1 Kings 8:16

16 '¹Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that ²My name might be there, but ³I chose David to be over My people Israel.'

1 Kings 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:16

Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of
Egypt
Which was now about four hundred and eighty eight years ago; see ( 1 Kings 6:1 1 Kings 6:38 ) ( 8:2 ) .

I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that
my name might be therein;
he had chosen one in his mind from all eternity; but he had not made known this choice, nor the place he had chosen; he gave hints by Moses, that there was a place which he should choose, or declare he had chosen to put his name in, but did not express it, ( Deuteronomy 12:5 Deuteronomy 12:11 ) but now it was a clear case that he had chosen Jerusalem, and that was the city he always had in view, see ( 2 Chronicles 6:6 ) ,

but I chose David to be over my people Israel;
to be their king, and to him he gave the first hint of the place where the temple was to be built, ( 1 Chronicles 22:1 ) , and he chose no man, and his family with him, before him, to rule over Israel, and be concerned in such a work, see ( 2 Chronicles 6:5 ) .

1 Kings 8:16 In-Context

14 Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

15 He said, "Blessed be the LORD , the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying,

16 'Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.'

17 "Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD , the God of Israel.

18 "But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 7:4, 5; 1 Chronicles 17:3-10; 2 Chronicles 6:5
• 2. Deuteronomy 12:5, 11
• 3. 1 Samuel 16:1; 2 Samuel 7:8