A. M. 2999. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, 19 because they were exceeding many neither was the weight of the brass 20 found out. 48¶ And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon 'the show-bread was, 49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, more fit for making moulds of all kinds. And in a plain country such moulds were more easily fixed than on the sides of hills, or steep places. Solomon left all the vessels unweighed-Because the weighing of them would have been troublesome, and to no purpose. Neither was the weight of the brass found out—Hebrew, pr, nechkar, investigated, or inquired into. Much less was an exact account taken of it. Verse 48. All the vessels that pertained to the house of the Lord-Such as God, by the mouth of Moses, had commanded to be made for his house and service, and such as Moses had made for the tabernacle; only these for the temple were larger, richer, and more in number; according to the difference, as to size and splendour, between the temple and the tabernacle, and between Solomon's vast riches and the poverty of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. The altar of gold-That is, overlaid with gold. For it was made of cedar, as that of Moses was of shittim-wood, and it was only covered with gold, chap. vi. 20. This was the altar of incense which stood in the holy place, and is mentioned 1 Chron. xxviii. 18, as one of the holy things for which David left gold. And the table of how-bread-Under which, by a synecdoche, are comprehended, both all the utensils belonging to it, and the other ten tables, which were made at the same time, 2 Chron. iv. 7, 8. temple built by Solomon. B. C. 1005. 50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, A. M. 2999 and the basins, and the spoons, and the 21 censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. 51 So was ended all the work that King Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the 22 things which David his father had dedicated: even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord. a Exod. xxv. 30; Lev. xxiv. 5, 8.21 Heb. ash-pans. 22 Heb. holy things of David.- - 2 Sam. viii. 11; 2 Chron. v. 1. ceive the water of sprinkling, and the blood of the sacrifices, which was sometimes brought into the most holy place. The spoons served to take up the oil. The censers were for offering incense. The hinges of gold, &c.-This shows the vast riches of Solomon, and his great piety, which made him spare no cost to beautify the house of God, and all things belonging to it. Verse 51. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated-The silver and gold, and other things which David had provided for erecting this temple, and which had not been expended in the house itself, or its furniture, Solomon laid up in the treasury belonging to it, for repairs, exigences, and the constant charge of the temple-service. Although this splendid edifice had cost him immense sums, besides what David had prepared for building it, he would not repay himself in any degree by diverting from their intended purpose, and transferring to his own secular use, these devoted, or, as they are termed in the margin, holy things of David. "What parents have dedicated to God," says Henry, here, "the children ought by no means to alienate or recall; but cheerfully confirm what was intended for pious and charitable uses, that they may with their estates inherit the blessing." And the vessels did he put among the treasures of, &c.-With those which David had dedicated, he laid up the altar of Moses, Verse 49. And the candlesticks--Which were ten, and some other of the old utensils which belonged according to the number of the tables, whereas Mo-to the tabernacle, as being of no further use, far ses made but one: whereby might be signified the better being provided in their room. Indeed, the progress of the light of sacred truth, which was tabernacle itself was thus laid up, for which, as the now grown clearer than it was in Moses's time, temple was now built, there was no further occaand should shine brighter and brighter until the per- sion; and yet it was proper to preserve the parts feet day of gospel light. Of pure gold-Of massy of so sacred a structure, which had been formed, in and fine gold. Before the oracle-In the holy place. all respects, by divine direction, and had long been Flowers-Wrought upon the candlesticks, as had holy to the Lord. formerly been the case. Tongs of gold-Wherewith to take coals from the altar of burnt-offering. Verse 50. The bowls and the snuffers, &c.-The se of the different articles here named is manifest. The bowls were to contain oil for the lamps, the snuffers to trim them: the basins, which were a hundred, as we learn 2 Chron. iv. 8, were to re So was ended all the work-" Concerning this temple, we may observe, upon the whole, that the glory of it did not consist in its bulk or largeness, (for in itself it was but a small pile of building, no more than one hundred and fifty feet in length, and one hundred and five in breadth, taking the whole together, and is exceeded by many of our parish The elders assemble to bring I. KINGS. the ark into the temple. expedient availed. Multitudes of the Israelites, and those not only of the more distant tribes, but even of the tribe of Judah itself, in the very midst of whom this most splendid and sumptuous fabric stood, soon relapsed into that most unreasonable and stupid of all sins. Nearly the whole Hebrew nation, even, became idolatrous. Nay, what is more astonishing, Solomon himself, who erected this most costly and superb edifice, was drawn away from the worship of that God to whose honour he had raised it, and was turned in his heart after other gods, chap xi. 4; so true it is, that nothing merely external, whether in the place or ceremonies of God's worship, however sumptuous or dazzling, can engage or secure the attachment of fallen man to him and his service. An acquaintance with his spiritual and holy nature and infinite perfections, and his love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us, can only effect this; which blessings if we would receive and retain, we must keep our hearts with all dili churches,) but its chief grandeur and excellence || from being answered thereby, and how little the lay in its out-buildings and ornaments, in its workmanship, which was everywhere very curious, and in its overlayings, which were vast and prodigious. The overlaying of the holy of holies only, which was a room but thirty feet square and twenty high,|| amounted to six hundred talents of gold, which comes to four millions three hundred and twenty thousand pounds of our sterling money. 