_A.M. 3000. B.C. 1004._ The chief men of Israel called together, 1Ki 8:1, 1 Kings 8:2. The ark fixed in the most holy place, 1 Kings 8:3. God takes possession of it by a cloud, 1 Kings 8:10. Solomon tells the people the occasion of their meeting, 1 Kings 8:13. The prayer of dedication, 1 Kings 8:22... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon assembled the elders of Israel_ The senators, and judges, and rulers. _And all the heads of the tribes_ For each tribe had a peculiar head or governor. _The chief of the fathers_ The principal person of every great Family in each tribe. _Unto King Solomon, in Jerusalem_ Where the temple was... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the men of Israel assembled_ Not only the chief men, who were particularly invited, but a vast number of the common people, as being desirous to see and join in this great and glorious solemnity. _At the feast_ This feast of the dedication to which Solomon had invited them. _In the month Ethani... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priests took up the ark_ The ark had been carried by the priests three times before this; when they went over Jordan; when they encompassed the walls of Jericho; and when David sent it back by Zadok and Abiathar, at the time when he fled from Absalom. It was, however, the office of the Levites... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the tabernacle of the congregation_ That made by Moses, which doubtless before this time had been removed from Gibeon to Zion. _And all the holy vessels_ Namely, the altar of incense, the table of show- bread, the candlestick, and every thing belonging to them; all these were now carried into t... [ Continue Reading ]
_King Solomon, and all the congregation with him before the ark _ This ceremony of removing the ark from the tabernacle which David had erected for it, to the temple, and depositing it in the most holy place, was opened with a pompous procession. The king himself, accompanied by all his chief office... [ Continue Reading ]
_Under the wings of the cherubim_ Which Solomon had made. For the cherubim made by Moses were fixed to the mercy-seat and the ark, and were inseparable from it, and therefore, together with the ark, were placed under the wings of these cherubim. _And they drew out the staves_ Not wholly, which was e... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was nothing in the ark_, &c. Strictly and properly speaking. But in a looser sense, _the pot of manna_, and _Aaron's rod_ were also _in_ or _by it_, (Hebrews 9:4,) being placed by Moses, as God commanded, (Numbers 17:10,) _before_ the ark of _the testimony_, in the _most holy place._... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the priests were come out of the holy place_ That is, the most holy, where they had set down the ark. _The cloud_ The usual token of God's glorious presence, Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:15; Numbers 9:15; _filled the house of the Lord_ In testimony of his gracious acceptance of this work and their... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then spake Solomon_ Perceiving both priests and people to be struck with consternation and horror at this supernatural and sudden darkness, he uttered the words which follow, to compose their minds and comfort them. _The Lord said he would dwell in the thick darkness_ This dark cloud, therefore, is... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have surely built thee a house to dwell in_ He turns his speech from them to God, as entering into the house, and expresses his desire and hope that he would continue to manifest, by such visible tokens, that he was present in it, and would, as it were, make it the place of his special and stated... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king turned his face about_ From the court of the priests and the sanctuary, to the body of the congregation who were in the court designed for the people. _And blessed all the congregation_ Probably in that form of words which God himself had prescribed, Numbers 6:23. _All the congregation sto... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which spake with his mouth unto David_, &c. He acknowledges the grace and goodness of God in making the promise, and his truth and faithfulness in fulfilling it. _I chose no city_ Until David's time; for then he did choose Jerusalem. _That my name might be therein_ Not only, which should be called... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was in the heart of David my father_ In his desire and purpose, as this and the like phrase is often used. _Thou didst well that it was in thine heart_ Thy intention and affection were well pleasing to me, although I did not permit thee, for wise reasons, to put thy pious designs into execution.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have set there a place for the ark_ The token of God's presence with us; _wherein is the covenant of the Lord_ That is, the tables of the covenant, in which are written the conditions of God's covenant with our fathers. _When he brought them out of the land of Egypt_ And declared to them that by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord_ He had erected a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, five cubits broad, and three cubits high, (2 Chronicles 6:13,) and on this he stood, raised above the people, who were in the court and in the galleries round about, observing him, and disposed to hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord God of Israel, there is_ none _like thee_ He here acknowledges the transcendent excellences of Jehovah; and again particularly extols his faithfulness to those who serve him sincerely. _Who hast kept with thy servant David that thou promisedst_ That branch of thy promise concerning the buildin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore now keep_, &c. Make good the other branch of thy promise. He considered God's fulfilling the foregoing part of his promise, as an earnest that he would accomplish the other part also, made at the same time, concerning David's posterity, 2 Samuel 7:12. _So that thy children take heed to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_But will God indeed dwell on earth?_ Is it possible that the great and high and holy God, the infinite, the eternal, should stoop so low as to take up his dwelling among men? _Behold the heaven_, &c. All this vast space of the visible heaven; nay, the third and highest, therefore most extensive hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet have thou respect_, &c. Though thou art not comprehended within this place, yet show thyself to be graciously present here, by accepting and granting my present request here offered unto thee. _That thine eyes may be open toward this house_ To behold it with favourable regards, and have a graci... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they shall pray toward this place_ None but the priests might enter that place, but when the people worshipped in the courts of the temple, it was to be with an eye toward it, not with a superstitious regard or veneration, as though it were holy in itself, or in any respect the ground of their... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man_, &c. He now puts divers cases in which he supposed application would be made to God in prayer, in or toward this house of prayer; and first that of God's being appealed to by an oath for the determining of any controverted right between man and man. _If any man trespass against his neig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge_ Discover the truth, and judge between the contending parties. He prays that in difficult matters his throne of grace might be a throne of judgment, from which God would right the injured that believingly appealed to it; and punish the injurious that pres... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thy people be smitten_ This is the second case he puts. If the people of Israel were in general groaning under any national calamity, he desires that the prayers which they should make in or toward that house might be heard and answered. _Shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name_ Not onl... [ Continue Reading ]
