Yahweh’s hearing the prayers of pagans addressed toward the temple may be the general conversion of the world to the worship of Him. Compare Psalms 96:1; Psalms 98:1. THIS HOUSE ... - literally, as in th... [ Continue Reading ]
BETHINK THEMSELVES - literally, as in the margin - i. e. “reflect,” “consider seriously.” Compare Deuteronomy 30:1. SINNED, DONE PERVERSELY, COMMITTED WICKEDNESS - The words here used seem to have become the standard form of expressing contrition when the time of the captivity arrived and the Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
COMPASSION ... - Not merely such compassion as Evil-Merodach showed toward Jehoiachin 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31, but such as Cyrus and Artaxerxes showed in allowing the captive Jews to return to their own land Ezra 1:3; Nehemiah 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FURNACE OF IRON - Egypt is so called as a place of severe trial and affliction.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the prayer of Solomon be, as it has all the appearance of being, a genuine document of the time, preserved in the archives to which the authors of both Kings and Chronicles had access, all theories of the late origin of Deuteronomy must be regarded as baseless. While references are not infrequent... [ Continue Reading ]
INCLINE OUR HEARTS - This is a doctrine which first appears in Scripture in the Davidical Psalms (see the margin reference and Psalms 141:4). Solomon in this prayer seems to be thoroughly penetrated with his father’s spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS AT THIS DAY - i. e. “as ye are now doing, in coming with pious intentions to this festival.”... [ Continue Reading ]
These numbers have been thought incredible, but they are not impossible. At least 100, 000, or 120, 000 men 1 Kings 8:65 were assembled; and as they all offered sacrifice with the king 1 Kings 8:62, the number of victims must have been enormous. Part of the flesh of so many victims would be eaten; b... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
A feast necessarily accompanied such a sacrifice as Solomon was holding. Compare Leviticus 19:5. On the present occasion there was a double festival - first, the Feast of the Dedication, from the 8th to the 15th of the month Ethanim (or Tisri), and then the Feast of tabernacles, from the 15th to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR TENTS - i. e. “their homes.” The word “tents” was used for “houses” from an old habit of speech, which had come down from the time when the Israelites were a nomadic nation.... [ Continue Reading ]