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covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

12 And "he stood before the altar of the LORD, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands,

13 (For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood," and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,)

14 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and showest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts:

15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

16 Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before

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David.

18 But will God in very deed dwell with "men on the earth? Behold," heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

19 Have respect, therefore, to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.

21 Hearken, therefore, unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they

n 1 Kings 8. 22, &c. the length thereof, &c. o Neh. 8. 4. p Ex. 15. 11.
Deut. 4. 39. 7. 9. g Neh. 1. 5. Dan. 9. 4. 71 Chr. 22.9. 8 ver. 4.
7. 12-16. 1 Kings 2. 4. 6. 12. ta man be cut off. u Ps. 192. 12.
c. 2. 6. Is. 66. 1. Acts 7. 49. Ps. 121. 4.

29. 45, 46. Ps. 68. 18.

2 Sam. D Ex. tor, in.

Spray. y c. 30. 27.
his princes, and the royal family. If God choose that place, it
is fit that there be a building for him, which may excel all the
rest. Were men thus honoured there, let God be thus honoured,
3. He did it in pursuance of his father's good intentions, which
he never had an opportunity to put in execution. It was in the
heart of David my father, to build a house for God; the project
was his, be it known, to his honour, (v. 7,) and God approved
of it, though he permitted him not to put it in execution; (v. 8,)
Thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Temple work is often
thus done; one sows, and another reaps, (John 4. 37, 38;) one
age begins that which the next brings to perfection; and let not
the wisest of men think it any disparagement to them, to pursue
the good designs which those that went before them have laid,
and to build upon their foundation. Every good piece is not
an original.

4. He did it in performance of the word which God had spoken. God had said, Thy son shall build the house for my name; and now he had done it, v. 9, 10. The service was appointed him, and the honour of it designed him, by the divine promise; so that he did not do it of his own head, but was called of God to do it. It is fit that he who appoints the work, should have the appointing of the workmen; and those may go on in their work with great satisfaction, who see their call to it clear.

V. 12-42. Solomon had, in the foregoing verses, signed and sealed, as it were, the deed of dedication, by which the temple was appropriated to the honour and service of God. Now here he prays the consecration prayer, by which it was made a figure of Christ, the great Mediator, through whom we are to offer all our prayers, and to expect all God's favours, and to whom we are to have an eye in every thing wherein we have to do with God.

We opened the particulars of this prayer, 1 Kings 8. and therefore shall now only glean up some few passages in it which may be the proper subjects of our meditation.

I. Here are some doctrinal truths occasionally laid down. As, 1. That the God of Israel is a Being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth, v. 14. All the creatures have their fellow-creatures, but the Creator has not his peer. He is infinitely above all, and over all, God blessed for ever. 2. That he is, and will be, true to every word that he has spoken; and

shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling-place," even from heaven, and when thou hearest, forgive.

22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and "an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;

23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

24 And if thy people Israel be "put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee **in this house;

25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them_the_good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore, or whatsoever sickness, there be;

29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house;

30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwellingplace, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men :)

he require an oath of him. z 2 Kings 9. 26. Ps. 10. 14. Jer. 28. 16, 17. 51. 56. Tor, amitten. or, toward. a Ps. 106. 40-47. 1 Kings 17, 18. Is. 5. 6. e Jer. 5. 24. Ez. 34. 26. Hos. 2. 21, 22. d c. 20.5-13. e Joel 1. 4, II 2. 25. 11 land of their gates. f c. 32. 24. Jam, 5. 13. Ps. 32. 2-6. 142. 1, 2. It or, toward. h Ps. 62. 12.

all that serve him in sincerity, shall certainly find him both faithful and kind. Those that set God always before them, and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word, and better; he will both keep covenant with them, and show mercy to them, v. 14. 3. That he is a Being infinite and immense, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain, and to whose felicity nothing is added by the utmost we can do in his service, v. 18. He is infinitely beyond the bounds of the creation, and infinitely above the praises of all intelligent creatures. 4. That he, and he only, knows the hearts of the children of men, v. 30. All men's thoughts, aims, and affections, are naked and open before him; and, however the imaginations and intents of our hearts may be concealed from men, angels, and devils, they cannot be hid from God, who knows not only what is in the heart, but the heart itself, and all the beatings of it. 5. That there is no such thing as a sinless perfection to be found in this life; (v. 36,) There is no man which sinneth not; nay, which doeth good and sinneth not; so he writes, agreeable to what he here says, Ec. 7. 20.

