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1 KINGS 8

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. This chapter is very repetitive in its phrasing (much of which is like Deuteronomy). It deals with different categories of prayers (i.e., blessings and forgiveness). In my opinion this is one of the greatest prayers in the OT!
   
   
2. There are many anthropomorphisms.
   1. mouth, vv. 15,24
   2. hand, vv. 15.24
   3. eyes, vv. 29,52
   4. mighty hand. . .outstretched arm, v. 42
   5. ears (lit. "hear"), v. 49
   6. speak, vv. 20,25,53,56

      SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE DEITY

3. For me the greatest aspect of this wonderful dedicatory prayer is YHWH's concern for the non-Israelite (esp. vv. 41-43,60)! This is the implication of monotheism (cf. vv. 23, 60).

   SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

4. Much of Solomon's thanksgiving is related to YHWH's promises to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. But notice the "ifs"! It was a conditional covenant.

   SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

5. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 690, lists the vocabulary and phrasing which matches Deuteronomy.
   1. 1 Kgs. 8:23 ‒ Deut. 7:9,12
   2. 1 Kgs. 8:23 ‒ Deut. 4:39
   3. 1 Kgs. 8:24 ‒ Deut. 2:30; 4:20; etc.
   4. 1 Kgs. 8:30,39,43,49 ‒ Deut. 26:15
   5. 1 Kgs. 8:33,34,38,43,57 ‒ Deut. 21:8; 26:15
   6. 1 Kgs. 8:36 ‒ Deut. 4:21; 15:4; etc.
   7. 1 Kgs. 8:40 ‒ Deut. 4:10; 5:26; etc.
   8. 1 Kgs. 8:42 ‒ Deut. 4:34; 5:15; etc.
   9. 1 Kgs. 8:51 ‒ Deut. 4:20

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:1-11
  ¹Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion. ²All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. ³Then all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. ⁴They brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up. ⁵And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered. ⁶Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim. ⁷For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above. ⁸But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; they are there to this day. ⁹There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, ¹¹so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

8:1 Notice all the levels of leadership.

1. elders of Israel
2. heads of the tribes
3. leaders of the fathers' households
4. all the men of Israel, v. 2

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS

▣ "the ark of the covenant of the Lord" This was the symbol of YHWH's presence with His people and it contained the covenant of Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 5.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

▣ "the city of David, which is Zion" Sometimes "the city of David" refers to Bethlehem, but here to Jerusalem.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM

8:2 "the feast" There were several feasts of the seventh month.

1. Rosh Hashanah (new year feast)
2. Yom Kippur (day of atonement)
3. Sukkot (feast of tabernacles or booths)

What surprises commentators is that 2 Kgs. 6:38 says that the temple was finished in the eighth month, but here that it was dedicated in the eleventh month. Why the delay is not known, only speculated. This appears to be the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (cf. Lev. 23:34; Deut. 16:13-15; 1 Kgs. 8:21; 12:32; 2 Chr. 5:3; 7:8; Neh. 8:14; Ezek. 45:25; Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 495-502).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL, D. 3.

▣ "Ethanim" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS.

8:3 "the priests" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS.

8:4 "the tent of meeting" During David's reign "the tent of meeting" remained at Gibeon (cf. 1 Kgs. 3:4), but the ark was taken to Jerusalem. This tent was what remained of the tabernacle of the wilderness. They are now brought together again!

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS

▣ "the congregation" In the LXX this Hebrew word (BDB 417) is translated ekklesia, which became the term the NT author used for the church. They saw themselves as the "true" Israel of God (i.e., Matt. 16:18).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (ekklēsia)

8:6 "the inner sanctuary. . .the most holy place" This is the Holy of Holies, BDB 876; see parallel in 2 Chr. 5:7; the place where the ark dwelt and only the High Priest could enter twice on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS

SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT

▣ "under the wings of the cherubim" In the tabernacle a pair of winged cherubim guarded the ark (i.e., on its lid), but in Solomon's temple, there were two pairs; one large pair that filled the entire cube (v. 7; cf. 1 Kgs. 6:23-28) and the pair on the lid of the ark (cf. Exod. 25:18-22).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM

8:7 "the poles" These poles for carrying the ark could not be removed (cf. Exod. 25:12-15).

