Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:23
Compare Deuteronomy 7:9. read more
1 Kings 8:23-53 Esv
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:25
Solomon’s prayer is, perhaps, generally for the fulfillment of all the promises made to David in connection with the building of the temple. But there seems to be special allusion in this verse to the promise recorded in Psalms 132:14. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:27
heaven of heavens - Compare Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalms 148:4. It seems to mean the heaven in its most extended compass. Solomon combines with his belief in Yahweh’s special presence in the temple, the strongest conviction that He is no local or finite deity, but is ever present everywhere. Compare Psalms 139:7-10. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:29
The choice of Jerusalem as the place seems to have been made by special revelation to David. See Psalms 78:68; Psalms 132:13; and compare 1 Chronicles 22:1.Toward this place - Better (here and in 1 Kings 8:30) than the marginal “in.” Wherever they were, the Jews always worshipped toward the temple. (See margin reference.) read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:30
And when thou hearest, forgive - literally, “both hear and forgive” - i. e., “hear the prayer, and forgive the sin” which alone causes God to chasten men or to withhold from them His choicest blessings. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:31
The oath come before ... - “The oath” is equivalent to “the man who swears the oath.” A slight alteration in the present Hebrew text gives the sense “and he (the accused) go and swear before thine altar,” etc. The threats and the promises, the punishments and calamities of 1 Kings 8:31-38 were distinctly named in the Law. See the margin reference. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:36
Teach them ... - Rather, “when thou art teaching them (by thy chastisement) the good way that they should walk in,” i. e. when thou art still teaching, not taking vengeance. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:37
In the land of their cities - literally, “in the land of their gates.” Hence, the marginal translation “jurisdiction,” because judgments were pronounced in the town gates Deuteronomy 16:18. Another reading gives “in one of their cities.” read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:38
Know every man the plague of his own heart - i. e. perceive one’s sinfulness, or recognize one’s sufferings as divine chastisements, and sin as their cause. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:53
For thou didst separate them from [Le 1 Kings 20:24 , 1 Kings 20:26 ; cf. Exodus 19:5 , Exodus 19:6 ] among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance [same expression, Deuteronomy 4:20 ; Deuteronomy 9:26 , Deuteronomy 9:29 . This is no idle repetition of verse 51. The idea of that verse is deliverance, of this election. Cf. Numbers 16:9 ; Numbers 8:14 ], as thou spakest by the hand [see note on Numbers 2:25 ] of Moses thy servant [ Exodus 19:5 , Exodus... read more