1 Kings 8:10

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out [Rather, as the priests came out ] of the holy place [It has been supposed that "the holy" ( הַקֹּדֶשׁ ) is here put for the most holy place, as in Ezekiel 41:23 . But this is not by any means the necessary interpretation. The cloud may obviously have filled the entire building only as the priests left it. It would seem, however, from Ezekiel 41:11 as if the priests, having left the oracle , were about to min later in the holy place], that the cloud [Observe the article; the well known cloud which betokened the Divine presence. It had rested upon the tabernacle on the day that it was dedicated ( Exodus 40:34 ), had ac companied it in its journeys ( ib . verse 38), and had apparently been specially displayed at certain junctures in the history of Israel ( Numbers 12:5 , Numbers 12:10 ; Numbers 16:42 ; Deuteronomy 31:15 ). ]t was thus the acknowledged symbol of God's presence, and as such was a visible sign that He now accepted the temple, as He had formerly accepted the tabernacle, as His shrine and dwelling place. It is hardly correct to identify the cloud with the Shechinah of the Targums (Rawlinson), for it is noticeable that the Targums never render "the cloud" or "the glory" by "the Shechinah." In fact, as regards the use of the word by Jewish writers, it would seem to be a periphrasis for God. We may see in the cloud, however, the seat of the Shechinah filled the house of the Lord.