1 Kings 8:16

16 From the day that I brought out My people, even Israel, from Egypt, I have not fixed on a city out of all the tribes of Israel, to build a house for My name being there; and I fix on 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 And the king turneth round his face, and blesseth the whole assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel is standing.

15 And he saith, `Blessed [is] Jehovah, God of Israel, who spake by His mouth with David my father, and by His hand hath fulfilled [it], saying,

16 From the day that I brought out My people, even Israel, from Egypt, I have not fixed on a city out of all the tribes of Israel, to build a house for My name being there; and I fix on David to be over My people Israel.

17 `And it is with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, God of Israel,

18 and Jehovah saith unto David my father, Because that it hath been with thy heart to build a house for My name, thou hast done well that it hath been with thy heart;