II. Here are some suppositions or cases put, which are to be taken notice of. 1. He supposes that if doubts and controversies arose between man and man, both sides would agree to appeal to God, and lay an oath upon the person whose testimony must decide the matter, v. 22. The religious reverence of an oath, as it was ancient, so, it may be presumed, it will continue as long as there are any remains of conscience and right reason among men. 2. He supposes that though Israel enjoyed a profound peace and tranquillity, troublesome times would come. He did not think the mountain of their prosperity stood so strong but that it might be moved; nay, he expected sin would move it. 3. He supposes that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. "When they are in distress, they will confess their sins and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee." Trouble will drive those to God, who had said to him, Depart, v. 24, 26, 28. 4. He supposes that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel, and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth. III. Here are petitions very pertinent.

31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

32 Moreover concerning the 'stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched-out arm; if they come and pray in this house;

33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain "their cause.

36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and "they carry them away captives unto a land far off

or near:

37 Yet if they "bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;

38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity,

all the days which. ↑ upon the face of. i Is. 56, 3, 6, 7. John 10. 16. Acts 8 27-39. Eph. 2. 12, 13. kPa. 46. 10. i Jer. 10. 7. thy name is called upon this house. c. 14. 11, 12. 20. 4, &c. л Pa. 9. 3, 4. $or, right. o Ec. 7. 20. Jam. 3. 2. 1 John 1. 8. they that take them captives carry them away. bring back to their heart.

1. That God would own this house, and have an eye to it, as the place of which he said that he would put his name there, v. 20. He could not, in faith, have asked God to show such peculiar favour to this house above any other, if he himself had not said that it should be his rest for ever. The prayer that will speed, must be warranted by the word. We may therefore with humble confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us in Jesus Christ, because he has declared himself well pleased in him; This is my beloved Son; but he says not now of any house, This is my beloved place."

whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their **cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting 'place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness."

42 O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy

servant.

CHAPTER VII.

In this chapter we have God's answer to Solomon's prayer, I. His public answer by fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices, v. 1, with which the priests and people were much affected, v. 2, 3. By that token of God's acceptance, they were encouraged to continue the solemnities of the feast for fourteen days, and Solomon was encouraged to pursue all hie designs for the honour of God, . 4-11. 11. His private answer by word of mouth, in a dream or vision of the night, v. 12-22. Most of these things we had before, 1 Kings 8. and 9.

NOW when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire 'came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.

p Jer. 29. 12-14. 9 Dan. 6. 10. Dan. 9. 16-19. " or, right. tt to the prayer of this place. Pa. 132, 8, &c. 1 Chr. 28. 2. Is. 66. 1. u Neb. 9. 25. Ps. 65. 4, 11. Zech. 9. 17. ls. 55. 3. a 1 Kings 8. 54, &c. b Ex. 29. 43. Lev. 9. 24. Judg. 6. 21. 1 Kings 18. 38. 1 Chr. 21. 26. Mal. 3. 1, 2. e c. 5. 13, 14. Ez. 10. 3, 4.

faction of all the Lord's people. Let thy saints rejoice in goodness, that is, in the goodness of thy house, Ps. 65. 4. Let all that come hither to worship, like the eunuch, go away rejoicing. He pleads two things, v. 42. [1.] His own relation to God: "Turn not away the face of thine anointed. Lord, thou hast appointed me to be king, and wilt not thou own me?" [2.] God's covenant with his father: Remember the mercies of David thy servant. The piety of David toward God, so some understand it, so the word sometimes signifies, his pious care of the ark, and concern for it. See Ps. 132. 1, 2, &c. Or, the promises of God to David, which were mercies to him, his great support and comfort in all his troubles. We may plead, as Solomon does here, with an eye to Christ. We deserve that God should turn away our face, that he should reject us and our prayers; but we come in the name of the Lord Jesus, thine anointed, thy Messiah, so the and wilt never turn away his face. We have no righteousness of our own to plead, but, Lord, remember the mercies of David thy servant. Christ is God's Servant, (Is. 42. 1,) and is called David, Hos. 3. 5. Lord, remember his mercies, and accept of us on the account of them. Remember his tender concern for his Father's honour, and man's salvation, and what he did and suffered from that principle. Remember the promises of the everlasting covenant, which free grace has made to us in Christ, and which are called the sure mercies of David, Is. 55. 3, and Acts 13. 34. This must be all our desire, and all our hope, all our prayer, and all our plea, for it is all our salvation.

