1 Kings 8:44

Contextual Overview

²²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven ²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven ²²Then Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. ²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. ²² Solomon stoode before the aulter of the Lorde in the sight of all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his handes toward heauen, and sayde: ²² And Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah, across from the assembly of Israel, and spread his hands toward the heavens; ²² Then Solomon stood in front of whole assembly of Israel and faced the Lord 's altar. Solomon spread his hands and looked toward heaven ²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; ²² Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; ²² And Solomon stood before the Altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the Congregation of Israel, and spread foorth his handes toward heauen:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

go out to battle: Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Deuteronomy 31:3-6, Joshua 1:2-5, 2 Chronicles 6:34

whithersoever: Numbers 31:1-12, Joshua 6:2-5, Joshua 8:1, Joshua 8:2, Judges 1:1, Judges 1:2, Judges 4:6, Judges 6:14, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:18, 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 5:19, 2 Samuel 5:23

shall pray: 2 Chronicles 14:9-12, 2 Chronicles 18:31, 2 Chronicles 20:6-13, 2 Chronicles 32:20

toward the city: Heb. the way of the city, 1 Kings 8:16, Psalms 78:67-69, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:14, Daniel 9:17-19

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 15:32 - he worshipped 1 Kings 8:48 - the city 1 Kings 12:27 - go up 1 Kings 14:21 - the city 2 Kings 21:7 - In this house 1 Chronicles 5:20 - for they cried 2 Chronicles 7:16 - have I chosen 2 Chronicles 33:7 - which I have Psalms 20:2 - from Daniel 6:10 - his windows

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy,.... In a foreign country, threatening to invade them, or having trespassed on their borders, or some way or other infringed on their liberties and privileges, and so given them just occasion to go to war with them:

whithersoever thou shalt send them; this case supposes their asking counsel of God, or having a direction and commission from him by a prophet, or some other way, to engage in war with the enemy:

and shall pray unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house I have built for thy name: for, notwithstanding the justness of their cause, and having a warrant from God to go to war, yet they were to pray to him for success when at a distance, even in a foreign land, and about to engage the enemy; and this they were to do, turning their faces towards the city of Jerusalem, and the temple there; declaring thereby that their dependence was upon the Lord that dwelt there, and their expectation of victory was only from him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 44. If thy people go out to battle — The SIXTH case refers to wars undertaken by Divine appointment: whithersoever thou shalt send them; for in no other wars could they expect the blessing and concurrence of the Lord; in none other could the God of truth and justice maintain their cause. There were such wars under the Mosaic dispensation, there are none such under the Christian dispensation: nor can there be any; for the Son of man is come, not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Except mere defensive war, all others are diabolic; and, query, if there were no provocations, would there be any attacks, and consequently any need of defensive wars?