_When heaven is shut up_ The lower or aerial heaven, in which the clouds are. This is compared to a great storehouse in God's keeping, out of which nothing can be obtained so long as it is close shut up. And as he is said to bring the wind, (Psalms 135:7,) so the rain, out of this treasury.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That thou teach them the good way_ The way of their duty, which is good in itself, and both delightful and profitable to those that walk in it. But this clause is better translated, 2 Chronicles 6:27, (where the Hebrew words are the same with these here,) _When thou hast taught them the good way wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_If there be in the land famine_ Which arose sometimes from other causes besides want of rain. _If their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities_ In _their gates_, whereby they should be so straitened, that none could go in or out. _Whatsoever plague_ The word נגע, _negang_, here rendered _pl... [ Continue Reading ]
_What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man_ Distressed through national calamities, or private and personal troubles. He now comes to speak of the case of individual Israelites. If any man of Israel has an errand to thee, here let him find thee, here let him find favour with thee. He do... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give to every man according to his ways_ According to his repentance or impenitency. As if he had said, I pray with the greater hope and confidence, because I do not desire that thou wouldst deliver such as are insensible of their sins and of thy judgments, but only those that are truly brought to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover, concerning a stranger_ The case of an alien, who is not an Israelite is next mentioned; a proselyte that might come to the temple to pray to the God of Israel, being convinced of the folly and wickedness of worshipping the gods of his country. He supposes there would be many such; that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for_ That is, so far as is agreeable to thy word and will. It is observable, that his prayer for the stranger is more large and comprehensive than for the Israelites; that thereby he might both show his public spirit, and encourage strangers to... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thy people go out to battle_ In a just cause, and by thy warrant and commission. This is the next case recommended by Solomon to the divine favour. _Whithersoever thou shalt send them_ In this is implied, that it was unlawful for them to undertake any war merely for their own pleasure or profit,... [ Continue Reading ]
_If they sin against thee_ The universal corruption of man's whole race and nature, makes me presage that they will fall into sins; and withal makes me hope that thou wilt not be severe to deal with them as their sins deserve. _For there is no man that sinneth not_ That doth not fall short of his du... [ Continue Reading ]
_If they shall bethink themselves_ Consider their ways, and reflect on their past conduct as the cause of their sufferings. Hebrew, _If they shall bring back their hearts_ from their idols and vanities; from going out after, and trusting in, any creature. _And repent_ Afflictions are calculated to b... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may have compassion on them_ Treat them mercifully while they continue their slaves, and give them liberty to return to their own land. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and, can, when he pleaseth, turn the strongest stream the contrary way, and cause those to pity his people, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thou didst separate them to be thine inheritance_ Thou hast begun a work of great and glorious mercy to them; do not give occasion to thine enemies to think thou wast unable to finish it; or that thou art inconstant in thy ways and purposes, or unkind to thy own children.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He stood and blessed all the congregation_, &c. He spoke what follows standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more pertinently spoken; never was a congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them, and to abid... [ Continue Reading ]
_That he may incline our hearts unto him_ That he may not only bless us with outward prosperity and glory; but especially with spiritual blessings; and that as he has given us his word to teach and direct us; so he would, by his Holy Spirit, effectually incline us to obey it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let these my words be nigh unto the Lord our God, day and night_ Let a gracious return be made to every prayer that shall be made there, and that will be a constant answer to this prayer. _That he maintain the cause if his servant and of his people_ Of me their king, and consequently of all my succ... [ Continue Reading ]
_That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord_ (Hebrew, _Jehovah_) _is God_ That both by our virtuous and holy lives, to which his grace inclines us; and by the eminent manifestations of his power and goodness in defending and delivering us from the assaults and devices of our enemies, al... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord your God_ Be sincere and serious in your purposes of new obedience. Let it be universal, without dividing; upright, without dissembling; and constant, without declining. Thus having spoken to God _for_ them, he here speaks from God _to_ them; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Solomon offered_ By the hands of the priests, _two and twenty thousand oxen_, &c. Not all in one day, but in seven, or, it may be, in the fourteen days mentioned 1 Kings 8:65. _So the king and all Israel dedicated the house of the Lord_ Began to set it apart for the work and services of God by... [ Continue Reading ]
_The same day_ Or rather, at the same time. For it can scarcely be supposed that it could all be done the same day. _Did the king hallow the middle of the court_ Namely, the court of the priests in which the great altar was. This he consecrated as he did the great altar, by sacrifices; but with this... [ Continue Reading ]
_At that time Solomon held a feast_ That is, kept a solemn festival. _And all Israel from Hamath unto the river of Egypt_ The usual and known bounds of the land, in the utmost length of it, Numbers 34:8; Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3. _Before the Lord_ Before the temple, as in God's presence. _Seven days... [ Continue Reading ]