1 Kings 8:22-65

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:54-61

Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called his blessing the people, 1 Kgs. 8:55. He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them. I. He gives God the glory of the great and kind... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:62-66

We read before that Judah and Israel were eating and drinking, and very cheerful under their own vines and fig-trees; here we have them so in God's courts. Now they found Solomon's words true concerning Wisdom's ways, that they are ways of pleasantness. I. They had abundant joy and satisfaction while they attended at God's house, for there, 1. Solomon offered a great sacrifice, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, enough to have drained the country of cattle if it had not been a very fruitful land.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:22

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord ,.... The altar of the burnt offering in the court of the priests, where he prayed the following prayer; and which altar was typical of Christ, who is always to be in sight in prayer, and through whom all sacrifices of prayer and praise become acceptable to God. In 2 Chronicles 6:13 he is said to stand upon a scaffold of brass, five cubits long, five broad, and three high, which stood in the midst of the court; it was a sort of a pulpit,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:23

And he said, Lord God of Israel ,.... Their covenant God and Father, whereby he was distinguished from all the gods of the Gentiles: there is no god like thee; in heaven above or on earth beneath ; none among the angels in heaven, nor among kings and civil magistrates on earth, who both are sometimes called "Elohim" gods; but only in a figurative sense, and not to be compared with the one only true God, for the perfection of his nature, or the works of his hands: who keepest covenant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:24

Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him ..... Concerning a son, his successor, and the builder of the temple: thou, spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand , as it is this day; the temple being now finished by him, see 1 Kings 8:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:25

Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him ,.... That as he had fulfilled one part of his promise respecting himself, his immediate successor, so that he would fulfil the other respecting his more remote offspring: saying, there shall not fail thee a man in my sight, to sit on the throne of Israel ; one of David's posterity to inherit his throne and kingdom, but with this proviso: so that thy children takes heed to their way ; in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:26

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified ,.... Truly made good, and punctually performed: which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father ; the same request in other words, repeated to show his ardent and vehement desire to have it fulfilled. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth ?.... Is it true? Can any credit be given to it? Who could ever have thought it, that so great and glorious a Being, who inhabits eternity, dwells in the highest heavens, should ever condescend to dwell on earth? Such was the amazing condescension of Christ, the Son of God, to tabernacle in human nature with men on earth, to which Solomon perhaps might have respect; his temple being the figure of his body, in which the Godhead dwells, John 2:19 . ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:28

Yet have thou respect to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God ,.... Meaning himself, who, though a king acknowledged himself, and esteemed it an honour to be the servant of the Lord, and who was also an humble suppliant of his, and desired his prayers and supplications might be attended to: to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day ; the particulars of which follow. read more

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