1 Kings 8:11

11 The priests [were] not able to stand to minister {because of the presence of} the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.

1 Kings 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:11

So that the priests could not stand to minister, because
of the cloud
Either through the darkness it first caused, or through the light that broke out of it, which was dazzling to them, or through the terror it struck their minds with; they could neither minister in the holy place, by offering incense there; and as for the most holy place, none but the high priest could minister there, and that on one day only; nor in the court of the priests, at the altar of burnt offerings:

for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord;
a bright and glorious stream came forth from the cloud, and spread itself all over the house, and then took up its abode in the most holy place as in the tabernacle, ( Exodus 40:34 ) ( Ezekiel 43:2 Ezekiel 43:4 Ezekiel 43:5 ) .

1 Kings 8:11 In-Context

9 There was not [anything] in the ark {except} the two tablets of stone which Moses had placed there at Horeb, where Yahweh {made} [a covenant] with the {Israelites} after they went out from the land of Egypt.

10 When the priests went out from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of Yahweh.

11 The priests [were] not able to stand to minister {because of the presence of} the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.

12 Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that [he] would dwell in the very thick cloud.

13 I have certainly built a lofty house for you, a place for you to live forever."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "from [the] face of"