The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 158

But the Chron. aud the Verss. distinguish Jemsalem, of its religion and sanotue.ry it here (by the introduction of "and" be- could offer towards the house. The Gentiles tween the two words) as a separate plague. It is also similarly distinguished, Joel i. 4; who should visit Jerusalem would assuredly, Pse.. lxxviii. 46. Gesen. considers it to be e. with their polytheistic ideas o.ud their be- 'J)ecies of locust] ; 1f their enemy besiege lief in local or tribal deities, invoke the aid Ahem in the la.nd of their cities [Heh. his and blessing of the mighty God of Jaoob . ga.tes, but " the land of bis gates " hardly This mention of aliens from the common- yields sense. It is noteworthy that the LXX. (mtb most of the Verss.) reads iv µ,q. wealth of Israel in the prayer of dedication, rwv r.o\Ewv avrov. Thenius, consequently, especially when viewed in the light of the to bring the Hebrew text into harmony, exclusiveness and bigotry which character. would substitute ,,,,y r,n~:l for l'il'~ ized the J ewe of later days, is especially to vir:-t:l. Another suggested emendation is be noticed. As Rawlinson (in loco) observes, 1'1L'~:l, rir:-t:l, "in the le.nd, even in their gates." Ent it is doubtful whether any •' Nothing is more remarkable in the Moso.io alteration is really required. " The land law than its libere.li ty with regard to of their gates" (cf. "land of their captivity," strangers." He then quotes Exod. xxii. 21 ; 2 Cbron. vi. 37; Jer. =· 10, &c.) may Levit. uv. 35; Dent. x. 19; x:x.xi. 12; Num. perhaps be interpreted the land where their xv. 14-16; and adds : "It is quite in the gates (i.e., fortified cities) are. The marg. "Jurisdiction "-the gate being the place spirit of these enactments that Solomon, of judgment (Ruth iv. 11; Prov. xxii. 22; having first prayed God on behalf of his 2 Sam. xv. 2)-is altogether out of the fellow countrymen, should next go on to in- qnestionJ ; whatsoever plague, whatsoever tercede for the strangers," &c. The inter- [Heh. cveriJ pln.gue, &c.] sickness there be. course of the Hebrews at tbiR period with Ver. 38.-What prayer and supplication foreign nations, and the influence they soever [There is here a studied reference to exercised on the Jewish thought and the preceding words. Lit., every prayer, &c. We might render in ver. 37, "What- manners (see Stanley,'' Jewish Ch." ii. Leet. soever the plague," &c., and here, "What- xxvi.), are Riso to be remembered. These soever the prayer," &c.] be made by any new relations with the stranger would no man, or by all thy people Israel, which doubt have widened Solomon's views. sb.a.11 know every man the plague of his own heart [Here again there is an nnmis- Ver. 41.-Moreover concerning a stranger, ta.keable reference to the " plague " (same that 1s not or thy people Israel, but cometh word) of ver. 37. The plague of the heart out of a far country for thy name's sake; is the inner smart of the conscience corre- [Solomon takes it for granted that such sponding with and perhaps more painful will come, and not without good reo.son, than the smiting of the person. The mean- for the house was "exceeding magnifical" ing obviously is that the prayers will va'l and destined to be " of fame and glory according to the various mental and physi- throughout all countries" (1 Chron. xxii. 5). cal sufferings of men], and spread forth h1s And we can hardly doubt that in the visit hal!dB [ses on ver. 22] toward this house. of the Queen of Sheba we are to see one fulfilment of this anticipation. (Note thfl' Ver. 39.-Then hear thou in heaven thy expression of eh. x. 1 " concerning the nam, 4well.1ng pla.ce, and forgive, and do, and of the Lord.") One who blessed God, u give to every man according to h1s ways, she did (ver. 9), would certainly pray towo.r(\· whose heart thou lmowest; (for thou, even the house. In the time of the secon,\ thou only, lmowest the hearts of all the temple there were several instances of children of men;) [Jer. xvii. 10. Cf. o ttap- strangers (e.g., Alexander the Great, _P~olemy ow-yvwtr1TJ' 6eoi: ( Acts xv. 8 ; also ib. i. 24). Philadelphus, and Seleucus; see Keil rn loc.) Ver. 40.-That they may fear thee IIJl worshipping the God of Jacob in Jerusalem. the days that they llve 1n the la.nd which Ver. 42.-(For they shall hear of thy thou ga.vest unto their fathers. _[Solomon great name [Cf. Josh. vii. !J; Pea. lxxvi. 1; anticipates that a godly fear Wlll be the xcix. 3], and of thy strong hand [cf. Exod, result of !orgivenees and restoration. We vi. 6 ; xiii. 9 ; Dout. ix. 26, 29 ; cf. vii. HI. find the same thought in Psa. cxxx. 4. The They had heard at a much earlier date mercy and goodness of God should lead to (Exod. xv. 14; xviii. 1 ; Josh. v. 1). The repentance, but unhappily it not unseldom reference is not so much to the marvols of [aile to do so. J the Exodus-that was long past-as to the The fifth petition cont.emplates the prayers wondrous works which Solomon assumes which foreigners, attracted by the {e.me of will hcreniter be wrought], and or thy OR, VIII, 1-66.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 157