8:8 "they are there to this day" This is a literary marker of later editors or the original author writing much later than the event (i.e., 2 Kgs. 2:22).

For a brief discussion of the reality of editors, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MOSES' AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH, D.

8:9 "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone" The ark was a box that could contain things. There are several places in the Bible that list things which were either in the ark or beside it.

1. Exodus 16:31-36
2. Numbers 17:1-11
3. Hebrews 9:4

The ark, for sure, had the broken tablets of stone and the remade tablets inside it (Deut. 10:1-5; i.e., the covenant of Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 5). For a good brief discussion see F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 123.

▣ "Horeb" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LOCATION OF MT. SINAI.

▣ "the Lord made a covenant" This refers to the Laws in Exodus, given at Mt. Sinai/Horeb. The exodus was the first great redemptive act of YHWH in Israel's history.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DATE OF THE EXODUS

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS

8:10 "the holy place" This is the part of the tabernacle, in front of the Holy of Holies. It contained

1. the altar of incense before the veil
2. the lampstand
3. the table of show bread

▣ "the cloud" This was a visible sign of YHWH's presence with Israel during the exodus and wilderness wanderings. It dissipated when Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan.

This refers to the special cloud ("pillar," BDB 765) representing YHWH's personal presence that led and protected the Hebrew slaves as they left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness (cf. Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19,24; 33:9,10; Deut. 1:33; Neh. 9:12,19; Ps. 78:14; 105:39). This cloud/pillar disappeared after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This was called the "Shekinah Cloud of Glory" by the rabbis (cf. Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19,24; 33:9-10; Ps. 78:14; 99:7). It accomplished several things for the Israelites.

1. symbol of YHWH's personal presence (shekinah means "to dwell with")
2. it separated Israel from Pharaoh's elite troops (cf. Exod. 14:19-20)
3. it led Israel (cf. Exod. 13:21-22; Num. 9:17-23)
4. it covered them and protected them from the heat (cf. Ps. 105:39)
5. it lit up the camp by night, even allowed Israel to travel at night (cf. Exod. 13:21; Neh. 9:12,19)
6. it caused the nations to fear Israel (cf. Exod. 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25; Josh. 2:9)
7. it finally disappeared when Israel crossed the Jordan (cf. Exod. 16:35; Josh. 5:12), but reappeared at the dedication of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8)

The NT also uses this imagery as the transportation of Deity (i.e., Acts 1:9; 1 Thess. 4:17), following Daniel 7:13.

8:11 "the glory of the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT).

▣ "filled the house" The presence of the Shekinah cloud showed YHWH's acceptance of Solomon's new temple.

This visible manifestation of YHWH's presence is also seen in

1. the tent of meeting in Moses' day, Exod. 40:34-35
2. dedication of Solomon's temple, 2 Chr. 5:14; 7:1-2
3. Isaiah's vision, Isa. 6:3,4
4. Ezekiel's vision, Ezek. 1:28; 10:3-4
5. Ezekiel's temple, Ezek. 43:5; 44:4
6. post-exilic, Hag. 2:7
7. in reality, YHWH fills the earth with His presence, Jer. 23:24; and knowledge, Hab. 2:14

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:12-13
¹²Then Solomon said,
 "The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
 ¹³"I have surely built You a lofty house,
  A place for Your dwelling forever."

8:12-21 Solomon is referring to YHWH's promises to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17, when David had the desire to build YHWH a permanent temple.

1 Kings 8:13 is a quote from 2 Sam. 7:13. The grammatical form of VERB is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE plus an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 124, KB 139) for emphasis and certainty.

