1 Kings 8:53

For thou didst separate them from [Le 1 Kings 20:24 , 1 Kings 20:26 ; cf. Exodus 19:5 , Exodus 19:6 ] among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance [same expression, Deuteronomy 4:20 ; Deuteronomy 9:26 , Deuteronomy 9:29 . This is no idle repetition of verse 51. The idea of that verse is deliverance, of this election. Cf. Numbers 16:9 ; Numbers 8:14 ], as thou spakest by the hand [see note on Numbers 2:25 ] of Moses thy servant [ Exodus 19:5 , Exodus 19:6 ; Deuteronomy 9:26 , Deuteronomy 9:29 ; Deuteronomy 14:2 ], when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.

In Chronicles ( Deuteronomy 6:1-25 :41, 42) the prayer ends somewhat differently. "Now therefore arise, O Lord God," etc.—words which are found in substance in Psalms 132:8-10 . These two verses look like an addition, and were probably inserted by the chronicler to form a connecting link with 1 Kings 7:1-3 (Bähr). The LXX . has an extremely curious addition, said to be taken from the "Book of the Song." Stanley sees in its very abruptness and obscurity an evidence of its genuineness ("Jewish Ch." 2:218).

SECTION III.— The Concluding Blessing .

The service of dedication concludes, as it commenced, with a benediction (verse 14).