Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 8

Verse 1

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion.

Then Solomon assembled, … — "Then," when he had finished all the work for the house of the Lord. 1 Kings 7:51 Solomon decked and garnished his temple before he prayed in it: so, saith one, before thou prayest prepare thy heart, which is the true temple of him who is greater than Solomon. And as that woman that sought her groat, swept over all the whole house, so when thou seekest anything of God, sweep over the whole house of thy heart; sweep it by repentance, wash the pavement of it with tears, beautify it with holiness, perfume it with prayers, deck it with humility, hang it with sincerity.

Out of the city of David, which is Zion. — Into Mount Moriah: for there stood the temple. 2 Chronicles 3:1

Verse 2

And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month.

In the month Ethanim. — Which signifieth ripeness or strengh: either because the fruits were then ripe, sc., in September, and strengthened the heart of man; or else, by this festival month men’s hearts were filled with the joy of the Lord, which was their strength, Nehemiah 8:10 and lifted up in the ways of his precepts.

Verse 3

And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

And all the elders of Israel came. — Heads of tribes, and fathers of families: bringing with them multitudes of common people, who cheerfully and voluntarily flocked to this feast, quod ob hanc dedicationem magnificentissimam fuit solemnissimum, saith A. Lapide.

And the priests took up the ark. — Setting it on the Levites’ shoulders. Numbers 4:5 2 Chronicles 5:4

Verse 4

And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.

And the tabenacle of the congregation. — Made by Moses, and hitherto transportative, and for many years severed from the ark, but now to be reunited and settled in the temple; as the saints, here tossed up and down, shall one day be in heaven, that habitation of God’s holiness.

Verse 5

And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

Sacrificing sheep and oxen. — At every six paces likely, as 2 Samuel 6:13 , but far more liberally.

Verse 6

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims.

And the priests brought in the ark. — Which they had taken off the Levites’ shoulders, to bring it into the place appointed for it, even the midst of the Most Holy.

Verse 7

For the cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

And the cherubims covered the ark — Which had the law within it, and the mercy seat upon it: to set forth Christ’s covering the curses of the law, in whom is the ground of all mercy: which things the angels desire to pry into, as into the pattern of God’s deep wisdom.

Verse 8

And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy [place] before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

That the ends of the staves were seen. — These made a lane, as it were, for the high priest when he entered into the most holy place: and showed that there was an ark, though covered.

And there they are unto this day, — i.e., Till the captivity of Babylon.

Verse 9

[There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables. — That is, Nothing of the book of the law, saith Vatablus, but the decalogue: the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were also in the ark, Hebrews 9:4 though Junius holdeth that εν η there relateth not to κιβωτου the ark, but to σκηνη the tabernacle.

Verse 10

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

That the cloud filled. — By a cloud did God oft both represent his glory and cover it: signifying thereby that it was both invisible and unapproachable. But as a man that heareth a preacher in a dark night, knoweth that he is there though he seeth him not: so here.

Verse 11

So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

So that the priests could not stand, — sc., With the safeguard of their lives, their eyes at least. The holy angels clap their wings upon their faces, as it were a double scarf, - or as a man doth his hands before his eyes, when he beholdeth an exceeding great light, - before the brightness of God’s presence, that would put out their eyes else. Isaiah 6:2-3 Pellican saith, by the priests being driven out by this cloud appearing, was showed that the time should come when this priesthood should minister no more by carnal rites in this place.

Verse 12

Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

The Lord hath said that he would dwell. — Leviticus 16:1-2 Psalms 18:11-12 ; Psalms 97:2 He hath said it, and he hath often done it, for man’s sake, who can far less look upon God in his excellency, than he can upon the sun in rota, in the circle wherein it runneth. These words therefore Solomon uttereth in the rapture of his joy for that glorious sight of God which he beheld from the brazen scaffold that was built for him in the outward court. 2 Chronicles 6:13

Verse 13

I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

I have surely built thee. — His great joy breaketh forth into a prayer.

A settled place for thee to abide in. — Some render it, Directionem ad solium tuum, a direction to thine eternal throne - viz., to heaven; whither this temple pointed men, saith Cajetan.

Verse 14

And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)

And the king turned his face about, — viz., Fromward the altar and mercy seat, whither they looked when they prayed in the temple, as when otherwise they looked toward the temple, i.e., Christ.

And blessed all the congregation. — Or, Blessed God together with all the congregation of Israel, as Junius rendereth it.

And all the congregation stood. — To testify their reverence, attention, and observation. See on Judges 3:20 .