2. That God would hear and accept the prayers which should be made in, or toward, that place, v. 21. He asks not that God should help them, whether they prayed for themselves or no, but that God would help them, in answer to their prayers. Even Christ's intercessions do not supersede, but encourage, our supplications. He prays that God would hear from his dwelling-word is; thy Christ, so the LXX. Him thou hearest always, place, even from heaven; that is his dwelling-place still; not this temple; and thence help must come. When thou hearest, forgive. Note, The forgiveness of one sin, is that which makes way for all the other answers to our prayers, Removendo prohibens-The evil which it drives away, it keeps away.

3. That God would give judgment according to equity, upon all the appeals that should be made to him, v. 23, 30. This we may, in faith, pray for, for we are sure it shall be done. God sitteth on the throne, judging right.

4. That God would return in mercy to his people, when they repented and reformed, and sought unto him, v. 25, 27, 38, 39. This we also may, in faith, pray for, building upon the repeated declarations God has made of his readiness to accept penitents.

5. That God would bid the strangers welcome to this house, and answer their prayers, (v. 33;) for if there be in duty, why should there not be in privilege, one law for the stranger, and one born in the land, Lev. 24. 22.

6. That God would, upon all occasions, own and plead the cause of his people Israel, against all the opposers of it, (v. 35,) maintain their cause; and again, v. 39. If they be the Israel of God, their cause is the cause of God, and he will espouse it. Lastly, He concludes this prayer with some expressions, which he had learned of his good father, and borrowed from one of his psalms. We had them not in the Kings, but here we have them, v. 41, 42. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; and how can we express ourselves in better language to God, than that of his own Spirit? But these words were of use, in a special manner, to direct Solomon, because they had reference to this very work, that he was now doing. We have them, Ps. 132. 8-10. He prays, (v. 41,) (1.) That God would take possession of the temple, and keep possession; that he would make it his resting-place. Thou and the ark; what will the ark do without the God of the ark? Ordinances without the God of the ordinances? (2.) That he would make the ministers of the temple public blessings, clothe them with salvation, that is, not only save them, but make them instrumental to save others, by offering the sacrifices of righteousness. (3.) That the service of the temple might turn abundantly to the joy and satis

NOTES TO CHAPTER VII.

V. 1-11. Here is,

I. The gracious return which God immediately made to Solomon's prayer. The fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice, v. 1. In this way, God testified his acceptance of Moses, (Lev. 9. 24,) of Gideon, (Judg. 6. 21,) of David, (1 Chr. 21. 26,) of Elijah, (1 Kings 18. 38:) and, in general, to accept the burnt-sacrifice, is, in the Hebrew phrase, to turn it to ashes, Ps. 20. 3. The fire came down here, not upon the killing of the sacrifices, but the praying of the prayer. This fire intimated that God was, 1. Glorious in himself: for our God is a consuming Fire, terrible even in his holy places. This fire breaking forth (as it is probable) out of the thick darkness, made it the more terrible, as on mount Sinai, Ex. 24. 16, 17. The sinners in Zion had reason to be afraid at this sight, and to say, Who among us shall dwell near this devouring fire? Is. 33. 14. And yet, 2. Gracious to Israel; for this fire, which might justly have consumed them, fastened upon the sacrifice which was offered in their stead, and consumed that; by which God signified to them, that he accepted their offerings, and that his anger was turned away from them. Let us apply this, (1.) To the sufferings of Christ; when it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and put him to grief, in that he showed his good will to men, having laid on him the iniquity of all. His death was our life, and he was made sin and a curse, that we might inherit righteousness and a blessing. That sacrifice

3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

6 And the priests waited on their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their *ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

7 Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat. 8 Also, at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn fassembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month, he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart, for the goodness that the LORD had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD,

di Chr. 16. 41. c. 20. 21. P. 103. 17. 136. 1. Heb. 7. 24, 25. e 1 Chr. 15. 16. Ps. 87.7. • hand. fe. 5. 12. g Josh. 13. 3, 5. t restraint. A 1 Kings 9, 1, &c. c. 6. 26, 28. Ps. 107. 34.

i Deut. 12. 5.

was consumed, that we might escape: Here am I, let these go away. (2.) To the sanctification of the Spirit, who descends like fire, burning up our lusts and corruptions, those beasts that must be sacrificed, or we are undone; and kindling in our souls a holy fire of pious and devout affections, always to be kept burning on the altar of the heart. The surest evidence of God's acceptance of our prayers, is the descent of this holy fire upon us; Did not our hearts burn within us? Luke 24. 32. As a further evidence that God accepted Solomon's prayer, still the glory of the Lord filled the house. The heart that is thus filled with a holy awe and reverence of the divine glory, in consequence of God's manifesting himself in his greatness, and (which is no less his glory) in his goodness, is thereby owned as a living temple.

