1 Kings 8:23-53 ESV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:30

1 Kings 8:30. When they shall pray toward this place None but the priests might enter that place, but when the people worshipped in the courts of the temple, it was to be with an eye toward it, not with a superstitious regard or veneration, as though it were holy in itself, or in any respect the ground of their confidence in their worship, which would have been idolatry; but, as an instituted medium of their worship, helping the weakness of their faith, and typifying the mediation of Jesus... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:31

1 Kings 8:31. If any man, &c. He now puts divers cases in which he supposed application would be made to God in prayer, in or toward this house of prayer; and first that of God’s being appealed to by an oath for the determining of any controverted right between man and man. If any man trespass against his neighbour If a man be accused of a trespass. And an oath be laid upon him Either by the judge, or by the party accusing him, or by the accused person himself, claiming the privilege... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:32

1 Kings 8:32. Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge Discover the truth, and judge between the contending parties. He prays that in difficult matters his throne of grace might be a throne of judgment, from which God would right the injured that believingly appealed to it; and punish the injurious that presumptuously appealed to it. To bring his way upon his head The just recompense of his wicked action and course. And justifying the righteous, to give him, &c. To vindicate him,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:33-34

1 Kings 8:33-34. When thy people be smitten This is the second case he puts. If the people of Israel were in general groaning under any national calamity, he desires that the prayers which they should make in or toward that house might be heard and answered. Shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name Not only shall acknowledge thee to be God alone, renouncing all false gods; but shall give glory to thy name by acknowledging their sins and thy justice; by accepting the punishment of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:35

1 Kings 8:35. When heaven is shut up The lower or aerial heaven, in which the clouds are. This is compared to a great storehouse in God’s keeping, out of which nothing can be obtained so long as it is close shut up. And as he is said to bring the wind, (Psalms 135:7,) so the rain, out of this treasury. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:36

1 Kings 8:36. That thou teach them the good way The way of their duty, which is good in itself, and both delightful and profitable to those that walk in it. But this clause is better translated, 2 Chronicles 6:27, (where the Hebrew words are the same with these here,) When thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk, namely, when their afflictions have had the desired effect to teach them better obedience. And give rain upon the land The order of Solomon’s prayer is very... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:37

1 Kings 8:37. If there be in the land famine Which arose sometimes from other causes besides want of rain. If their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities In their gates, whereby they should be so straitened, that none could go in or out. Whatsoever plague The word נגע , negang, here rendered plague, properly signifies some extraordinary stroke by the hand of God. Whatsoever sickness there be For Solomon believed whatever calamity befel other people, might light on... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:38

1 Kings 8:38. What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man Distressed through national calamities, or private and personal troubles. He now comes to speak of the case of individual Israelites. If any man of Israel has an errand to thee, here let him find thee, here let him find favour with thee. He does not instance in particulars; so numerous, so various are the grievances of the children of men. Which shall know every man the plague of his own heart His sinfulness, the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:39-40

1 Kings 8:39-40. Give to every man according to his ways According to his repentance or impenitency. As if he had said, I pray with the greater hope and confidence, because I do not desire that thou wouldst deliver such as are insensible of their sins and of thy judgments, but only those that are truly brought to know the plague of their own hearts in the manner before explained. Whose heart thou knowest Thou art acquainted not only with the plague of their hearts, their several wants... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:41-42

1 Kings 8:41-42. Moreover, concerning a stranger The case of an alien, who is not an Israelite is next mentioned; a proselyte that might come to the temple to pray to the God of Israel, being convinced of the folly and wickedness of worshipping the gods of his country. He supposes there would be many such; that the fame of God’s great works which he had wrought for Israel; by which he had proved himself to be above all gods, nay, to be God alone, would reach distant countries. They shall... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:30

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:32

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:33-34

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:35

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:36

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:37

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:38

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:39-40

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:41-42

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