'The whole frame,' says Josephus, was raised upon stones, polished to the highest degree of perfection, and so artificially put together, that there was no joint to be discerned, no sign of any working-tools having been upon them, but the whole looked more like the work of providence and nature, than the product of art and human invention. And as for the inside, what carving, gilding, embroidery, rich || silks, and fine linen could do, of these there was the greatest profusion. The very floor of the temple was overlaid with beaten gold; the doors were large, and proportioned to the height of the walls, twenty cubits broad, and still gold upon gold.' Antiq., lib.gence, and not suffer their desires to wander after viii. chap. 2. In a word, it was gold all over, and nothing was wanting, either within or without, that might contribute to the glory and magnificence of the work."-Dr. Dodd. Some have intimated, that || one principal reason why Solomon bestowed all this outward splendour and glory on the temple of the one living and true God, probably was that he might keep the people from idolatry, knowing how much they were taken with such things. Certainly none of the idol temples were to be compared to it for riches and magnificence. Indeed, there was nothing like it in the whole world. But if this were any part of his design, the event showed how far it was vain things, which cannot profit. Had Solomon continued to attend to this, his own advice, the glory of his youth would not have suffered so dreadful an eclipse in his declining years; but the bright example of his wisdom and piety would have continued to shine with undiminished, nay, with increasing lustre, to the credit of the true religion, and the edification of millions, while he himself, in soul and body, would have remained a temple of the living God, a habitation of Jehovah through the Spirit, a fabric unspeakably more glorious than that which, with such immense expense of treasure, time, and labour, he had erected in Jerusalem. a CHAPTER VIII. B. C. 1004. The chief men of Israel called together, 1, 2. The ark fixed in the most holy place, 3-9. God takes possession of it by a cloud, 10-12. Solomon tells the people the occasion of their meeting, 13–21. The prayer of dedication, 22-53. He dismisses the assembly with a blessing and an exhortation, 54-61. Offers abundance of sacrifices, 62–66. A. M. 3000. THEN Solomon assembled the the covenant of the LORD out of A. M. 3000. elders of Israel, and all the heads the city of David, which is Zion. of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of B. C. 1004. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. c 2 Sam. v. 7, 9; vi. 12, 16.- -d Lev. xxiii. 24; 2 Chron. vii. 8. stood,) in order that by this their attendance they might make a public profession of the respect, obedience, and service which they owed unto that God, who had been graciously and gloriously present with the ark. Out of the city of David, which is Zion— That is, called Zion. Thither David had brought the ark from the house of Obed-Edom, and had made a tabernacle for it, (2 Sam. vi. 12, 17,) until a fixed house should be prepared. Verse 2. All the men of Israel assembled-Not The ark fired in CHAPTER VIII. the most holy place. A. M. 3000 3 And all the elders of Israel came, || were with him before the ark, sa- A. M. 3000. B. C. 1004. and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. 5 And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, Nam. iv. 15; Deut. xxxi. 9; Joshua iii. 3, 6; 1 Chron. xv. - Chap. iii. 4; 2 Chron. i. 3. 14, 15. only the chief men, who were particularly invited, but a vast number of the common people, as being desirous to see and join in this great and glorious solemnity. At the feast-This feast of the dedication to which Solomon had invited them. In the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month-This time he chose for the people's greater convenience, because now they had gathered in all their fruits, and were going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of tabernacles. But it may be objected, "According to chap. vi. 38, the temple was not finished till the eighth month, how then could he invite them to the dedication of it in the seventh month?" To this it must be answered, It was the seventh month of the next year. For although the house in all its parts was finished the year before, yet, it seems, the utensils of it were not then fully finished; and many preparations were to be made for this great and extraordinary occasion. Add to this, that Solomon chose to defer this solemnity till the next year, that he might celebrate it with the greater magnificence, that being the year of jubilee, their ninth, according to Archbishop Usher, which opened the fourth millenary of the world; and at the solemnity of the jubilee, there used to be always a vast concourse of people from all parts of the kingdom. || This ceremony" then of the dedication "began on the eighth day of the seventh month of the sacred year, which was the first of the civil