II. The grateful return made to God for this gracious token of his favour. 1. The people worshipped and praised God, v. 3. When they saw the fire of God come down from heaven thus, they did not run away affrighted, but kept their ground in the courts of the Lord, and took occasion from it, (1.) With reverence to adore the glory of God; they bowed their faces to the ground, and worshipped, thus expressing their awful dread of the Divine Majesty, their cheerful submission to the Divine Authority, and the sense they had of their own unworthiness to come into God's presence, and their inability to stand before the power of his wrath. (2.) With thankfulness to acknowledge the goodness of God; even then when the fire of the Lord came down, they praised him, saying, He is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. That is a song never out of season, and for which our hearts and tongues should be never out of tune. However it be, yet God is good. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say that in this, God was good; It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we are bound to be very thankful.

2. The king and all the people offered sacrifices in abundance, v. 4, 5. With these they feasted this holy fire, and bade it welcome to the altar. They had offered sacrifices before, but now they increased them. Note, The tokens of God's favour to us should enlarge our hearts in his service, and make us to abound therein more and more. The king's example stirred up the people. Good work is then likely to go on, when the leaders of a people lead in it. The sacrifices were so numerous, that the altar could not contain them all; but rather than any of them should be turned back, (though we may suppose the blood of them all was sprinkled upon the altar,) the flesh of the burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, were burned in the midst of the court, (v. 7,) which Solomon either hallowed for that service, or hallowed by it. In case of necessity, the pavement might be an altar.

and the king's house; and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people ;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray," and seek "my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer, that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;

18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not "fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a by-word among all nations.

m Acts 9. 11. n Is. 45. 19. to the prayer of this place.

upon whom my name is called. Jam. 4. 10. Lam. 3, 40, 41. o I. 59. 20. p c. 6. 27, 30. I be cut off to thee. 7 Lev. 26. 14, &c. Deut. 28. 36.

3. The priests did their part, they waited on their offices; and the singers and musicians on theirs, (v. 6,) with the instru ments that David made, and the hymn that David had put into their hand, as some think it may be read, meaning that, I Chr. 16. 7. Or, as we read it, when David praised by their ministry. He employed, directed, and encouraged, them in this work of praising God; and therefore their performances were accepted as his act, and he is said to praise by their ministry.

4. The whole congregation expressed the greatest joy and satisfaction imaginable. They kept the feast of the dedication of the altar seven days, from the second to the ninth; the tenth day was the day of atonement, when they were to afflict their souls for sin, and that was not unseasonable in the midst of their rejoicings; on the fifteenth day began the feast of tabernacles, which continued to the twenty-second, and they did not part till the twenty-third. We must never grudge the time that we spend in the worship of God, and communion with him; nor think it long, or grow weary of it.

5. Solomon went on in his work, and prosperously effected all he designed, for the adorning both of God's house and his own, v. 11. Those that begin with the service of God are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook he went through with, and it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it.

V. 12-22. That God accepted Solomon's prayer, appeared by the fire from heaven. But a prayer may be accepted, and yet not answered in the letter of it; and therefore God appeared to him in the night, as he did once before, (ch. 1. 7,) and after a day of sacrifice too, as then; and gave him a particular answer to his prayer. We had the substance of it before, 1 Kings 9. 2-9.

1. He promised to own this house for a house of sacrifice to Israel, and a house of prayer for all people, Is. 56. 7. v. 12, 16, My name shall be there for ever, that is, "There will I make myself known, and there will I be called upon.'

2. He promised to answer the prayers of his people, that should at any time be made in that place, v. 13-15. (1.) National judgments are here supposed, (v. 13;) famine and pestilence. By the locusts devouring the land, may be meant enemies as greedy as locusts, and laying all waste. (2.) National repentance, prayer, and reformation, are required, v. 14. God expects that his people, who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do, unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. (3.) National mercy is then promised; that God will forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then heal their

21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them; therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

CHAPTER VIII.

