1 Kings 8:10

10 As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud ¹

1 Kings 8:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:10

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the
holy place
The most holy place, having set up the ark of the Lord there, who were all sanctified that were there, and did not wait by course as at other times, see ( 2 Chronicles 5:11 ) , where in ( 2 Chronicles 5:12 2 Chronicles 5:13 ) it is said, that at this time, the Levites, who were singers of the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, arrayed in fine linen, with their musical instruments in their hands, stood at the east end of the altar of burnt offering, and one hundred and twenty priests, blowing their trumpets, praised the Lord together with one sound, declaring his goodness and his mercy, which endure for ever: and then it was

that the cloud filled the house of the Lord;
the whole temple, both the holy of holies and the holy place, and the court of the priests; so that it was visible to all, and was a token of the divine presence of God, of his taking possession of his house, and of his taking up his residence in it.

1 Kings 8:10 In-Context

8 The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else. (The poles are still there today.)

9 There was nothing inside the Covenant Box except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.

10 As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud

11 shining with the dazzling light of the Lord's presence, and they could not go back in to perform their duties.

12 Then Solomon prayed: "You, Lord, have placed the sun in the sky, yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.

Cross References

• 1. 8.10, 11Exodus 40.34, 35.