I Kings 8
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Then Solomon assembled - It has already been observed that Solomon deferred the dedication of the temple to the following year after it was finished, because that year, according to Archbishop Usher, was a jubilee. "This," he observes, "was the ninth jubilee, opening the fourth millenary of the world, or A.M. 3001, wherein Solomon with great magnificence celebrated the dedication of the temple seven days, and the feast of tabernacles other seven days; and the celebration of the eighth day of tabernacles being finished, upon the twenty-third day of the seventh month the people were dismissed every man to his home. The eighth day of the seventh month, viz., the thirtieth of our October, being Friday, was the first of the seven days of dedication; on the tenth day, Saturday, November 1, was the fast of expiation or atonement held; whereon, according to the Levitical law, the jubilee was proclaimed by sound of trumpet. The fifteenth day, Friday, November 6, was the feast of tabernacles; the twenty-second, November 13, being also Friday, was the feast of tabernacles, which was always very solemnly kept, Ch2 7:9; Lev 23:36; Joh 7:37; and the day following, November 14, being our Saturday, when the Sabbath was ended, the people returned home. "In the thirteenth year after the temple was built, Solomon made an end also of building his own house, having spent full twenty years upon both of them; seven and a half upon the temple, and thirteen or twelve and a half upon his own." - Usher's Annals, sub. A.M. 3001.
Open source ↗THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE. (Kg1 8:1-12) at the feast in the month Ethanim--The public and formal inauguration of this national place of worship did not take place till eleven months after the completion of the edifice. The delay, most probably, originated in Solomon's wish to choose the most fitting opportunity when there should be a general rendezvous of the people in Jerusalem (Kg1 8:2); and that was not till the next year. That was a jubilee year, and he resolved on commencing the solemn ceremonial a few days before the feast of tabernacles, which was the most appropriate of all seasons. That annual festival had been instituted in commemoration of the Israelites dwelling in booths during their stay in the wilderness, as well as of the tabernacle, which was then erected, in which God promised to meet and dwell with His people, sanctifying it with His glory. As the tabernacle was to be superseded by the temple, there was admirable propriety in choosing the feast of tabernacles as the period for dedicating the new place of worship, and praying that the same distinguished privileges might be continued to it in the manifestation of the divine presence and glory. At the time appointed for the inauguration, the king issued orders for all the heads and representatives of the nation to repair to Jerusalem and take part in the august procession [Kg1 8:1]. The lead was taken by the king and elders of the people, whose march must have been slow, as priests were stationed to offer an immense number of sacrifices at various points in the line of road through which the procession was to go. Then came the priests bearing the ark and the tabernacle--the old Mosaic tabernacle which was brought from Gibeon. Lastly, the Levites followed, carrying the vessels and ornaments belonging t…
Open source ↗Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel,.... The judges in the several cities, or senators of the great sanhedrim, as others; though it is a question whether as yet there was such a court: and all the heads of the tribes; the princes of the twelve tribes: the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel; the principal men of the ancient families in every tribe: unto King Solomon in Jerusalem; these he summoned together to himself there where the temple was built: that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion; whither David brought it, when he had taken that fort, so called, and dwelt in it; and from this mountain Solomon proposed to bring it up to the temple, on a higher mountain, Moriah, not far from one another.
