Logos Bible Study

1 Kings 8:1–21

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Solomon Moves the Ark into the Temple

8:11 Then Solomon convened in Jerusalem2 Israel’s elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David (that is, Zion).38:2All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival4 in the month Ethanim5 (the seventh month). 8:3When all Israel’s elders had arrived, the priests lifted the ark. 8:4The priests and Levites carried the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting,6 and all the holy items in the tent.78:5Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.8

8:6The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its assigned9 place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs. 8:7The cherubs’ wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.108:8The poles were so long their ends were visible from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point.11 They have remained there to this very day. 8:9There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb.12 It was there that13 the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 8:10Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. 8:11The priests could not carry out their duties14 because of the cloud; the Lord’s glory filled his temple.15

8:12Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness. 8:13O Lord,16 truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.” 8:14Then the king turned around17 and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.188:15He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled19 what he promised20 my father David. 8:16He told David,21 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live.22 But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’ 8:17Now my father David had a strong desire23 to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.248:18The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.258:19But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’268:20The Lord has kept the promise he made.27 I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor28 of the Lord God of Israel 8:21and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with our ancestors29 when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 The Old Greek translation includes the following words at the beginning of ch. 8: “It so happened that when Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple and his own house, after twenty years.”
  2. 2 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
  3. 3 Heb “Then Solomon convened the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers belonging to the sons of Israel to King Solomon [in] Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David (it is Zion).”
  4. 4 The festival. This was the Feast of Tabernacles, see Lev 23:34.
  5. 5 The month Ethanim. This would be September–October in modern reckoning.
  6. 6 Heb “the tent of assembly.” The tent of meeting. See Exod 33:7–11.
  7. 7 Heb “and they carried the ark of the Lord.… The priests and the Levites carried them.”
  8. 8 Heb “And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel, those who had been gathered to him, [were] before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle which could not be counted or numbered because of the abundance.”
  9. 9 The word “assigned” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
  10. 10 And its poles. These poles were used to carry the ark. See Exod 25:13–15.
  11. 11 Heb “they could not be seen outside.”
  12. 12 Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai.
  13. 13 Heb “in Horeb where.”
  14. 14 Heb “were not able to stand to serve.”
  15. 15 Heb “the house of the Lord.”
  16. 16 The words “O Lord” do not appear in the original text, but they are supplied for clarification; Solomon addresses the Lord in prayer at this point.
  17. 17 Heb “turned his face.”
  18. 18 Heb “and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.”
  19. 19 The Hebrew text reads, “by his hand.”
  20. 20 The Hebrew text reads, “by his mouth.”
  21. 21 Heb “saying.”
  22. 22 Heb “to build a house for my name to be there.” To build a temple in which to live (Heb “to build a house for my name to be there”). In the OT, the word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the Lord sometimes designates the Lord himself, being indistinguishable from the proper name.
  23. 23 Heb “and it was with the heart of David my father.”
  24. 24 Heb “to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.” The word “name” in the OT sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the Lord sometimes designates the Lord himself, being indistinguishable from the proper name.
  25. 25 Heb “Because it was with your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was with your heart.”
  26. 26 Heb “your son, the one who came out of your body, he will build the temple for my name.”
  27. 27 Heb “his word that he spoke.”
  28. 28 Heb “name.”
  29. 29 Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 34, 40, 48, 53, 57, 58).

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press