Verses 11-14
YHWH’s Mini-Covenant With Solomon (1 Kings 6:11-14 ).
These words are deliberately place in the centre of the description of the building of the Temple, because they went to the heart of what the passage was all about. Into the Temple would be brought the Ark of God containing the tablets of the covenant, and they were a reminder that, unless that covenant was kept at the heart of what was going on in the Temple, the whole would be in vain. Thus YHWH’s genuine dwelling among them would only continue while they were genuinely faithful to His covenant. God was only too well aware that the Temple could so easily become an outward symbol that was unable to move the heart. We can compare here 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:10-18; Isaiah 58:2-14.
It appears very probable that the revelation came through a prophet once the stonework had been erected and completed, but prior to its embellishment, partly as an encouragement in the work, but very much as a warning not to be too taken up with the Temple itself.
‘ And the word of YHWH came to Solomon, saying,’
So in the midst of the busyness of building the Temple the voice of YHWH broke through on Solomon, seeking to encourage him, but also in order to remind him that without obedience to His Instruction all that he was building would be futile.
“ Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father, and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.”
“Concerning this house which you are building.” This was hardly the warmest way of describing the Temple, and in a sense it was a disclaimer of responsibility (note the absence of ‘My’). This was not what YHWH had had in mind when He had made His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:5-7), and He wanted it to be recognised that its success would depend on faithfulness to His covenant, and obedience to His ways. It was only on such terms that He would ‘establish’ the covenant that he had made with David, and would dwell among His people and not forsake them. He wanted it recognised that the Temple itself would be no guarantee of His presence. What would guarantee His presence would be their faithful walk with Him. Without that He would desert both the house and the people.
“If you will walk in My statutes and execute My judgments, and keep all My commandments.” The emphasis is on threefold obedience to all God’s ways and requirements. The phrase ‘if you will walk in my statutes’ is taken from Leviticus 26:3. The phrase ‘execute My judgments’ is taken from Leviticus 18:4. See also Leviticus 18:5; Leviticus 19:37; Leviticus 20:22; Leviticus 25:15 for a similar idea. ‘Keep all my commandments’ is found in Deuteronomy 5:29. The nearest to ‘keep all My commandments to walk in them’ are Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 8:6; Deuteronomy 28:9; but none are very close. For the appeal ‘if you will --’ see 1 Kings 3:14; Exodus 15:26; Leviticus 26:3; (interestingly an opening and direct ‘if you will --’ is not a Deuteronomic approach. We may compare Deuteronomy 19:9; Deuteronomy 30:10, but they are not using the words as a direct opening phrase and are therefore not strictly comparable). In view of this it is not justifiable to suggest that this covenant is ‘Deuteronomic’. It should rather be called ‘Mosaic’.
For the overall idea see for example 1Ki 2:3 ; 1 Kings 3:14; 2 Kings 17:34; 2 Kings 17:37; Genesis 26:5; Exodus 15:26; Leviticus 18:4-5; Leviticus 18:26; Leviticus 19:37; Leviticus 20:22; Leviticus 25:18; Leviticus 26:3; Leviticus 26:15; Deuteronomy 5:31; Deuteronomy 6:1; Deuteronomy 7:11; Deuteronomy 8:11; Deuteronomy 11:1; Deuteronomy 26:17; Deuteronomy 30:16.
On the condition of such threefold obedience YHWH promises that He will establish with him His word which He spoke to David his father. This word primarily has in mind His covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, but compare 1 Chronicles 22:7-13, which was a further revelation given after the incident of the numbering of Israel and the purchase and use of Ornan’s threshingfloor for sacrifices (1 Chronicles 21:28-30). Ornan’s threshingfloor was itself the site of the Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). In that revelation YHWH belatedly gave permission for a permanent Temple to be built (in contrast with David’s house).
“And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.” YHWH’s dwelling among His people was thus conditional on Solomon’s obedience as revealed by ‘walking in His statutes, executing His judgments and keeping all His statutes to walk in them’. The idea, however, was that this would then cause the people to walk in them too, for His presence would in the end always depend on the faithful response of His people (compare Isaiah 57:15). On the other hand, for those who were faithful it was guaranteed (Deuteronomy 31:6; Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:5; Joshua 1:0 Samuel 12:28; Hebrews 13:5).
‘ So Solomon built the house, and finished it.’
In response to YHWH’s covenant Solomon ‘built the house and finished it’ (with a little help from numerous others). All the stonework was now complete. As we have seen this and similar phrases end the three sections into which the passage is divided (see 1 Kings 6:9; 1 Kings 6:38).
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