1 Kings 8:16-26

16 "From the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.' " 1
17 And Solomon continued, "My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel, 2
18 but the Lord said to him, "You were right in wanting to build a temple for me,
19 but you will never build it. It is your son, your own son, who will build my temple.' 3
20 "And now the Lord has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel.
21 I have also provided a place in the Temple for the Covenant Box containing the stone tablets of the covenant which the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."
22 Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar, where he raised his arms
23 and prayed, "Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.
24 You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled.
25 And now, Lord God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did. 4
26 So now, O God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.

1 Kings 8:16-26 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.

Cross References 4

  • 1. 8.16 2 S 7.4-11;1 Chronicles 17.3-10.
  • 2. 8.17, 18 2 S 7.1-3;1 Chronicles 17.1, 2.
  • 3. 8.19 2 S 7.12, 13;1 Chronicles 17.11, 12.
  • 4. 8.25 1 Kings 2.4.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.