Open source ↗This solemn transaction consisted of three parts, and the chapter arranges itself in three sections accordingly: viz., (a) the conveyance of the ark and the tabernacle, together with its vessels, into the temple, with the words spoken by Solomon on the occasion (vv. 1-21); (b) Solomon's dedicatory prayer (vv. 22-53); (c) the blessing of the congregation, and the offering of sacrifice and observance of a feast (Kg1 8:54-66). - The parallel account to this in 2 Chron 5:2-7:10, in addition to certain minor alterations of words and constructions, introduced for the most part merely for the sake of elucidation, contains here and there, and more especially towards the end, a few deviations of greater extent, partly omissions and partly additions. But in other respects it agrees almost word for word with our account. With regard to the time of the dedication, it is merely stated in Kg1 8:2 that the heads of the nation assembled at Jerusalem to this feast in the seventh month. The year in which this took place is not given. But as the building of the temple was finished, according to Kg1 6:38, in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, the dedication which followed in the seventh month cannot have taken place in the same year as the completion of the building. Ewald's opinion, that Solomon dedicated the building a month before it was finished, is not only extremely improbable in itself, but is directly at variance with Kg1 7:51. If we add to this, that according to Kg1 9:1-10 it was not till after the lapse of twenty years, during which he had built the two houses, the temple, and his palace, that the Lord appeared to Solomon at the dedication of the temple and promised to answer his prayer, we must decide in favour of the view held by Thenius, that the dedica…
Open source ↗The temple, though richly beautified, yet while it was without the ark was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or (to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. All the cost and pains bestowed on this stately structure are lost if God do not accept them; and, unless he please to own it as the place where he will record his name, it is after all but a ruinous heap. When therefore all the work is ended (Kg1 7:51), the one thing needful is yet behind, and that is the bringing in of the ark. This therefore is the end which must crown the work, and which here we have an account of the doing of with great solemnity. I. Solomon presides in this service, as David did in the bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem; and neither of them thought it below him to follow the ark nor to lead the people in their attendance on it. Solomon glories in the title of the preacher (Ecc 1:1), and the master of assemblies, Ecc 12:11. This great assembly he summons (Kg1 8:1), and he is the centre of it, for to him they all assembled (Kg1 8:2) at the feast in the seventh month, namely, the feast of tabernacles, which was appointed on the fifteenth day of that month, Lev 23:34. David, like a very good man, brings the ark to a convenient place, near him; Solomon, like a very great man, brings it to a magnificent place. As every man has received the gift, so let him minister; and let children proceed in God's service where their parents left off. II. All Israel attend the service, their judges and the chief of their tribes and families, all their officers, civil and military, and (as they speak in the north) the heads of their clans. A convention of these might well be called an assembly of all Israel. These came together, on this occasion, 1. To do honour to Solomon,…
Open source ↗8:1-66 Solomon’s building activities climaxed with the Ark’s move to the newly erected Temple. The king offered both prayer (8:22-53) and words of praise and blessing (8:56-61) to dedicate the Temple for the Lord’s service. After the dedication, the assembled gathering enjoyed the great Festival of Shelters. The focus of the account is on Solomon praising God and blessing the people (8:12-61). 8:1 The Ark was being kept in a tent in the City of David (2 Sam 6:3-17; 1 Chr 13:7-14; 15:1–16:43). Solomon had gone there earlier to sacrifice after the Lord appeared to him in a dream in Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:4-15).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke זָקֵן (zâqên, H2205) — old יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… נָשִׂיא (nâsîyʼ, H5387) — properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Open source ↗אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor חַג (chag, H2282) — a festival, or a victim therefor יֶרַח (yerach, H3391) — a lunation, i.e. month אֵיתָנִים (ʼÊythânîym, H388) — Ethanim, the name of a month שְׁבִיעִי (shᵉbîyʻîy, H7637) — seventh חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month
Open source ↗זָקֵן (zâqên, H2205) — old יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box
Open source ↗עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָעַד (yâʻad, H3259) — to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box זָבַח (zâbach, H2076) — to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) — properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe,… מָנָה (mânâh, H4487) — properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to… רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect)
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… דְּבִיר (dᵉbîyr, H1687) — the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… כְּרוּב (kᵉrûwb, H3742) — a cherub or imaginary figure
Open source ↗כְּרוּב (kᵉrûwb, H3742) — a cherub or imaginary figure פָּרַשׂ (pâras, H6566) — to break apart, disperse, etc. כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box סָכַךְ (çâkak, H5526) — properly, to entwine as ascreen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively)… בַּד (bad, H905) — properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar… מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from…
Open source ↗אָרַךְ (ʼârak, H748) — to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively) בַּד (bad, H905) — properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… דְּבִיר (dᵉbîyr, H1687) — the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box רַק (raq, H7535) — properly, leanness, i.e. (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold לוּחַ (lûwach, H3871) — probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay חֹרֵב (Chôrêb, H2722) — Choreb, a (generic) name for the Sinaitic mountains יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity עָנָן (ʻânân, H6051) — a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) שָׁרַת (shârath, H8334) — to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… עָנָן (ʻânân, H6051) — a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) עֲרָפֶל (ʻărâphel, H6205) — gloom (as of a lowering sky)
Open source ↗בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) זְבוּל (zᵉbûwl, H2073) — a residence מָכוֹן (mâkôwn, H4349) — properly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a place, especially as an abode יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.
So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”