1 Kings 8:1

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

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

Adam Clarke

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

Then Solomon assembled - It has already been observed that Solomon deferred the dedication of the temple to the following year after it was finished, because that year, according to Archbishop Usher, was a jubilee. "This," he observes, "was the ninth jubilee, opening the fourth millenary of the world, or A.M. 3001, wherein Solomon with great magnificence celebrated the dedication of the temple seven days, and the feast of tabernacles other seven days; and the celebration of the eighth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1

EXPOSITION THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE .—The stately and impressive service with which the Temple, the character and contents of which have now been described, was dedicated, is related in this chapter, and divides itself into four sections. We have SECTION I. — The Removal of the Ark . Then [ i.e; when the work of the house of the Lord was practically ended, as stated in 1 Kings 7:51 . But the precise date of the dedication is a matter of dispute and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:1

There seems to be a contrast here between the more popular proceedings of David 2 Samuel 6:1, and the statelier system of his son, who merely summons the chief men as representatives of the nation. The rest of the people “assembled themselves” 1 Kings 8:2, and were mere spectators of the solemnity. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:1

1 Kings 8:1. Solomon assembled the elders of Israel The senators, and judges, and rulers. And all the heads of the tribes For each tribe had a peculiar head or governor. The chief of the fathers The principal person of every great Family in each tribe. Unto King Solomon, in Jerusalem Where the temple was built, and now finished. That they might bring up the ark With solemn pomp to the top of Moriah, (upon which mountain the temple stood,) in order that by this their attendance... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1-21

The ark brought to the temple (8:1-21)People came from all over Israel to celebrate the dedication of the temple (see v. 65). The ceremony took place at the time of the mid-year festival season (8:1-2; see Leviticus 23:24,Leviticus 23:27,Leviticus 23:34).In transferring the ark from David’s temporary tent to the temple, Solomon, evidently remembering the mistake of his father, was careful to see that the priests and Levites carried the ark and all the holy vessels in the proper manner (3-9; cf.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

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

the elders. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "all the elders". and. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, and Septuagint, omit "and". fathers = fathers' houses = families. children = sons. out of the city of David: i.e. up out of Zion (the former Jebus, 2 Samuel 5:6-9 ) to Moriah, where the Temple had been built (1 Chronicles 21:28 , 1 Chronicles 22:1 ). Compare 2 Samuel 6:0 . App-68 read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:1

THE DEDICATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLEThis is a very significant O.T. chapter, (1) because "It confounds and contradicts the critical allegations which are based upon their false hypothesis that the theology of Israel developed after the manner of an evolutionary pattern, and that it was not fully developed until the times of the (imaginary) Second Isaiah."[1] Solomon's words here uphold the immanence and yet transcendence of God.[2]Also (2) this chapter presents overwhelmingly convincing evidence... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 8:1-11

The entrance of the ark 8:1-11The Israelites regarded the ark as the throne of Yahweh. It was the place where He manifested His presence in a localized way and where He received the blood that atoned for the Israelites’ sins on the Day of Atonement. The ark had rested in David’s tabernacle in Zion since David had brought it from the house of Obed-edom (2 Samuel 6:17). It was the only item in the temple that was not new. Perhaps God did not change it to help the people realize that He,... read more

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