Verse 15

And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled [it], saying,

And hath with his hand Manu, i.e., liberalitate sua, vel potentia sua - Vatab. fulfilled. — He hath powerfully performed his promise to David. Solomon is thankful as well for the promise to his father as the performance to himself. And well he might, for the promises are precious things, 2 Peter 1:4 the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8 The patriarchs "saw the promises afar off, and embraced “ ασπασαμενοι . ” them." Hebrews 11:13

Verse 16

Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

I brought forth Israel out of Egypt. — This memorable mercy is often mentioned as a motive to real thankfulness. Deliverance commandeth obedience. But what was Egypt to hell? Pharaoh to the devil? … Oh, blessed be God for a Christ!

Verse 17

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

And it was in the heart of David my father. — Happy Solomon in such a father! and no less happy David in such a son! For his father’s honour, and his own also, he so often mentioneth this relation.

Verse 18

And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.

Thou didst well, that it was in thine heart. — It is God’s revealed will that men should be "ready to every good work." David was so to this of building the temple, but God had otherwise determined it. Howbeit David’s desire and intent is accepted. 2 Samuel 7:11 , … Surely as wicked men are condemned because they act against God’s command, though according to his decree: so believers are approved, not because they obey God’s decree, but his command.

Verse 19

Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

Unto my name, — i.e., For mine honour and service. See on 1 Kings 8:18 .

Verse 20

And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

And the Lord hath performed his word. — He never yet "suffered his faithfulness to fail, nor altered the thing that went out of his mouth." Psalms 89:33 Witness the constant and concurrent experience of saints in all ages; not one instance to the contrary.

Verse 21

And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein [is] the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

A place for the ark. — Even the best and innermost part of the temple, because it was the chiefest evidence of God’s presence, and is called God’s face, Psalms 105:4 yea, even God himself. Psalms 132:5

Verse 22

And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

And spread forth his hands towards heaven. — In prayer the ancients used to spread out the palms of their hands, as it were to receive a blessing from God. Exodus 9:29 Psalms 44:20 ; Psalms 143:6

Verse 23

And he said, LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

And he said, Lord God of Israel. — This was a worthy precedent for princes, who, if they would imitate Solomon in devotion, might likewise share with him in the blessing. This is a very long prayer, and full of affection to the end. So to pray is hard and happy. It is a precedental prayer, as one calleth it.

Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, … — This is a very august preface to his prayer. To begin on this sort doth notably strengthen faith, and stir up devotion.

Verse 24

Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled [it] with thine hand, as [it is] this day.

Who hast kept with thy servant David. — See 1 Kings 8:15 . We may pray to good purpose, though in the selfsame words as before. Christ himself did so in his agony when he prayed most earnestly. Let this comfort those who complain that they cannot vary their petitions.

Verse 25

Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.

Keep with thy servant David. — Solomon knew well that such as would obtain the accomplishment of the promises, must put them in suit, as Jacob did, Genesis 32:9 , … and David, Psalms 119:49 and Elijah. 1 Kings 18:41 Note here how Solomon pleadeth the performance of one promise, that he may prevail for another. Let us learn in this holy manner to encroach upon God.

Verse 26

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

And now let thy word, I pray thee, be verified. — He reiterateth and reinforceth his former request: this evinceth his holy importunity. This he learned of his father. Compare Proverbs 4:4 .

Verse 27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Will God indeed dwell on the earth? — Mirabundus ita exclamat, saith Vatablus, who further observeth here, that the Hebrew words are preposterously put together, as importing an ecstasy of admiration.

Behold, the heaven. — The visible heaven.

And heaven of heavens. — The third heaven, the place of the blessed. Genesis 14:19 Psalms 115:16

Cannot contain thee. — Such is thine immensity: thou fillest all places, and art comprehended of no place. God is a circle, said Empedocles, whose centre is everywhere, whose circumference is nowhere. Orpheus, Aratus, and Aeschylus say the same in effect. God is higher than the heaven, saith a father, deeper than hell, broader than the earth, more diffuse than the sea. He is nowhere, and yet everywhere, quia nec abest illi, nec ullo capitur loco. Bernard. Neither yet must we conceive that God is commensurable by the place; for he is everywhere all-present. The heavens have a large place, but they have one part here and another there; but the Lord is totally present, wheresoever present. Oh, wonderful!

Verse 28

Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:

Yet have thou respect, — q.d., Though thou art immense and infinite in thine own nature, yet, …

And to his supplication. — Or, Deprecation.