In this chapter we are told, I. What cities Solomon built, v. 1-6. II. What workmen Solomon employed, v 7-10. 11. What care he took about a proper settlement for his wife, v. 11. IV. What a good method he put the temple service into, v. 12-16. V. What trading he had with foreign countries, v. 17, 18.

9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.

10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.

11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are 'holy whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

12 Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto the before the porch,

AND it came to pass at the end of twenty years, LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built

wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,

2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3 And Solomon went to 'Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.

4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities which he built in Hamath.

5 Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, 8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.

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land, redress all their grievances. Pardoning mercy makes way for healing mercy, Ps. 103, 3. Matt. 9. 2.

3. He promised to perpetuate Solomon's kingdom, upon condition that he persevered in his duty, v. 17, 18. If he hoped for the benefit of God's covenant with David, he must imitate the example of David.

But he sets before him death as well as life, the curse as well as the blessing. (1.) He supposes it possible that though they had this temple built to the honour of God, yet they might be drawn aside to worship other gods, v. 19. He knew their proneness to backslide into that sin. (2.) He threatens it as certain, that if they did so, it would certainly be the ruin of both church and state. [.] It would be the ruin of their state, v. 20. Though they have taken deep root, and taken root long, in this good land, yet I will pluck them up by the roots, extirpate the whole nation, pluck them up as men pluck up weeds out of their garden, which are thrown to the dunghill." [2.] It would be the ruin of their church. This sanctuary would be no sanctuary to them, to protect them from the judgments of God, as they imagined, saying, The temple of the Lord are we, Jer. 7. 4. "This house which is high, not only for the magnificence of its structure, but for the designed ends and uses of it, shall be an astonishment; it shall come down wonderfully, (Lam. 1. 9,) to the amazement of all the neighbours."

NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII.

V. 1-11. This we had 1 Kings 9. 10-24, and therefore shall only observe here,

1. Though Solomon was a man of great learning and knowledge, yet he spent his days, not in contemplation, but in action, not in his study, but in his country, in building cities, and fortifying them. In a time of peace preparing for a time of war, which is as much a man's business, as it is in summer to provide food for winter.

2. As he was a man of business himself, and did not consult his own ease, so he employed a great many hands, kept aburtdance of people to work. It is the interest of a state by all means possible to promote and encourage industry, and to keep its subjects from idleness. A great many strangers there were in Israel, many that remained of the Canaanites; and they were welcome to live there, but not to live and do nothing, The men of Laish, who had no business, were an easy prey to the invaders, Judg. 18. 7.

3. When Solomon had begun with building the house of God, and made good work and quick work of that, he prospered in all his undertakings, so that he built all that he desired to build, 1.6. Those who have a genius for building, find that one object draws on another, and the latter must amend and improve the

13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses "of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the porters "also by their courses at every gate; for so had David the man of God commanded.

15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites, concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.

16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished: so the house of the LORD was perfected.

17 Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the seaside in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent him, by the hands of his

tholineee. John 10. 3. Ex. 29. 39. 1 Ex. 23. 14. Deut. 16. 16. m 1 Chr. 24, 25. n 1 Chr. 9. 17. 26. 1. was the commandment of David the man of God. o 1 Kings 9. 26, 27. P Elaik, Deut. 2. 8. 2 Kings 14. 22.

g c. 9. 10, 13.

former. Now observe, (1.) How the Divine Providence gratified even Solomon's humour, and gave him success, not only in all that he needed to build, and that was for his advantage to build, but in all that he had a mind to build. So indulgent a Father God is sometimes to the innocent desires of his children that serve him. Thus he pleased Jacob with that promise, Joseph shall put his hand on thine eyes. (2.) Solomon knew how to set bounds to his desires. He was none of them that enlarge them endlessly, and can never be satisfied, but knew when to draw in; for he finished all he desired, and then he desired no more; he did not sit down and fret that he had not more cities to build, as Alexander did that he had not more worlds to conquer, Hab. 2. 5.

