1 Kings 8:14

14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra'el. The whole community of Isra'el stood

1 Kings 8:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:14

And the king turned his face about
He was before the altar, ( 1 Kings 8:22 ) , with his face to that first, and looking towards the holy and the most holy place, filled with the cloud and glory; and now he turned himself and stood with the altar behind him, and looking to the court of the people:

and blessed all the congregation of Israel;
either blessed the Lord before them, or prayed for blessings for them, or congratulated them upon the Lord's taking up his residence in the temple, which was so great an honour and favour to them:

and all the congregation of Israel stood:
ready to receive the king's blessing, and in honour of him, and reverence to the divine Being. The Jews say, none might sit in the court but the kings of the house of David.

1 Kings 8:14 In-Context

12 Shlomo said, "ADONAI said he would live in thick darkness.

13 But I have built you a magnificent house, a place where you can live forever."

14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra'el. The whole community of Isra'el stood

15 as he said: "Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, who spoke to my father David with his mouth and fulfilled his promise with his hand. He said,

16 'Since the day I brought my people Isra'el out of Egypt, I chose no city from any of the tribes of Isra'el in which to build a house, so that my name might be there; but I did choose David to be over my people Isra'el.'