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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:22-53

Solomon having made a general surrender of this house to God, which God had signified his acceptance of by taking possession, next follows Solomon's prayer, in which he makes a more particular declaration of the uses of that surrender, with all humility and reverence, desiring that God would agree thereto. In short, it is his request that this temple may be deemed and taken, not only for a house of sacrifice (no mention is made of that in all this prayer, that was taken for granted), but a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:29

That thine eyes may be open towards this house night and day ,.... That is, to the people that pray in it, as they are to his righteous ones, Psalm 33:14 even towards the place of which thou hast my name shall be there; there should be some displays of his presence, power, and providence, of goodness, grace, and mercy: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make towards this place ; not only to what he should make in it, but to what he should make in his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:30

And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray towards this place ,.... Not only he desires his prayers might be heard, but those of the people of Israel, then, and at all times in succeeding ages, whenever they should look towards the temple, and to him that was typified by it; to whose blood, righteousness, sacrifice and mediation, the acceptance of prayers with God is to be ascribed: and hear thou in heaven thy dwellingplace ; for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:29

My name shall be there - I will there show forth my power and my glory by enlightening, quickening, pardoning, sanctifying, and saving all my sincere worshippers. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:30

Toward this place - Both tabernacle and temple were types of our Lord Jesus, or of God manifested in the flesh; and he was and is the Mediator between God and man. All prayer, to be acceptable, and to be entitled to a hearing, must go to God through Him. The human nature of Christ is the temple in which dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; therefore with propriety all prayer must be offered to God through Him. "If they pray toward this place, hear thou in heaven thy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:23-53

The Prayer of Dedication. In how many and varied ways is Solomon a type of the Divine Solomon, the true Son of David Even in this respect they are alike—that each has "taught us how to pray" ( Luke 11:1 sqq.) For we may be sure that the Prayer of Dedication is for our instruction and imitation, otherwise it would hardly have been recorded, and recorded at such length, in Scripture. "After this manner therefore pray ye" ( Matthew 6:9 ). I. LAYMEN MAY OFFER PUBLIC PRAYER ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:29

That thine eyes may be open [This anthropomorphism does not conflict with what was said under 1 Kings 8:27 ] toward this house night and day [not so much to watch over it as to see the worship and prayer offered there], even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there [cf. Ezekiel 48:35 , and Ezekiel 48:18 , Ezekiel 48:19 , Ezekiel 48:20 , etc. When had God said this? Never perhaps, in so many words. Keil says the reference is to 2 Samuel 7:13 implicite ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:30

And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven [Heb. unto heaven , אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם a pregnant censtruction hear the prayer that ascends unto heaven. The chronicler here, as elsewhere, simplifies the meaning by reading "from heaven," מִן־הַשּׁ ] thy dwelling place [Here, and in verses 39, 43, and 49, heaven is described as the true dwelling place of Deity. Confidently as Solomon... 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

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