year, answering to the latter end of our October, and lasted seven days, at the end of which began the feast of taber nacles." Verse 3. The priests took up the ark-The ark had been carried by the priests three times before this; when they went over Jordan; when they encompassed the walls of Jericho; and when David sent it back by Zadok and Abiathar, at the time when he fled from Absalom. It was, however, the office of the Levites to carry the ark, which they did, except upon special occasions, of which this was one. The priests were now appointed to carry it for the greater honour of the solemnity; and because the Levites might not enter into the holy place, much less into the holy of holies, where it was to be placed, into which the priests themselves might not have entered, if the high-priest alone could have done this work without them. Verse 4. And the tabernacle of the congregation That made by Moses, which doubtless before this B. C. 1004. crificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even * under the wings of the cherubims. i time had been removed from Gibeon to Zion. And all the holy vessels-Namely, the altar of incense, the table of show-bread, the candlestick, and every thing belonging to them; all these were now carried into the temple, and laid up there, to prevent all idolatrous and superstitious use of them, and to oblige the people to come up to Jerusalem, as the only place where sacrifices were now to be offered, and the various ceremonies of public worship performed. Verse 5. King Solomon, and all the congregation with him before the ark-This ceremony of removing the ark from the tabernacle which David had erected for it, to the temple, and depositing it in the most holy place, was opened with a pompous procession. The king himself, accompanied by all his chief officers and the elders of Israel, marched before the ark; these were followed by a great number of priests and Levites, who sung some canticles proper to the occasion, and played upon various instruments. Next to the ark followed another number of singers and players, with other priests bearing the tabernacle and the sacred utensils of the sanctuary, which had been brought from Gibeon. While the priests were placing the ark in the most holy place, the air rung with the sound of a hundred and twenty trumpets, and with the voices of the Levites, who sang the praises of God, repeating these words at proper intervals; Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; and his mercy endureth for ever. It was then that God seemed to come down in a visible manner, to take possession, as it were, of his new temple, by filling it with a glorious cloud, as he had formerly done the tabernacle; insomuch that the priests could not stand to offer up the sacrifices which they had prepared upon that occasion. See Universal Hist. Sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be numbered-When the ark was seated in its place; for although they might in the way offer some sacrifices, as David did, yet that was not a proper season to offer so many sacrifices as could not be numbered. This is more particularly related below, (verses 62-64,) and is here only mentioned by way of anticipation. Verses 6-8. Under the wings of the cherubim Which Solomon had made. For the cherubim made by Moses were fixed to the mercy-seat and the ark, and were inseparable from it, and therefore, together with the ark, were placed under the wings The glory of the Lord B. C. 1004. B. C. 1004. A. M. 3000. ims covered the ark and the staves the LORD had filled the house of A. M. 3000. thereof above. 1 8 And they drew out the staves, that the 2 ends of the staves were seen out in the 3 holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without and there they are unto this day. of these cherubim. And they drew out the staves— Not wholly, which was expressly forbidden, (Exod. xxv. 15; Num. iv. 6,) but in part. That the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place-That is, the most holy, often called the holy place by way of eminence. And the next clause before the oracle, may be as well rendered, within the oracle. These staves were left in this posture, that the high-priest might thereby be certainly guided to that very place where he was, one day in a year, to sprinkle blood, and to offer incense before the ark, which otherwise he might have mistaken in that dark place, where the ark was wholly covered with the wings of the great cherubim, which stood between him and the ark when he entered in. They were not seen withoutIn the sanctuary. There they are unto this dayIn that posture, namely, when this book was written. Verse 9. There was nothing in the ark, &c.— || Strictly and properly speaking. But in a looser sense, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod were also in or by it, (Heb. ix. 4,) being placed by Moses, as God commanded, (Num. xvii. 10,) before the ark of the testimony, in the most holy place. the LORD. r 12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. 14 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood; was first excessively dark, and afterward broke out in overpowering light and splendour. Verse 12. Then spake Solomon-Perceiving both priests and people to be struck with consternation and horror at this supernatural and sudden darkness, he uttered the words which follow, to compose their minds and comfort them. The Lord said he would dwell in the thick darkness-This dark cloud, therefore, is not a sign of his displeasure, as some may imagine, but rather a token of his special presence with us, and approbation of us, and that he owns this for his house, and will dwell in it, according to his declaration respecting the tabernacle, that he would appear in a cloud upon the mercyseat, Lev. xvi. 2. See also Deut. iv. 11, and v. 22; Psa. xcvii. 