1 Kings 8
DOYLY1 Kings 8:23
23.— Lord God of Israel, &c.] This prayer of Solomon on the dedication of the temple is one of the noblest and most sublime compositions in the Bible, exhibiting the most exalted conceptions of the omnipresence of the Deity, and of his superintending providence, and of the peculiar protection He afforded to the Israelite nation, from the time that they came out of Egypt; and imploring forgiveness for all their sins and transgressions in the land, and during their ensuing captivities, in the prophetic spirit of Moses. Dr. Hales.
1 Kings 8:24
- Who hast kept with thy servant David &c.] This relates to that part of God’s promises to David, which had respect to his son’s building for Him a house. The fulfilment of this Solomon looked upon as an earnest, ver. 5, that God would also fulfil the other great promises of kindness to his posterity, made to him at the same time, 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. Bp. Patrick.
1 Kings 8:27
- But will God indeed dwell &c.] As if he had said, Let it be far from us to imagine either that Thy infinite and unbounded presence should be confined to any one place, or that the mere outward grandeur and splendour of any temple should be enough to gain Thy favour towards worshippers, regardless of the true qualifications and real ends of religious worship. Yet, as Thou hast been pleased to appoint us here the place and manner of publickly serving Thee, grant us acceptance of all the devotions, duly directed toward the sacred ark of Thy residence, for imploring Thy mercies, and obtaining the pardon of our sins. Pyle.
— behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot Solomon’s prayer. Solomon’s prayer.
contain thee.] We have here a striking description of the immensity and omnipresence of God. We have frequent expressions in Scripture of God being “in heaven:” the meaning of which is, not that He who is in all places can be confined to any, or that any proper habitation can be ascribed to Him, whom, as Solomon declares, the “heaven of heavens cannot contain;” but they are intended to represent His amazing height and dignity, not in place, but in power. Thus, when we speak of God, the supreme invisible Father, as being “in heaven,” we must be understood to express, that He is exalted over all in sovereignty and dominion; that He is the high and holy One; great, glorious, and supreme above all. There is also another reason of the expression of God’s being “in heaven;” and that is, to signify that, though of His real actual presence there is no confinement, yet of His glory and majesty there is in the heavens a particular manifestation. There it is that His glory is declared, and there the righteous shall see His face, and be blessed with the peculiar manifestation of His power and majesty. In like manner, here upon earth; in those places where He has been pleased more particularly to manifest His glory, to place His name and to receive the homage of His servants, there God, in Scripture-phrase, is said to be. Thus, in the temple at Jerusalem, He, whom the “heaven of heavens cannot contain,” did at this time deign to dwell, having appointed there to receive His tribute of worship. Dr. S. Clarke.
1 Kings 8:31
- If any man trespass &c.] In any great debates of right, injury, or trespass, between man and man, when an appeal is made by oath before Thy sacred altar; do Thou, who alone knowest the heart, clear the inno-
cent, and punish the guilty, in ways most suitable to Thy all-wise providence. Pyle.
1 Kings 8:35
- When heaven is shut up, &c.] Whatever judgments Thou shalt most righteously inflict upon them, in degrees answerable to their transgressions, whether it be famine, war, or pestilence; let their true repentance never be too late to recover Thy lost favour: let not the penitent continue in sufferings for the sake of the obstinate; but remove Thy judgments for the honour of Thy Name, and for the continuance of Thy true religion amongst us. Pyle.
By these several instances we may learn that all things are under the dispensation of Divine Providence; that war, famine, pestilence, &c. are by God’s permission; that the only remedy for all evil is by prayer to God; and lastly, that He will hear the prayers of men, and will help them, when they truly repent of those sins for which judgments are sent into the world. Bp. Wilson.
1 Kings 8:36
- — that thou teach them the good way] These words are better translated at 2 Chron. vi. 27, (where the words are the very same in the Hebrew,) “When thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk.” He does not desire their pardon till their affliction had taught them better obedience. Bp. Patrick.
1 Kings 8:37
- If there be in the land famine, &c.] From the whole of the passage which follows in this admirable prayer of Solomon’s, we have the truth forcibly impressed upon us, that, in any case of publick judgment or calamity, the humiliation and repentance of a nation must begin with particular persons. The individuals which compose the nation must humble themselves before God, every one for his own personal sins and miscarriages, by which they have provoked God and
Solomon’s prayer. Solomon’s prayer. Before CHRIST 1004.
all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
1 Kings 8:41
- — concerning a stranger, &c.] Concerning “a stranger” that “cometh out of a far country” to be a proselyte to the true religion, and worship God alone, though he be not circumcised, and thereby bound to keep the whole law. Such strangers came to pray at the temple, though they might not offer any sacrifice except only a burnt offering; there was a court in the temple, called the court of the Gentiles, beyond that of the Israelites, which was designed entirely for the Gentile proselytes. Bp. Patrick.
1 Kings 8:43
- — that this house — is called by thy name.] That is, “that it is Thy house.” Locke.
1 Kings 8:44
- — whithersoever thou shalt send them.] It is here VOL. I. carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
1 Kings 8:48
- — and pray unto thee toward their land, &c.] The very looking towards this place, with earnest imploring of the mercy of God, and desire of His help, was to own Him that dwelt here, and to acknowledge Him alone for their God, which was a means of preserving them from idolatry. All other nations of the world turned their faces towards the east when they worshipped; but the Jews (when they were in captivity) to the west, where the holy temple was. And for this cause, when the temple and the holy city were destroyed, and the ark of the testimony gone, yet good men looked and prayed
1 Kings 8:54
- — when Solomon had made an end of praying] From this prayer of Solomon we learn, that all events proceed from God; that war, pestilence, famine, and other judgments, are inflicted by His hand, when men provoke Him by their sins; that to have recourse to God by prayer, confession of sins, and true repentance, is the way to remedy these evils; and that He is always ready to hear and to deliver those who call upon Him in their necessities, and with all their hearts turn unto Him. We here see, lastly, with what fervency and joy Solomon gave thanks to God, and implored His blessing in behalf of all the people. Let us join with him in both these duties; praising God for all His blessings, and especially for spiritual mercies; above all, with fervent devotion, beseeching Him to turn our hearts towards Him that we may keep His commandments faithfully and with perseverance. Ostervald.
1 Kings 8:63
- — two and twenty thousand oxen, &c.] We must not suppose that all these were offered in one day, much less on one altar. The continuance of this solemn meeting was for fourteen days; seven in the feast of tabernacles, and seven in the feast of dedication, ver. 65: and “because the brasen altar that was before the Lord was
1 Kings 8:64
- — did the king hallow the middle of the court] It does not mean that he consecrated it, for this had been done before; but he treated it as a sacred place, and shewed his reverence for it by religious acts there performed. Jos. Mede.
1 Kings 8:65
- — from the entering in of Hamath &c.] From the northern to the southern extremity of the land of Israel. For Hamath see note on 2 Sam. viii. 9; and for the river of Egypt, see the note on Gen. xv. 18.
1 Kings 8:66
- On the eighth day he sent the people away:] It is added at 2 Chron. vii. 10, that this was the 23d day of the seventh month. It would thus appear, that the fourteen days of the feast were not all kept together; for the great day of expiation was on the tenth of this month. It is probable, therefore, that before this day the seven days of the dedication were kept; and that