8:12 "He would dwell in the thick cloud" This refers to the cloud above the ark. YHWH was with His covenant people!

The MT has the NOUN (BDB 259 I; NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 107-14), used as an ADJECTIVE (cf. 2 Chr. 6:2). The NJB gets its translation from Ps. 49:14, while NASB gets its translation from Isa. 63:15.

This temple was shockingly beautiful and elaborate.

▣ "forever" This word must be interpreted in context. The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:14-21
  ¹⁴Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. ¹⁵He said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, ¹⁶'Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.' ¹⁷Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁸But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. ¹⁹Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.' ²⁰Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. ²¹There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt."

8:14 Solomon is blessing the people as David did in 2 Sam. 6:18. The king was YHWH's representative on earth. This was not a priestly function but a royal function.

▣ "while all the assembly of Israel was standing" Israel stood for worship and prayer. Kneeling was done, but rarely (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:54; Dan. 6:10; 10:10).

8:15 "mouth. . .hand" See Contextual Insights, B.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

8:16 "I did not choose a city" Deuteronomy says YHWH will one day choose a special place,

Here is my exegetical note from Deut. 12:5:

Deut. 12:5 "the place which the Lord your God shall choose" God chose (BDB 103, KB 119, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. vv. 11,14,18,21,26; 14:25; 15:20; 16:2,6,11,15; 17:8,10; 18:6; 26:2; 31:11) the worship site (cf. Exod. 20:24).

The tabernacle (ark) traveled with Israel:

1. Gilgal, Josh. 4:19; 10:6,15
2. Shechem, Josh 8:33
3. Shiloh, Josh 18:1; Jdgs. 18:31; 1 Sam. 1:3
4. Bethel, (possible) Jdgs. 20:18,26-28; 21:2
5. Kiriath-jearim, ark, 1 Sam. 6:21; 7:1-2 (priests at Nob, cf. 1 Samuel 21-22)
6. Jerusalem
   1. David captures the citadel of Jebus (cf. 2 Sam. 5:1-10)
   2. David brings the ark to Jerusalem (cf. 2 Samuel 6)
   3. David purchases the site of the temple (2 Sam. 24:15-25; 2 Chr. 3:1)

Many modern scholars have tried to assert that Deuteronomy was written late to accommodate Hezekiah and Josiah's reforms of centralizing Israel's worship. However, Deuteronomy does not name Jerusalem as the specific site that YHWH will choose. In context the theological contrast is between:

1. the local Ba'al shrines and the one shrine of Israel
2. the monotheism of Israel versus the polytheism of Canaan (and the rest of the Ancient Near East)

▣ "choose. . .chose" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HE CHOSE US.

▣ "My name" Notice YHWH's name dwelt there (not an image or idol) but He Himself dwelt in the highest heaven. The ark was His footstool (i.e., Isa. 66:1). Thus immanence and transcendence are united!

SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH

8:17 "heart" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART.

8:19 This refers to 2 Sam. 7:5.12.13; also note 1 Chr. 22:8-10.

8:20 "the Lord has fulfilled His word" The phrase expresses a very important aspect of biblical faith (i.e., the dependability of YHWH's word). God's people believe, trust, and act on God's word (cf. v. 56).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (it's uniqueness and inspiration)

8:21 This refers to the laws given on Mt. Sinai (i.e., Exodus 19-20; Deuteronomy 5). Israel was given clear instructions on YHWH's will, now she must walk in them (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30; Psalm 1). This is often called 'the two ways" (i.e., life and death, choose one!).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:22-30
  ²²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. ²³He said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, ²⁴who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day. ²⁵Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.' ²⁶Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David. ²⁷But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! ²⁸Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; ²⁹that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, 'My name shall be there,' to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. ³⁰Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive."

