1 Kings 8:35-36

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 8:35

When heaven is shut up ,.... As it may be said to be when the air is quite serene, and not a cloud in it: and there is no rain ; in its season, neither the former nor the latter, as it was in the times of Elijah: because they have sinned against thee ; want of rain was threatened in case of sin, and was always the effect of it, Leviticus 26:19 , if they pray towards this place ; in any part of the country where they were; for it sometimes rained on one city, and not on another,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:36

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel ,.... By removing the judgment of drought upon them: that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk ; the way of worship and duty prescribed by the Lord which was good in itself, and good for them, good things being enjoyed by them that walk therein; and this the Lord sometimes teaches by afflictions, as well as by his word; but whenever he does it, it is by his Spirit, and then... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:35

When the heaven is shut up , and there is no rain - The Third case. When, because of their sin, and their ceasing to walk in the good way in which they should have walked, God refuses to send the early and latter rain, so that the appointed weeks of harvest come in vain, as there is no crop: then, if they pray and confess their sin, hear thou in heaven, etc. 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 8:35

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place [ toward, because the inhabitants of the land everywhere would direct their prayers toward the holy oracle in Jerusalem ( Psalms 28:2 ) ] , and confess [ praise ] thy name, and turn from their sin, when [or because, כִי ] thou afflictest them. [ LXX . ὅταν ταπεινώσης αὐτοὺς — Humbling should be the result of affliction.] read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:36

Then hear thou in heaven [see on 1 Kings 8:32 ], and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel that thou teach them [rather, because thou art teaching them, etc . The thought is, "Forgive, because they have learned the lessen Thy discipline of drought was meant to teach;" because the chastisement has fulfilled its purpose] the good way [ 1 Samuel 12:23 ] wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.... 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

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

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