3Solomon blesseth the people, and praiseth God for the performance of his promise to David concerning the building of the house. 12His prayer upon the brasen scaffold at the consecration of the temple: 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 34, 36the special petitions contained in it. 40The concluding general invocation of God's presence and favour.
1THEN said Solomon, 1The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
1 See the exposition of this and the following verses 1 Kings 8 on verse 12, etc.
2But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling 2for ever.
2 That is, as long as the law would continue. See Gen. 13 on verse 15. Hebr. for thy dwelling in eternities.
3Anda the king 3turned his face, and 4blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel 5stood.
a 1 Kings 8:14, 15.
3 Namely, toward the people.
4 Other, praised God with all the congregation.
5 Namely, in the great court to hear the king’s speech and prayer. See verse 13 and the annotation.
4And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands 6fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,
6 That is, has actually performed as He has spoken and promised. Also verse 15.
5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I 7chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, 8that my name might be there; 9neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
7 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 16.
8 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 16.
9 Indeed the Lord did in time past provide princes, judges and Levites for His people, but not like David, in whose posterity the sovereignty of government was to continue till the coming of the Messiah, of Whose everlasting Kingdom he was a type.
6But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7Now itb10was in the heart of David my father to build an house for 11the name of the LORD God of Israel.
b 2 Sam. 7:2; 1 Kings 8:17; 1 Chron. 17:1; 28:2.
10 That is, he found it good, and had purposed. Also in the sequel; likewise 1 Sam. 14:7; 2 Sam. 7:3; 1 Chron. 17:2. Hebr. it was also with the heart, etc.
11 That is, for the LORD Himself; also in the sequel. See 1 Kings 5 on verse 3.
8But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
9Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth 12out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
12 That is, shall be born out of your flesh and blood. See Gen. 35 on verse 11.
10The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
11And in it have I put the ark, wherein is 13the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.
13 Understand the two tables of stone, wherein the Ten Commandments are written, as being the laws of the covenant, which God had made with the Israelites. See 1 Kings 8 on verse 21.
12¶And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
13For Solomon had made a 14brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst 15of the court: and upon it he stood, and 16kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and 17spread forth his hands toward heaven,
14 Understand such a scaffold, as is here described in this verse by the matter of it, the greatness of it, and the place where it stood, appointed for this end and purpose, in order that the king would pray from that place and speak unto the people. See hereof also 2 Kings 11 on verse 14.
15 That is, of the people’s court, called otherwise the great court, 1 Kings 7:9, 12. See also 2 Chron. 4 on verse 9.
16 This ceremony was used in prayer, as a sign of the humility of the heart wherein men are convinced that we are not able to exist before the Majesty of God, Psalm 130:3. See of this ceremony Ezra 9:5; Luke 22:41; Acts 20:36; Eph. 3:14.
17 See of this ceremony which the ancients used in prayer, 1 Kings 8 on verse 22.
14And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is noc God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee withd all their hearts:
c Exod. 15:11; Deut. 4:39; 7:9.
d See 1 Kings 2 on verse 4.
15Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father thate which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is 18this day.
e 1 Chron. 22:9.
18 Hebr. according to this day, that is, as it appears this day, or as this day testifies.
16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee 19af man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to 20their way to walk 21in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
19 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 25.
f 2 Sam. 7:12, 16; Psalm 132:12,
20 See 1 Kings 2 on verse 4.
21 That is, to believe and to live with all uprightness, according to the revealed Word of God. Also Psalm 26:3; 119:1. Compare 1 Kings 8:25, where this is called to walk before me; and 1 Kings 11:33, to walk in my ways. See the annotation there.
17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold,g heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
g 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chron. 2:6; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49.
19Have respect therefore 22to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
22 That is, to my prayer, who is Thy servant; also in the sequel.
20That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy 23name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
23 That is, to cause His Word to be taught there, His Name to be called upon, His worship service to be performed, and His people to be assembled together for holy exercises, and where His Spirit is likewise effectual. Compare the annotation 1 Kings 8 on verse 16.
21Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, 24which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
24 Other, the which they, etc.
22¶Ifh a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
h 1 Kings 8:31, etc.
23Then hear thou from heaven, and 25do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him 26according to his righteousness.
25 Namely, according as Thy justice, in respect of his oath and the cause itself, shall require. See 1 Kings 8 on verse 32, and in the same chapter the exposition of some things here following.
26 Understand according to the righteousness of his cause in his dealing with men, not according to the righteousness of his person, which no man has as such as that he is able to stand or abide before God, Psalm 130:3; 143:2.
24¶And ifi thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
i 1 Kings 8:33, etc.
25Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
26¶Whenj the 27heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, 28when thou dost afflict them;
j 1 Kings 8:35, etc.
27 Understand the lowermost heaven, that is, the air, in which are the clouds, from which comes the rain. Compare Gen. 2 on verse 6; 1 Kings 18:45.
28 Other, because thou shalt have testified against them. See 1 Kings 8 on verse 35.
27Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
28¶Ifk there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them 29in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
k 2 Chron. 20:9.
29 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 37.
29Then whatl prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands 30in this house:
l 1 Kings 8:38, etc.
30 Or, toward this house. See verses 34, 38; 1 Kings 8 on verse 44.
30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts 31of the children of men:)
31 Understand this in general of all men; for, from 1 Kings 8:39 the word all is here to be supplied.
31That they may fear thee, 32to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
32 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 33.
32¶Moreoverm concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and 33thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
m 1 Kings 8:41, etc.
33 See Exod. 6 on verse 5; 1 Kings 8:42.
33Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may 34know thy name, and fear thee, as doth 35thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy 36name.
34 Observe here, that from the true knowledge of God arises the true fear of God; as from the fear of God is the walking in His ways, verse 31.
35 Namely, acknowledges Thy Name and fears Thee.
36 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 43.
34Ifn thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
n 1 Kings 8:44, etc.
35Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,)o and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
o 1 Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8.
37Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
38If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither 37they have carried them captives, and pray 38toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
37 Namely, their enemies, 1 Kings 8:48.
38 Namely, to Thee, O Lord, 1 Kings 8:48.
39Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people 39which have sinned against thee.
39 Other, what they have sinned against thee.
40Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, 40thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attentp unto the prayer that is made 41in this place.
40 Spoken of God after the manner of men, to show that God takes notice of the affliction and prayers of His people, Psalm 34:15.
p attentive
41 That is, which shall be made in this place, or in this temple, or of those who shall make it in this place. Also 2 Chron. 7:15.
41Now therefore arise, O LORD God, 42into thy resting place, thou, and the ark 43of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with 44salvation, and let thy 45saints rejoice 46in goodness.
42 That is, to the place wherein Thou hast purposed to rest, and to be still, and to be no more removed with the tabernacle from one place to another, as happened in the wilderness, when the Israelites changed their camping places. This is spoken of God after the manner of men, in respect of the ark, upon which God revealed Himself. See 2 Sam. 7:6; Psalm 132:8.
43 Also Psalm 132:8. That is, by which Thou usually givest Thine answer concerning Thy grace and help, which Thou showest powerfully unto Thy people.
44 That is, be preserved and adorned with Thy favor, blessing and mercy, as with a garment. Also Psalm 132:16. The contrary is: to be clothed with shame; in the same place verse 18.
45 Or, favorites. The Hebrew word is attributed to God and to men. Being ascribed to God, it signifies the favorable, gracious and merciful One, as Psalm 145:17; Jer. 3:12. It is ascribed to godly persons, because they either do good, or good is done to them by God. According to the first sense, it may be translated, holy, gracious, merciful, godly, according to the second, saints, as here.
46 Namely, which Thou showest to them.
42O LORD God, 47turn not away 48the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies 49of David thy servant.
47 That is, do not reject, do not refuse my prayer. Compare 1 Kings 2 on verse 20.
48 That is, my face whom Thou hast anointed to be king.
49 That is, shown to David, and promised in respect to his posterity.