The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 161

should be appointed (ver. 11). Tho.t place castaway), to walk 1n his statutes, and to is now dedicated, nnd the king sees in this keep his commandments, as at this day circumsta.nce a proof that the rest is now [That day the nation proved its piety by the o.t Inst fully attained, The permanent dedication of the house. sa.nctuary is o. pledge of settlement in the At the close of this prayer (omitted in land, The rest hitherto enjoyed (Josh. Chron.), according to 2 Chron. vii. 1, "fire :xxi. 44) had been but partial. Only under came down from heaven and consumed the Solomon were the Philistines brought into burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the complete subjection (1 Kings ix. 16), and glory of the Lord filled the house," but hitherto the ark had dwelt in curtains] ; Bahr rejects these words as an in terpo- there ha.th not failed [Heb, fallen; cf. lation. He maintains, indeed, that the 1 Sam. iii. 19] one word [a clear reference chronicler contradicts himself, for we can to Josh. xxi. 45, as the preceding words are hardly think that the glory which we are to ver. 44) of all his good promise, which told (eh. v. 14) had already filled the house, he promised by the hand [cf. ver. 53] of left it and then retnrned. It is certainly Moses h1a servant [viz., in Levit. x:xvi. 3---13, suspicious, and a much stronger e.rgument and in Deut. x:xvili. 1-14, i.e., in the against the words in question, that no men- chapters which are the sources of this tion of the fire is made by our author, for, prayer, &c. brief as this history is, it is difficult to Ver. 57.-The Lord our God be with us, believe that so signal an interposition could as he was with our fa.there : let him not have remained unnoticed, if it really oc- leave us, nor forsake us. [Solomon in- clll'I'ed. sensibly glides again into prayer; here for the presence of God, in ver. 59 for His SECTION IV.-The Festal Sacrifices. help. There is probably a reference to Deut. :xxxi. 6, 8; Josh. i. 5, where, however, The ceremonial of dedication was fol- "forsake" is represented by a different word. lowed, as would naturally be the case, by Ver. 58.-That he may incline our hearts sacrifices on a see.le of unusual grandeur. unto him [Psa. cxix. 26 ; cxli. 4], to walk 1n Apart from their religions use and signifi- all his ways [ver. 25; eh. ii. 4. The condi- cance, the sacrifices testified to the devotion tion on which God's blessing was insured was at this time printed on Solomon's mind], of the giver, who on this of e.11 days must and to keep his commandments, and his not appear before the Lord empty, and they statutes, and his judgments [see note on also afforded materials for the great and eh. ii. 3, to which ver. there is not improbably prolonged feast by which this auspicious a reference], which he commanded our event in the history of Israel mnst be com- fathers. Ver. 59.-And let these my words, where- memorated. with I have made supplication before the Ver. 62.-And the king, and all Israel Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day with him [Another indication (see on ver. 2) and night, that he maintain the cause of that practically the whole Isro.elitish nation [Heb. to do the judgment of] his servant, (i.e., its males) assembled to witness this and the cause of his people Israel at all greo.t function (ver. 65, But see on eh. xvi. times, as the matter shall require [Heb. 17). The words o.lso prove that the sacri- the thing of a day in his day. So.me phrase fices mentioned presently were offered by the Exod. v. 13; xvi. 47 : . people ns well as by the king], ofrered sacri- Ver. 60.-Tllat all the people of the earth fice before the Lord. [See note on eh. ix. 25.] may know that tho Lord is God, and that Ver. 68.-And Solomon offered a sacrifice there ls none else. [See vcr. 22. We ho.ve [Solomon is mentioned as chief donor, and here a recurrence to the thought of ver. 43, 11s the executive. But others shared in the which was evidently prominent in Solomon's gift] of peace offerings [Levit. vii. 11 sqq. mind. He hopes the house now dedicated This w11s especi11lly the sacrifice of praise-it will be fraught with blessing for the world, is co.lied "the so.orifice of tho.nksgivillg of 11,nd that the Gentiles will come to its light. his peace offerings," ib. vers. 13, 15. Ses Cf. Isa. ii. 2, 8.) Biihr, Symb. ii. 8GB sqq. In the peace offer- Ver. 61.-Let your heart therefore be ing, the fat was burnt on the altar, but the perfect with the I.ord our God [An instruc- flesh was eaten (ver. 15; of. Dent. xii. 7), so tive commentary c.n these words is found in that tbis form of offering was, in every way, eh. xi. 4, where it is said of this Solomon, ado.pted to a festival. The idea that "ox "His heart wo.s not perfeot," &c.-sa.me after ox, to the number of 22,000, and sheep words. Similarly, ib. vers. 8, 9 are o. com- nfter sheep, to the number of 120,000, were ment on the pra.yer of ver. 68. Having consumed," sc. by fire (Stanley), is expressly prenched to others, he himsell beco.mo o. excluded), which he offered tlllto the Lord, 160 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oa. vm. 1-66.