1 Kings 8:7-15

7 The winged creatures spread their wings over the place where the chest rested, covering the chest and its carrying poles.

8 The carrying poles were so long that their tips could be seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, though they weren't visible from outside. They are still there today.

9 Nothing was in the chest except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there while at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they left Egypt.

10 When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the LORD's temple,

11 and the priests were unable to carry out their duties due to the cloud because the LORD's glory filled the LORD's temple.

12 Then Solomon said, "The LORD said that he would live in a dark cloud,

13 but I have indeed built you a lofty temple as a place where you can live forever."

14 The king turned around, and while the entire assembly of Israel was standing there, he blessed them,

15 saying, “Bless Israel's God, the LORD, who spoke directly to my father David and now has kept his promise:

1 Kings 8:7-15 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.