Verse 29

That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, [even] toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

That thine eyes may be open. — See Psalms 34:15 . See Trapp on " Psalms 34:15 "

Verse 30

And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

And hearken thou, … — These repetitions of the selfsame petitions, argue greatest earnestness.

And when thou hearest, forgive, — q.d., Whatever else thou deniest us, grant us pardon; yea, forgive the sin of our prayers; for when we have prayed for the forgiveness of sins, we had need pray again for the forgiveness of our prayers; such a spring and sink of sin there is within us.

Verse 31

If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:

And an oath be laid upon him, to cause him to swear. — An oath may lawfully be taken for the help of truth in necessity, and not else. Hence the Hebrew word Nishbang is a passive, and signifieth rather to be sworn, than to swear.

And the oath come before thine altar. — That sign of God’s presence there. Amongst us, he that sweareth, layeth his hand on a Bible, for like cause.

Verse 32

Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

Condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head. — This God hath done on those who have taken false oaths of execration, as were easy to instance in the three false accusers of Narcissus, bishop of Jerusalem; Euseb. in Earl Godwin; and in Anne Averies, who, forswearing herself, A.D. 1575, Feb. 11, at a shop of Wood Street in London, praying God she might sink where she stood if she had not paid for the wares she took, fell down presently speechless, and with horrible stink died.

Verse 33

When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

And confess thy name. — Submit to thy justice, and implore thy mercy.

Verse 34

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.

And forgive the sin of thy people. — For else, if thou shouldst turn again their captivity, they could have no great comfort. Pardon of sin is a principal mercy, and chiefly to be sought for.

Verse 35

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

When heaven is shut up. — These bottles of the sky stopped.

And confess thy name. — As 1 Kings 8:33 . Or, Confess to thy name, that is, praise thee, even in this adversity.

When thou aflictest them. — And so whippest them home. Or, When thou has testified against them - viz., by thy prophets.

Verse 36

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

That thou teach them the good way. — By causing them to hear thy word, or thy rod, and setting it home upon their hearts. See Psalms 94:12 . See Trapp on " Psalms 94:12 "

Verse 37

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be];

If blasting mildew, … — These, the very heathens acknowledged to be God’s judgments upon a land, and therefore had their feasts called Rubigalia and Floralia, to prevent them. Plin., lib. xviii,

Whatsoever sickness there be. — Physicians reckon up two thousand, and more.

Verse 38

What prayer and supplication soever be [made] by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Which shall know every man the plague of his own heart. — His own iniquity; Psalms 18:23 the cause of his calamity; as he well understandeth, when sin and wrath meet in the soul, and make a wound in it: the cure whereof he seeketh of God by prayer, which hath a pacifying property, and fetcheth out the stain and sting of sin.

Verse 39

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

And give to every man according to his ways. — "Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, do thou lead them forth with the workers of iniquity," … Psalms 125:4-5

For thou only knowest. — As the watchmaker knoweth all the turnings and windings in the watch.

Verse 40

That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

That they may fear thee. — For thy just judgments on hypocrites, and mercies to the sincere. Psalms 130:4 Hosea 3:5

Verse 41

Moreover concerning a stranger, that [is] not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake;

Moreover, concerning a stranger. — A proselyte, such as was the eunuch, Acts 8:27 Cornelius. Acts 10:1

Verse 42

(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;

And of thy strong hand and stretchedout arm. — Thy great power and readiness to relieve and supply the wants of all thy suppliants, of all nations.

Verse 43

Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as [do] thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.

That all people of the earth. — "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." Psalms 65:2 See Trapp on " Psalms 65:2 "

As do thy people Israel. — Either they do, or should do, for the good example of others. Aliter deteriores quidem sunt quia meliores esse deberent: Salvian. else they are so much the worse, because they ought to be better than others.

Verse 44

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house that I have built for thy name:

If thy people go out to battle. — Upon a necessary justice, or a just necessity. For that soldier can never answer it to God that strikes not more as a justicer, than as any enemy.

And shall pray unto the Lord. — Soldiers must fight and pray, and pray and fight, as did the late king of Sweden.

Verse 45

Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

And maintain their cause. — By appearing for them in the high places of the field, and fighting their battles.

Verse 46

If they sin against thee, (for [there is] no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

For there is no man that sinneth not. — This is triste mortalitatis privilegium.

And thou be angry with them. — As thou canst not but be so, Habakkuk 1:13 and as the effects of thy just anger thou chide them, and smite them, either with thine own bare hand or by those men of thy band, their enemies.

