1 Kings 8:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1-11

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 (1 Kgs. 7:51), the one thing needful is yet behind, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:12-21

Here, I. Solomon encourages the priests, who came out of the temple from their ministration, much astonished at the dark cloud that overshadowed them. The disciples of Christ feared when they entered into the cloud, though it was a bright cloud (Luke 9:34), so did the priests when they found themselves wrapped in a thick cloud. To silence their fears, 1. He reminds them of that which they could not but know, that this was a token of God's presence (1 Kgs. 8:12): The Lord said he would dwell in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1

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: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:2

And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto King Solomon at the feast ,.... Not of tabernacles, as the Targum on 2 Chronicles 5:3 and so Jarchi; though that was in the same month next mentioned, and began on the fifteenth of it, and held seven days; wherefore this must be the feast of the dedication of the temple, and which was kept before that; since both lasted fourteen days, and the people were dismissed on the twenty third of the month; now not only the above principal persons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:3

And all the elders of Israel came ,.... To Zion, the city of David: and the priests took up the ark ; from thence; in 2 Chronicles 5:4 it is said the Levites did it, whose business it was, Deuteronomy 31:25 , and so the priests might be called; for every priest was a Levite, though every Levite was not a priest, and the priests did at all times bear the ark; see Joshua 3:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:4

And they brought up the ark of the Lord ,.... From the city of David to the temple: and the tabernacle of the congregation ; not the tent David made for the ark, though that might be brought also, but the tabernacle of Moses, which had been many years at Gibeon; but now removed to Zion, and from thence to the temple, where it was laid up, as having been a sacred thing; that it might not be put to common or superstitious uses, and to prevent the being of more places than one for worship: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:5

And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled together ,.... On this solemn occasion: were with him before the ark ; while it was in the court of the priests, before it was carried into the most holy place: sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude ; the phrase seems to be hyperbolical, and designed to denote a great number. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:6

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place ,.... Destined for it, the like to which it had in the tabernacle: into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place ; that part of the house where the divine oracle was, the holy of holies; for though into it none but the high priest might enter, and he but once a year; yet in case of necessity, as for the repair of it, which the Jews F19 Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 7. sect. 23. gather... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:7

For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark ,.... The most holy place where the ark stood, even from wall to wall: and the cherubim covered the ark, and the staves thereof above ; so that neither could be seen. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:8

And they drew out the staves ,.... Not made them larger, as Ben Gersom, than those in the tabernacle of Moses, this place being larger than that; nor did they draw them wholly out, and lay them up in the sanctuary, there being no further use for them, the ark having now a fixed place, and not to be removed; which would have been contrary to Exodus 25:15 but they drew them out some little way: that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle ; not in that... read more

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