CONTENTS This is a most beautiful chapter. It contains the dedication of the temple. Solomon's blessing of it: his prayer: his sacrifice of peace offering: his dismission of the people with joyful hearts. 1 Kings 8:1 (1) В¶ Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tri... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. What a delightful convention of Israel this must have been. Oh! how glorious a sight is it, to see the house of God completely filled!... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. (4) And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. (5) And king Solomon, and all the co... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. It is worthy our closest observation, how particular the Holy Ghost is, in more places than one, in poin... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, (11) So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. It is beautiful to observe, that when the p... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) В¶ Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. (13) I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in forever. Solomon, having made all suitable arrangement, and convened all Israel to the dedication of the temple, now opens the... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;) Was not Solomon, in this instance of blessing the congregation, a type of Jesus? Who can behold the king thus engaged, and forget what is said of our King, who in the mom... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, (16) Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name mi... [ Continue Reading ]
(22) В¶ And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: What a lovely view doth Solomon afford in this attitude! To see, not only priests, but monarchs thus engaged! Never, in any day of Solomon's life, did... [ Continue Reading ]
(23) And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: (24) Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy... [ Continue Reading ]
(31) If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: (32) Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous,... [ Continue Reading ]
(54) В¶ And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. How sweet the conclusion to so sweet a prayer. Every part of which was evide... [ Continue Reading ]
(55) And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, (56) Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servan... [ Continue Reading ]
(62) В¶ And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. (63) And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the... [ Continue Reading ]
(65) And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. Observe, how sanctified blessings produced joy. Not the frothy, frivolous, unhol... [ Continue Reading ]
(66) On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people. See, Reader! after all the great events of this chapter, the separation and depa... [ Continue Reading ]