1 Kings 8

1. Then Solomon assembled the elders. The services at the dedication of the Temple consisted of three parts—the solemn transference of the ark of the covenant from the city of David to the Temple (1-21), Solomon’s dedication prayer (22-61), and the sacrifice of peace offerings (62-66).

2 the feast in the month Ethanim (otherwise Tisri). This was the Feast of Tabernacles. The building had now been finished nearly a year, and its furniture and utensils were probably prepared in the meantime.

4 the tabernacle of the congregation. The Tent of meeting constructed by Moses, was brought from Gibeon and deposited in some part of the Temple. The poles and curtains were perhaps laid up in the treasury.

8 they were not seen without. The ends of the staves were visible within the holy place, but not outside of it.

unto this day. The time when the narrative was originally written, before the destruction of the Temple by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar.

9. There was nothing in the ark. In Heb. ix. 4 several things are spoken of as being in the ark which are not mentioned here; but that passage seems to refer to the tabernacle as it existed in the time of Moses. Now that the ark had been brought to its permanent resting-place, “the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded,” are removed from the interior of the ark, and placed beside it.

10 the cloud. This was the symbol of the presence of the Eternal, testifying that He had accepted the Temple as His own house. The Temple, with which so many hallowed associations were connected in the mind of the Jew, is used in the New Testament as variously representing Christ (John ii. 19-21), the individual believer (1 Cor. iii. 16; vi. 19), and the universal Church (Eph. ii. 19-22).

12. Then spake Solomon. Having taken his place on a raised platform, where he could be seen and heard by the assembly: see 2 Chron. vi. 13.

13 for Thee to abide in for ever. This alludes to the fixed and more permanent structure of the Temple, compared with the materials of the tabernacle, and its frequent change of place: see 2 Sam. vii. 6, “I have not dwelt, but have walked,” etc.

22. Solomon stood before the altar. It appears from ver. 54 and 2 Chron. vi. 13 that Solomon kneeled down when he began to offer prayer.

31 the oath come before Thine altar. “And he [i.e., the accused] come (and) swear,” etc.

33. When Thy people Israel, etc. The various cases are taken almost verbally from Lev. xxvi. and Deut. xxviii.

38 plague of his own heart. In 2 Chron. vi. 29, the Hebrew word here rendered “plague” is translated “sore”; it is called “his own sore,” with the addition, “and his own grief.”

41 a stranger. The Temple was to be “a house of prayer for all people,” which shows that the old covenant did not confine the privileges of religion to one particular nation, to the exclusion of all others.

47. We have sinned, etc. This form of confession of sin was afterwards adopted by the Jews: see Psa. cvi. 6; Dan. ix. 5.

48. See Dan. vi. 10. The direction of the face in prayer towards the Temple was intended to denote faith in the presence of God there.

51 the furnace of iron. See Deut. iv. 20.

63 offered a sacrifice. Probably not all at one time, but during the festival. The “peace offerings” furnished forth a feast for the immense concourse of people gathered to the dedication.

65 a feast. Rather, “the feast” (R.V.), i.e., the Feast of Tabernacles.

from the entering in of Hamath. That is, from one extremity of the land to the other.