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Matthew Henry

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 8:6

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place ,.... Destined for it, the like to which it had in the tabernacle: into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place ; that part of the house where the divine oracle was, the holy of holies; for though into it none but the high priest might enter, and he but once a year; yet in case of necessity, as for the repair of it, which the Jews F19 Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 7. sect. 23. gather... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:7

For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark ,.... The most holy place where the ark stood, even from wall to wall: and the cherubim covered the ark, and the staves thereof above ; so that neither could be seen. read more

John Gill

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

And they drew out the staves ,.... Not made them larger, as Ben Gersom, than those in the tabernacle of Moses, this place being larger than that; nor did they draw them wholly out, and lay them up in the sanctuary, there being no further use for them, the ark having now a fixed place, and not to be removed; which would have been contrary to Exodus 25:15 but they drew them out some little way: that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle ; not in that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:9

There was nothing in the ark, save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb ,.... That is, there were no other writings; or, as Ben Gersom says, no other part of the law, but the decalogue otherwise he observes there were in it Aaron's rod and the pot of manna, according to Hebrews 9:4 though the particle there may be rendered "at", or "with", or "by"; see Gill on Hebrews 9:4 and so they might be not within it, but in some place on the sides of it, see Deuteronomy 31:26 ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:10

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place ,.... The most holy place, having set up the ark of the Lord there, who were all sanctified that were there, and did not wait by course as at other times, see 2 Chronicles 5:11 , where in 2 Chronicles 5:12 it is said, that at this time, the Levites, who were singers of the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, arrayed in fine linen, with their musical instruments in their hands, stood at the east end of the altar of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:11

So that the priests could not stand to minister, because of the cloud ,.... Either through the darkness it first caused, or through the light that broke out of it, which was dazzling to them, or through the terror it struck their minds with; they could neither minister in the holy place, by offering incense there; and as for the most holy place, none but the high priest could minister there, and that on one day only; nor in the court of the priests, at the altar of burnt offerings: for... read more

Adam Clarke

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

And there they are unto this day - This proves that the book was written before the destruction of the first temple, but how long before we cannot tell. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:9

Save the two tables of stone - See my notes on Hebrews 9:4 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:10

When the priests were come out - That is, after having carried the ark into the holy of holies, before any sacred service had yet commenced. read more

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