1 Kings 8:1-6 KJV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:2

And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto King Solomon at the feast ,.... Not of tabernacles, as the Targum on 2 Chronicles 5:3 and so Jarchi; though that was in the same month next mentioned, and began on the fifteenth of it, and held seven days; wherefore this must be the feast of the dedication of the temple, and which was kept before that; since both lasted fourteen days, and the people were dismissed on the twenty third of the month; now not only the above principal persons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:3

And all the elders of Israel came ,.... To Zion, the city of David: and the priests took up the ark ; from thence; in 2 Chronicles 5:4 it is said the Levites did it, whose business it was, Deuteronomy 31:25 , and so the priests might be called; for every priest was a Levite, though every Levite was not a priest, and the priests did at all times bear the ark; see Joshua 3:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:4

And they brought up the ark of the Lord ,.... From the city of David to the temple: and the tabernacle of the congregation ; not the tent David made for the ark, though that might be brought also, but the tabernacle of Moses, which had been many years at Gibeon; but now removed to Zion, and from thence to the temple, where it was laid up, as having been a sacred thing; that it might not be put to common or superstitious uses, and to prevent the being of more places than one for worship: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:5

And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled together ,.... On this solemn occasion: were with him before the ark ; while it was in the court of the priests, before it was carried into the most holy place: sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude ; the phrase seems to be hyperbolical, and designed to denote a great number. 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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:2

At the feast in the month Ethanim - The feast of tabernacles, which was celebrated in the seventh month of what is called the ecclesiastical gear. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:4

They brought up - the tabernacle - It is generally agreed that there were now two tabernacles at Gibeon, and the other in the city of David, which one David had constructed as a temporary residence for the ark, in the event of a temple being built. Which of these tabernacles was brought into the temple at this time, is not well known; some think both were brought in, in order to prevent the danger of idolatry. I should rather suppose that the tabernacle from Gibeon was brought in,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1-11

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:6

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:4

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