2; Exod. xl. 35. Verse 13. I have surely built thee a house to dwell in-He turns his speech from them to God, as entering into the house, and expresses his desire and hope that he would continue to manifest, by such visible tokens, that he was present in it, and would, as it were, make it the place of his special and stated abode. A settled place for thee-Not a tabernacle, made to be carried about from place to place, but a durable and perpetual habitation. Verse 14. The king turned his face aboutFrom the court of the priests and the sanctuary, to the body of the congregation who were in the court designed for the people. And blessed all the congregation-Probably in that form of words which God himself had prescribed, Num. vi. 23-25. All the congregation stood-In token of reverence to God, and respect to the king, and of their readiness to receive his blessing, and the blessing of God through his instrumentality. Verses 10, 11. When the priests were come out of the holy place-That is, the most holy, where they had set down the ark. The cloud-The usual token of God's glorious presence, Exod. xvi. 10, and xxiv. 15, 16; Num. ix. 15; filled the house of the Lord-In testimony of his gracious acceptance of this work and their service; and to beget an awe and reverence in them and in all others when they approached to God. So that the priests could not stand to minister-By this it appears that the cloud filled the whole house, as well as the most holy place for it was at the altar of incense in the sanctuary that the priests ministered. And it was either Verses 15, 16. Which spake with his mouth unto so bright that it dazzled their eyes; or rather, as the David, &c.-He acknowledges the grace and goodnext verse seems to imply, so dark that it struckness of God in making the promise, and his truth them with horror and amazement. Probably it and faithfulness in fulfilling it. I chose no city The prayer of Solomon at CHAPTER VIII. the dedication of the temple. B. C. 1004. A. M. 3000. my name might be therein; but I || he made with our fathers, when he A. M. 3000 chose David to be over my people brought them out of the land of B. C. 1004. Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart. 19 Nevertheless, thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. 20 And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which Verse 29; Deut. xii. 11. 1 Sam. xvi. 1; 2 Sam. vii. 8; 1 Chronicles xxviii. 4. 2 Samuel vii. 2; 1Chron. xvii. 1. 2 Chron. vi. 8, 9.2 Samuel vii. 5, 12, 13; Chap. v. 3, 5. 1 Chron. xxviii. 5, 6. 12 Chron. vi. 12, &c. Until David's time; for then he did choose Jerusalem. That my name might be therein-Not only, which should be called by my name, namely, the house of Jehovah but that my presence, and grace, and worship, and glory, might be there. But I chose David-And in and with him the tribe of Judah, to which he belonged, and Jerusalem, where be dwelt. Verse 9; Deuteronomy xxxi. 26. Verses 17-20. It was in the heart of David my father-In his desire and purpose, as this and the like phrase is often used. Thou didst well that it was in thine heart-Thy intention and affection were well pleasing to me, although I did not permit thee, for wise reasons, to put thy pious designs into execution. The Lord hath performed his word -He concludes, as he began, with a thankful acknowledgment of God's goodness in fulfilling his promise. Egypt. 22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: m 23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 24 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, "There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to 6 hearken, with profound attention, to what he should further say. And, having spoken the foregoing words with his face toward them, and blessed them, he now turned about again with his face toward the altar, that he might address a solemn prayer to God, and so dedicate the sacred building to his worship and service. And spread forth his hands toward heaven-A solemn posture in which prayer was wont to be made, not only among the Jews, but other nations. It appears from verse 54 of this chapter, that when he had stood awhile with his face toward the altar, he fell down upon his knees, and uttered the greatest part of the following prayer in the posture of kneeling. Verses 23, 24. Lord God of Israel, there is none like thee--He here acknowledges the transcendent excellences of Jehovah ; and again particularly extols his faithfulness to those who serve him sin Who hast kept with thy servant David that thou promisedst―That branch of thy promise concerning the building of this house by his son. Verse 21. I have set there a place for the ark-cerely. The token of God's presence with us; wherein is the covenant of the Lord-That is, the tables of the covenant, in which are written the conditions of God's covenant with our fathers. When he brought them out of the land of Egypt-And declared to them that by the tenure of this covenant they were to hold the land of Canaan. Verse 22. Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord-He had erected a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, five cubits broad, and three cubits high, (2 Chron. vi. 13,) and on this he stood, raised above the people, who were in the court and in the galleries round about, observing hin, and disposed to Verse 25. Therefore now keep, &c.-Make good the other branch of thy promise. He considered God's fulfilling the foregoing part of his promise, as an earnest that he would accomplish the other part also, made at the same time, concerning David's posterity, 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. So that thy children take heed to their way-Solomon here acknowledges that the accomplishment of the promise respecting the continuance of the kingdom in David's family, depended on their continuance in the faith and worship of God: and that, if they became idol |