8:22 "the altar of the Lord" This refers to the altar of sacrifice before the inner shrine.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE

▣ "spread out his hands toward heaven" The Israelites prayed with (cf. Exod. 9:29,33; Ezra 9:5; Ps. 28:2; 63:4; 134:2; 141:2; Isa. 1:15; 65:2; Jer. 4:31; Lam. 1:17; 2:19; 3:41; Rom. 10:21; 1 Tim. 2:8)

1. eyes open
2. head lifted
3. hands lifted

looking to heaven in conversation with YHWH. Prayer was personal.

▣ "Solomon stood" In 1 Kgs. 8:54 he is kneeling. Josephus combines these two in Antiq. 8.4.4., where he says when the "glory" came Solomon knelt from his standing position (v. 22).

▣ "heaven" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN and SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN.

8:23 "there is no God like You" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM.

▣ Notice how YHWH is characterized.

1. keeping covenant, cf. Deut. 7:9
2. showing kindness

But also note the conditional covenant, "who walk before You with all their heart" (i.e., 1 Kgs. 2:4; 3:6; 9:4).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed)

8:24 See note at 1 Kgs. 8:15.

8:25-26 This refers to 2 Samuel 7.

8:25 "if only. . ." Notice the conditional element of the Mosaic Covenant and David's covenant (i.e., vv. 25,31,33,47,48). Remember, Israel and Judah were both exiled with their royal family because of covenant violations.

YHWH"s covenant has a redemptive aspect that cannot be affected by human sin and weakness. However, each generation and individual is affected by disobedience!

8:26 "Your servant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT.

8:27 Solomon recognizes the universality of the Creator God (cf. 2 Chr. 6:18). He is far greater than any human temple and any one people group. This same universality is seen in vv. 41-43,60! This is the logical implication of Gen. 1:26-27; 3:15 and the doctrine of monotheism.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "the highest heaven" This is literally "heaven of heavens" (i.e., YHWH's dwelling place, cf. 30,39, 43,49).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN

8:28 "the prayer of Your servant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER and SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER.

▣ There are three different words for prayer used in this verse.

1. prayer ‒ FEMININE NOUN (BDB 813)
   1. NOUN, twice
   2. VERB once (BDB 813, KB 933, Hithpael PARTICIPLE)
2. supplication ‒ FEMININE NOUN (BDB 339), which denotes asking God for His favor (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:38,45,49,52,54; 9:3; 2 Chr. 6:19,29,35,39
3. cry ‒ FEMININE NOUN (BDB 943) in meaning, parallel to #2 above. In many contexts it is used of "praise" (i.e., 2 Chr. 20:22), but this does not fit this context.

In vv. 27-52 these words for prayer are used often. YHWH wants His people to ask Him.

8:29 "that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day" This is beautiful imagery (cf. Ps. 34:15; 101:6) of Solomon's prayer for YHWH's constant, moment-by-moment presence and attention to the prayers, sacrifices, and activities of this new permanent central worship site (v. 20).

The phrase "toward this house" or similar phrasing is used repeatedly in this context (i.e., seven specific sins related to Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). God's people are to seek Him in His temple (cf. vv. 29,30,33,35,38,47,45,48).

8:30 Israelites prayed toward Jerusalem (see 2 Chr. 6:38; Dan. 6:10; Jonah 2:4).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:31-32
  ³¹"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, ³²then hear in heaven and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness."

8:31-32 YHWH is concerned how His people treat one another. Oaths are significant and have consequences (cf. Leviticus 27).

8:32 YHWH was the ultimate Judge. He cares about justice and righteousness.

SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, and JUSTICE

SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS

▣ "bringing his way on his own head" This is an idiom for the consequences of sin and divine judgment on disobedient Israelites (cf. 1 Sam. 25:39; 1 Kgs. 2:44; Ezek. 7:3-4; 9:10; 11:1; 16:43; 22:31).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:33-34
  ³³"When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house, ³⁴then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers."

8:33-34 Israel's sin, if not confessed and repented of, can result in military defeat and exile.

SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:35-36
  ³⁵"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them, ³⁶then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land, which You have given Your people for an inheritance."

8:35-36 Israel's sin and disobedience affected YHWH's agricultural blessing and abundance (one example is 1 Kings 18). See my exegetical note on Deut. 11:14.

Deut. 11:14 "I will give the rain" "He will give" (BDB 678, KB 733) describes YHWH's covenant blessings and cursings:

1. v. 9 ‒ Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (blessing)
2. v. 14 ‒ Qal PERFECT (blessing)
3. v. 15 ‒ Qal PERFECT (blessing)
4. v. 17 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT (curse)
5. v. 17 ‒ Qal PERFECT (curse)
6. v. 21 ‒ Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (blessing)
7. v. 25 ‒ Qal IMPERFECT (blessing)
8. v. 26 ‒ Qal PARTICIPLE (blessing/curse)
9. v. 29 ‒ Qal PERFECT (blessing/curse)
10. v. 31 ‒ Qal PARTICIPLE (blessing)
11. v. 32 ‒ Qal PARTICIPLE (blessing/curse)

YHWH wants to bless, but Israel's covenant obedience determines which response (blessing or cursing, cf. chapters 27-29) she receives.

God is separate from nature yet is in control of it. He uses it to reveal Himself to mankind (cf. Deut. 27-28; Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-25; 2:14-15).

The MT has the VERB (BDB 776 III, KB 853, Hiphil IMPERFECT) which can mean "afflict" or "humble," The same root (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 417-419) can mean "answer." However, v. 36 implies "afflict," which fits v. 35 better.

8:36 "the good way" This good way refers to covenant obedience with a whole heart (cf. 1 Sam. 12:23; 2 Chr. 6:27; Prov. 2:20; 6:23; Psalm 1; 27:11; 139:23-24; Jer. 6:16; 31:9; Mark 6:8).

▣ "walk" This is biblical imagery for an obedient life. God shows His will as a clear, straight, level, unobstructed path/road (cf. Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2). His people know exactly how they should live! They must not deviate from this clearly revealed path, to the right or to the left.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:37-40
  ³⁷"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, ³⁸whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house; ³⁹then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men, ⁴⁰that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers."

8:37-40 This continues the agricultural aspect of YHWH's conditional covenant (cf. Deut. 28:22; i.e., "the two ways").

8:37 "whatever plague" This (BDB 481 CONSTRUCT BDB 619; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 24-25) is a summary term for all the agricultural divine judgments (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) mentioned earlier in the verse.

8:39 "render to each according to all his ways" The covenant affected

1. Israel as a nation
2. every generation of Israelites
3. every individual Israelite

Choices have consequences in time and eternity. This verse expresses a recurrent theme in both the OT and the NT.

1. Old Testament ‒ Job 34:11; Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Prov. 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19
2. New Testament ‒ Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12

▣ "You know" See SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW.

▣ "You alone know the hearts of all of the sons of men" This is imagery of God's sovereign knowledge of all things (cf. 1 Sam. 2:3; 16:7; 1 Kgs. 8:29; 2 Chr. 6:30; Ps. 7:9; 33:15; 44:21; 139:1-4; Prov. 15:11; 21:2; 24:12; Jer. 11:20; 17:9-10; 20:12; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27). No one informs YHWH about anything!

8:40 "fear" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT).

▣ "all the days that they live" Biblical faith is not a one-time event or ritual but a daily lifestyle of faithfulness.

▣ SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:41-43
  ⁴¹"Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name's sake ⁴²(for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, ⁴³hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name."

8:41-43 This is such an important paragraph. It shows clearly that YHWH's heart extends to all people (lit. "foreigner," "non-Israelite" ‒ BDB 648, cf. v. 43). Israel was meant to inform and draw the nations to faith in YHWH. YHWH has always wanted humans made in His image (Gen. 1:26-27) for fellowship (Gen. 3:8) to know Him!

