1 Kings 8:37 NIV

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 8:37

Through want of rain, or any other cause, as there had been a three years' famine in the time of David, and it is supposed it might be again, though Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey: if there be pestilence ; as there had been, for David's numbering the people: blasting ; or blights, occasioned by the east wind: mildew ; a kind of clammy dew, which falling on plants, corn, &c.; corrupts and destroys them, see Amos 4:9 , locust , or if there be caterpillar ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:37

If there be in the land famine - pestilence - The Fourth case includes several kinds of evils: Famine; a scarcity or total want of bread, necessarily springing from the preceding cause, drought. Pestilence; any general and contagious disease. Blasting; any thing by which the crops are injured, so that the ear is never matured; but instead of wholesome grain, there is a black offensive dust. Mildew; any thing that vitiates or corrodes the texture of the stalk, destroys... 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 8:37

If there be in the land famine [Heb. Famine should there be, etc. The word is emphatic by position. Famine is denounced, Le 26:20, 26; Deuteronomy 28:33 ], if there be pestilence [Le 26:25; Jeremiah 14:12 ; Jeremiah 24:10 ; Amos 4:10 ; Ezekiel 6:12 , etc.], blasting [same word Genesis 41:6 ; Amos 4:9 ; Deuteronomy 28:22 ], mildew [lit. paleness, χλωρότης , Deuteronomy l.c. ], locust, or if there be caterpillar [It is uncertain whether חָסִיל , lit; ... 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

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:22-66

The dedication ceremony (8:22-9:9)Solomon then went up on to a specially made bronze platform, knelt down and prayed to God in the presence of the assembled people (2 Chronicles 6:12-13). He admitted that only God’s grace had allowed his father and himself to fulfil their wish of building God a symbolic dwelling place. He prayed that God’s grace would rest likewise upon his royal descendants after him (22-26). Solomon knew there was no necessity for the temple, because God dwells everywhere.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 8:37

pestilence = death. Compare Leviticus 26:26 . blasting = blight. cities. Hebrew gates. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) for cities. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:37

IV. PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM FAMINE, etc."If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; what prayer or supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people of Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and... read more