Verse 47

[Yet] if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

Yet if they shall bethink themselves. — Heb., Bring back to their heart; turn short again upon themselves, and see what an "evil and a bitter thing sin is." This is the first thing in true repentance, as is to be seen in Ephraim, Jeremiah 31:19 and the prodigal, who "came to himself," and then resolved to return to his father. Luke 15:17-18

We have sinned, and have done perversely. — Sin must be confessed with utmost aggravation, - load must be laid upon it, and the worst made of it.

Verse 48

And [so] return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:

And pray unto thee toward their land. — The Turks, in a foolish imitation hereof, pray in their mosques or temples toward Mecca, where their Mohammed lieth entombed, turning their faces southward for the purpose.

Verse 49

Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

And maintain their cause. — Or, Right. Vindicate them out of the hands of their oppressors, who cannot do, but they must overdo. Zechariah 1:15

Verse 50

And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

And give them compassion. — This prayer was answered for the good of God’s poor people in Babylon, where they found much favour, and had at length leave to return; like as Jacob’s prayer Genesis 43:14 was abundantly answered when Joseph fell upon Benjamin’s neck weeping, …

Verse 51

For they [be] thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:

For they be thy people. — Culled and called out of the rest of the world. Thou hast avouched them for thine; and they have avouched thee for their God.

From the midst of the furnace of iron. — Where they were grievously afflicted, and by those afflictions melted and made more malleable.

Verse 52

That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.

In all that they call for unto thee. — Lawful petitions and honest hearts is all that God calleth for: bring these, and be sure to speed.

Verse 53

For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, [to be] thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.

As thou spakest by the hand of Moses, — q.d., Huius rei habeo authorem gravissimum et testimonium, I have very good authority for what I say.

Verse 54

And it was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

When Solomon had made an end of praying. — See 2 Chronicles 6:41 , where something more is added, and God’s answer - by fire from heaven consuming the sacrifices - recorded.

From kneeling on his knees. — Notent hoc nobiles delicatuli et gloriosuli, saith A Lapide here, qui orant uno genu in terra fixo, alterio elevato quasi pugnaturi cum Deo, sin concedat; Let this be noted by our stout and stiff gentry, who use to pray kneeling on one knee only, as if they would fight with God, unless they may have what they would of him.

Verse 55

And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

And he stood and blessed all the congregation. — Praying for them, and praising God for his mercy to them.

Verse 56

Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Blessed be the Lord. — Praemittit gratiarum actionem benedictioni.

Verse 57

The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

Let him not leave us, nor forsake us. — Or, If he leave us for a time, let him not forsake us utterly.

Verse 58

That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

That he may incline our hearts. — Cause us to keep his commandments, Ezekiel 36:26-27 bend us to the obedience of his will. Lex iubet, gratia iuvat.

Verse 59

And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:

Be nigh unto the Lord our God. — Hang ever upon the file, as it were, before him.

At all times. — Heb., The thing of a day in his day; i.e., Ut singula fiant suo tempore, that we may have mercies seasonable and suitable to our necessities.

Verse 60

That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD [is] God, [and that there is] none else.

That all the people, … — It is the ingenuity of saints, in all their desired and expected mercies, to study and to promote God’s ends more than their own.

Verse 61

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

As at this day. — Keep up your affections as much as may be, in this float wherein now you find them.

Verse 62

And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.

Offered sacrifice before the Lord. — Peace offerings especially; for these were never omitted. "In everything give thanks."

Verse 63

And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

And Solomon offered. — This was the greatest sacrifice that we anywhere read of. Those hypocrites in Micah 6:7 made an overture of great cost, so they might thereby have purchased a dispensation to live in sin. Lycurgus forbade costly sacrifices, lest men should grow weary of the charge, and give over their devotion.

Verse 64

The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that [was] before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that [was] before the LORD [was] too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

The king hallowed, — i.e., saith Lyra, He caused the high priest to sanctify the pavement of that court near unto the altar, by reason of the multitude of the sacrifices, and incapacity of the altar.

Verse 65

And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, [even] fourteen days.

From the entering in of Hamath, — i.e., From north to south. Understand also from east to west.

Seven days and seven days. — The first seven were for the dedication, εγκαινια , the priests, Levites, and one hundred and twenty singers making all manner of music; 2 Chronicles 5:11 the second seven for the feast of tabernacles. Within the first seven days, viz., on the tenth day, fell out their yearly public fast, Leviticus 23:27 which was dispensed with, as some think. Others hold that they killed their sacrifices on that day also, but ate not of them till the evening, or till the next day, haply.

Verse 66

On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

He sent the people away. — Blessing their good king, and congratulating their own great happiness.