His house was meant to be a house of prayer for Jew and Gentile (cf. Isa. 56:7; Mark 11:17).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

8:42 These are anthropomorphic idioms (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE DEITY) used to describe YHWH's power of deliverance on behalf of Israel (cf. Deut. 5:15; 6:21; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8). In some texts the phrase is shortened to "mighty hand" (cf. Deut. 3:24; 6:21; 7:8; 9:26; Josh. 4:24) or "outstretched arm" (cf. Deut. 9:29; Exod. 6:6). This idiomatic terminology has a specific parallel in Egyptian texts related to the "king" (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 92).

8:43 "fear You" Special Topic: Fear (OT)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:44-45
  ⁴⁴"When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, ⁴⁵then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause."

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:46-53
  ⁴⁶"When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; ⁴⁷if they take thought in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, 'We have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly'; ⁴⁸if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; ⁴⁹then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, ⁵⁰and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them ⁵¹(for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace), ⁵²that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. ⁵³For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord God."

8:46 "(for there is no man who does not sin)" This is a recurrent theme in Scripture after Genesis 3 (Gen. 6:5,12-13; 8:21; cf. 2 Chr. 6:36; Job 4:17; 9:2; 15:14-16; 25:4; Ps. 14:1,3; 51:5; 130:3; 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:9,19,23; 11:32; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:2-3; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-10). Every human needs the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. None is righteous, no not one, except Jesus!

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL

▣ "You are angry" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE DEITY, I. C.

▣ "take them captive" This is a judgment from YHWH for covenant disobedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). It could refer to

1. exile like Assyria and Babylon ("far off")
2. servitude to local nations ("near")

8:47 "repent" See SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT).

▣ Notice the terms used for covenant violations.

1. we have sinned ‒ BDB 306, KB 305, Qal PERFECT
2. we have committed iniquity ‒ BDB 731, KB 796, Hiphil PERFECT
3. we have acted wickedly ‒ BDB 957, KB 1294, Qal PERFECT, cf. v. 32; 2 Chr. 6:37

This is the confession required in repentance.

▣ Notice the different words for covenant violation.

1. sinned ‒ BDB 306, KB 305, Qal PERFECT, cf. vv. 31,33,35,46,47,50; lit. "miss the mark"
2. committed iniquity ‒ BDB 731, KB 796, Hiphil PERFECT, cf. 2 Chr. 6:37
3. acted wickedly ‒ BDB 957, KB 1294, Qal PERFECT
4. also note "transgressed" (BDB 833, KB 981, Qal PERFECT) in v. 50, lit. "rebel"

8:48 Notice the conditions ("if") for restoration.

1. return with all their heart (cf. Deut. 4:29-30; 3:10; 2 Kgs. 23:25)
2. return with all their soul (for nephesh see note at Gen. 35:18; Lev. 17:11)
3. pray to YHWH at the temple in Jerusalem

8:50 Notice how YHWH's mercy/compassion affects how the captors treat the Israelites.

8:51 "(from the midst of the iron furnace)" This is imagery (cf. Deut. 4:20 Jer. 11:4) from metallurgy. Egypt was both a place of

1. preparation
2. purification
3. imprisonment/slavery

The exodus was "the" great act of promised deliverance (cf. Gen. 15:12-21) and the formation of a nation (i.e., Exod. 19:41-46).

8:52 The imagery is surprising. One would think "ears open" would be more appropriate for voiced prayers. This verse is possibly affected by v. 29. Notice 2 Chr. 7:15, where both "eyes" and "ears" occur.

8:53 Notice the different acts of YHWH on Israel's behalf.

