1 Kings 8:9-19

9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.

11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;

13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.

15 Then he said: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said,

16 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

17 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.

19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

1 Kings 8:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 16:34; S Exodus 25:16; Hebrews 9:4">Hebrews 9:4; Exodus 24:7-8; Exodus 25:21; Exodus 40:20; Deuteronomy 10:2-5; Hebrews 9:4">Hebrews 9:4
• 2. S Exodus 16:10; S Leviticus 16:2; Revelation 15:8; Exodus 40:34-35; 2 Chronicles 7:1-2
• 3. 2 Chronicles 7:2; Revelation 15:8
• 4. S Exodus 16:7; S Exodus 29:43
• 5. S Exodus 40:34; S 2 Samuel 22:10; Psalms 18:11; Psalms 97:2
• 6. Exodus 15:17; 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalms 132:13; Psalms 135:21; Matthew 23:21
• 7. S Exodus 39:43; 2 Samuel 6:18
• 8. 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 1 Chronicles 16:36; 1Ch 29:10,20; Nehemiah 9:5; Luke 1:68
• 9. S Exodus 3:10
• 10. S Deuteronomy 12:5
• 11. S 1 Samuel 9:16; S 1 Samuel 16:1
• 12. 2Sa 7:4-6,8; Psalms 89:3-4
• 13. S 1 Samuel 10:7; Acts 7:46
• 14. 2 Samuel 7:27">2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Chronicles 22:7; Psalms 26:8; Psalms 132:5; 2 Samuel 7:2; 1 Chronicles 17:1
• 15. S 2 Samuel 7:5
• 16. S 2 Samuel 7:13; 1 Kings 5:3,5