1 Kings 8:7-15

7 When the angels' outstretched wings were over the place where the ark [rested], the angels became a covering above the ark and its poles.

8 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room, but they couldn't be seen outside. (They are still there today.)

9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.

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

11 The priests couldn't serve because of the cloud. The LORD's glory filled his temple.

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

13 I certainly have built you a high temple, a home for you to live in permanently."

14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel while they were standing.

15 "Thanks be to the LORD God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David; with his hand he carried it out. He said,

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.