1. separated them from all the peoples
2. made Israel His special inheritance (cf. Exod. 19:5-6; 34:9; Deut. 9:26,29)
3. revealed Himself to Moses
4. brought them out of Egypt (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:9,16,21,51,53,65)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:54-55
  ⁵⁴When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven. ⁵⁵And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

8:54-55 See note at 1 Kgs. 8:22.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:56-61
  ⁵⁶"Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. ⁵⁷May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, ⁵⁸that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. ⁵⁹And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, ⁶⁰so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else. ⁶¹Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."

8:56 "rest" This FEMININE NOUN (BDB 629) basically means "a place of safety."

1. camping place during the exodus ‒ Num. 10:33
2. Canaan as YHWH's promised inheritance to Israel ‒ Deut. 12:9-10
3. YHWH's temple where He dwells ‒ 1 Chr. 28:2; Ps. 132:8,14; Isa. 66:1 (in a negative sense in Ps. 95:11)
4. peace from enemies and wars ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:56; 1 Chr. 22:9 (used of Solomon's reign)
5. the safety of marriage for the wife ‒ Ruth 1:9
6. false security of Damascus, the capital of Syria ‒ Zech. 9:1

▣ "not one word has failed of all His good promise" YHWH is true to His word (note vv. 24-26; cf. Josh. 23:14; 2 Kgs. 10:10). YHWH's promises can be trusted (cf. Isa. 14:24; 25:1; 40:8; 45:23; 46:10; 55:11; Matt. 5:17-19; 24:35)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (it's uniqueness and inspiration)

8:57,59 There are three IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e., "may"). What great faith statements.

1. YHWH is with us.
2. He will not leave us.
3. He will not forsake us (i.e., Ps. 27:9; 94:14; but note the negative in Jer. 12:7).

See my exegetical note from Deut. 31:6 (note 1 Sam. 12:22; 1 Kgs. 6:13).

Deut. 31:6 "Be strong and courageous" This verse has several IMPERATIVAL forms:

1. "be strong" ‒ BDB 304, KB 302, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Deut. 31:7,23
2. "be courageous" ‒ BDB 54, KB 65, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Deut. 31:7,23
3. "do not be afraid" ‒ BDB 431, KB 432, NEGATED Qal IMPERFECT, used in a JUSSIVE sense
4. "do not tremble" ‒ BDB 791, KB 888, NEGATED Qal IMPERFECT, used in a JUSSIVE sense, cf. Deut. 1:29; 7:21; 20:3; Josh. 1:9

Numbers 1 and 2 are repeated by Moses to Joshua in v. 7 and numbers 3 and 4 are repeated in v. 8 (#4 is parallel, but a different verb, "be dismayed," BDB 369, KB 365, Qal IMPERFECT).

A proper attitude and faith are essential! There are giants in the land, but YHWH is with His people (cf. Deut. 31:3,4,5,6).

▣ "He will not fail you or forsake you"

1. YHWH goes with them (i.e., "walks," BDB 229, KB 246, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE)
2. YHWH will not fail them (i.e., "abandon," BDB 951, KB 1276, Hiphil IMPERFECT)
3. YHWH will not forsake them ("leave," BDB 736 I, KB 806, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Gen. 28:15)

This promise is repeated to Joshua in Josh. 1:5 and is repeated as a promise to NT believers in Heb. 13:5! Our hope is in the unchanging gracious character of YHWH (e.g., Exod. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13)!

8:58 "that He may incline our hearts to Himself" This is the mystery of sovereignty vs. human free will. In John 6:44,65, the truth is clearly stated that fallen humans must be spiritually energized by the Spirit to respond to God (i.e., Deut. 30:6; Ps. 51:10; Phil. 2:13). Humans are responders, not initiators in the spiritual realm (cf. Ps. 119:33-40).

The mystery is why some people say "no"! Does God touch all or some? For me, if God just chooses "some" it damages the character of God and violates too many Scriptures (i.e., John 3:16; 4:42; Acts 17:30; Rom. 11:32; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION VS. HUMAN FREE WILL

▣ "hearts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART.

