1 Kings 8:14

And the king turned his face about [He had been earnestly gazing toward the house where the cloud appeared. He now faced the congregation] and blessed [This word here, and in 1 Kings 8:55 , is used somewhat loosely. The blessing was in both cases addressed to God. The Hebrew king was not authorized to bless the people—that was the prerogative of the priests ( Numbers 6:23 ; cf. Le Numbers 9:22 ), and he is only said to bless here as felicitating, as wishing them a blessing. Dean Stanley ] "Jewish Ch.," vol. 2. p 218) characteristically asserts that Solomon "performed the highest sacerdotal act of solemn benediction." But the same word is used in 1 Kings 8:66 , of the people blessing the king. "Did the people, " as Wordsworth pertinently asks, "also perform a priestly act?" The word is elsewhere used of saluting . See note on 1 Kings 8:66 , and Gesen. s.v.] all the congregation of Israel: ( and all the congregation of Israel stood ); [Heb. were standing ( עֹמֵד ); "stood" conveys the idea that the congregation rose as Solomon spoke, whereas they were standing already in the temple courts.