1 Kings 8:27

But [ כִי . Bähr refers for this use of the word to 1 Samuel 29:8 ; 1 Kings 11:22 ; 2 Kings 8:13 ; Jeremiah 23:18 ] will God indeed [Web. verily ; same root as that of preceding verb, " verified ." The repetition shows the connexion of thought. "But can these words be verified? Will God verily," etc.] dwell on the earth? behold the heaven and heaven of heavens [Same expression Deuteronomy 10:14 . Cf. Psalms 115:16 ; Psalms 148:4 ; Isaiah 66:1 . The Jewish belief respecting the seven heavens (see Wetstein on 2 Corinthians 12:2 ; Stanley, "Corinthians," l.c. ) is of much later date, and a reference to it, or to the belief of some Rabbins in two heavens (after Deuteronomy 10:14 ), is altogether out of the question. The "heaven of heavens" ="all the spaces of heaven, however vast and infinite" (Gesen; cf. Psalms 148:4 ). The analogy of "holy of holies" would, however, suggest that not all the heavens, but the highest heavens are intended] cannot contain thee; how much less [ אַף כִי : Ewald, 354 c] this house that I have builded? [Two points are to be noticed here.