▣ "to walk in all His ways" This call to obedience is paralleled by "to keep His commandments. . ." See notes at v. 23 and 25. YHWH wanted a people to reflect His character to a lost world. He still does!

SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION

▣ "which He commanded our fathers" This could go back to

1. the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS)
2. the revelation to Moses starting on Mt Sinai in Exodus 19-20

The MT has BDB 182 CONSTRUCT BDB 398, possibly, "the thing of a day in its day" (AB, p. 288, suggests it is an idiom for "daily allowance"; i.e., 2 Kgs. 25:30). If so, it is similar imagery to

1. YHWH's daily provision of manna in the wilderness (cf. Exod. 16:16-30)
2. Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6, "give us this day our daily bread"

8:60 This is shockingly universal in a prayer from Solomon. YHWH wants all the peoples of the earth to know Him! The NT expresses this very emphatically in John 3:16; 4:42; Acts 17:30; Rom. 11:32; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2. This is the logical implication of monotheism.

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "there is no one else" See full note at 1 Kgs. 8:23. There is no hope in any other god.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

8:61 "wholly devoted" This is similar imagery to "a whole heart" (cf. v. 23). Partial obedience will not work (i.e., James. 2:10; Gal. 5:3).

This is a recurrent theme (cf. Deut. 4:29; 6:5; 10:12; 11:13; 13:3; 26:16; 30:2,6,10; Josh. 22:5; 1 Sam. 7:3; 12:20,24; 1 Kgs. 8:48; 15:14; 2 Kgs. 20:3; 23:3,25; 1 Chr. 28:9; 29:9; 2 Chr. 25:2; Isa. 38:3). The Mosaic and Davidic covenants are conditional covenants.

The negative form of this is expressed in 1 kgs. 11:3; 15:3,14.

▣ "to walk. . .to keep" See notes at 1 Kgs. 8:58.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:62-64
  ⁶²Now the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord. ⁶³Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. ⁶⁴On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, because there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings.

8:62 The 2 Chr. 7:1 parallel adds that fire came from heaven and consumed the sacrifices. This is similar to Elijah on Mt. Carmel (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:38). It showed YHWH's acceptance of Solomon's new temple, just as the cloud filling the temple did (i.e., vv. 10-11).

8:63 "peace offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERINGS.

8:64 "burnt offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BURNT OFFERINGS.

▣ "grain offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRAIN OFFERINGS.

▣ "the bronze altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICES.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:65-66
  ⁶⁵So Solomon observed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. ⁶⁶On the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David His servant and to Israel His people.

8:65 "the feast" See full note at 1 Kgs. 8:2.

▣ "from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt" This was a way of referring to all of Solomon's kingdom, from north (cf. Num. 13:21) to south.

The "brook of Egypt" refers to the Wadi-el-arish.

8:66 "to their tents" This is an anachronism (cf. Jdgs. 19:9; 20:8; 1 Sam. 13:2) from the exodus and wilderness wandering period.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. To which feast does "the feast of 1 Kgs. 8:2" refer?
2. Where was
   1. the tent of meeting
   2. the ark of the covenant
3. What did the cherubim in the holy of holies symbolize?
4. How does 1 Kgs. 8:9 relate to Hebrews 9:4?
5. Explain the symbolism of the cloud (v. 10).
6. What was "the glory of the Lord" (v. 11)?
7. What did "the Name" symbolize?
8. Does v. 23 denote monotheism?
9. Is the covenant with David conditional or unconditional?
10. Does YHWH dwell over the ark or in the highest heaven?
11. Did the Israelites pray toward Jerusalem?
12. What is "the good way" (v. 36)?
13. What recurrent biblical truth is expressed in v. 39?
14. Why are vv. 41-43 and 60 so theologically significant?
15. What biblical truth is expressed in v. 46?
16. What does it mean "to repent"?
17. Define "rest" (v. 56).
18. What does the phrase "as at this day" imply?

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