4. That one reason why Solomon built a palace on purpose for the queen, and removed her and her court to it, was, because he thought it by no means proper that she should dwell in the house of David, (v. 11,) considering that that had been a place of great piety, and perhaps her house was a place of great vanity. She was proselyted, it is likely, to the Jewish religion; but it is a question whether all her servants were. Perhaps, they had among them the idols of Egypt, and a great deal of profaneness and debauchery. Now, though Solomon had not zeal and courage enough to suppress and punish what was amiss there, yet he so far consulted the honour of his father's memory, that he would not suffer that place to be thus profaned, where the ark of God had been, and where holy David had prayed many a good prayer, and sung many a sweet psalm. Not that all the places where the ark had been, were so holy as never to be put to a common use; for then the houses of Abinadab and Obed-edom must have been so. But the placé where it had been so long, and had been so publicly attended on, was so venerable, that it was not fit to be the place of so much gayety, not to say iniquity, as was to be found, I fear, in the court that Pharaob's daughter kept. Note, Between things sacred and things common, the ancient landmarks ought to be kept up. It was an outer court of the temple, that was the court of the women.

V. 12-18. Here is, 1. Solomon's devotion. The building of the temple was in order to the service of the temple; whatever cost he was at in rearing the structure, if he had neglected the worship that was to be performed there, it would all have been to no purpose. Assisting the devotion of others will not atone for our own neglects. When Solomon had built the temple,

(1.) He kept up the holy sacrifices there, according to the law of Moses, v. 12, 13. In vain had the altar been built, and in vain had fire come down from heaven, if sacrifices had not been constantly brought as the food of that altar, and the fuel

servants, ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

CHAPTER IX.

Solomon here continues to appear great, both at home and abroad. We had this

account of his grandeur, 1 Kings 10. nothing is here added: but his defection, toward his latter end, which we have there, ch. 11. is here omitted; and the close of this chipter brings him to the grave with an unstained reputation. Perhaps none of the chapters in the Chronicles agree so much with a chapter in the

Kings, as this does with 1 Kings 10. verse for verse, only that the two first verses last three verses here from 1 Kings 11. 41-43. Here is, 1. The honour which 1-12. 11. Many instances given of the riches and splendour of Solomon's

there are put into one here, and v. 25 here is taken from 1 Kings 4. 26, and the

the queen of Sheba did to Solomon, in the visit she made him to hear his wisdom,

court, v. 13-28. 11. The conclusion of his reign, v. 29-31.

AND when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

5 And she said to the king, It was a true report'

r Ec. 2. 8. a 1 Kings 10. 1, &c. Matt. 12. 42. Luke 11. 31. b Prov. 18. 4. Jam. 1.5. ⚫or, butlers. I word. tor, sayings. e Ps. 91. 19. d Ps. 72. 18, 19. of that fire. There were daily sacrifices, a certain rate every day, as duly as the day came; weekly sacrifices on the sabbath, double to what was offered on other days; monthly sacrifices, on the new moons; and yearly sacrifices, at the three solemn feasts. They are spiritual sacrifices that are now required of us, which we are to bring daily and weekly; and it is good to be in a settled method of devotion.

(2.) He kept up the holy songs there, according to the law of David, who is here called the man of God, as Moses was, because he was both instructed and authorized of God to make these establishments; and Solomon took care to see them observed, as the duty of every day required, v. 14. Solomon, though a wise and great man, and the builder of the temple, did not attempt to amend, alter, or add to, what the man of God had, in God's name, commanded, but closely adhered to that, and used his authority to have that duly observed; and then none departed from the commandment of the king, concerning any matter, v. 15. He observed God's laws, and then all obeyed his orders. When the service of the temple was put into this good order, then it is said, The house of the Lord was perfected, v. 16. The work was the main matter, not the place; the temple was unfinished till all this was done.

2. Solomon's merchandise. He did himself in person visit the seaport towns of Eloth and Ezion-geber; for they that deal much in the world, will find it their interest, as far as they can, to inspect their affairs themselves, and to see with their own eyes, v. 17. Canaan was a rich country, and yet must send to Ophir for gold. The Israelites were a wise and understanding people, and yet must be beholden to the king of Tyre for men that had knowledge of the seas, (v. 18;) and yet Canaan was God's peculiar land, and Israel God's peculiar people: which teaches us that grace, and not gold, is the best riches; and acquaintance with God and his law, not with arts and sciences, the best knowledge.

NOTES TO CHAPTER IX.

V. 1-12. This passage of story has been largely considered in the Kings; yet because our Saviour has proposed it as an example to us in our inquiries after him, (Matt. 12. 42,) we must not pass it over, without observing briefly,

1. Those who honour God, he will honour, 1 Sam. 2. 30. Solomon had greatly honoured God, in building, beautifying, and dedicating the temple; all his wisdom, and all his wealth, were employ d for the making of that a consummate piece: and now God made his wisdom and wealth to redound greatly to his reputation. The way to have both the credit and comfort of all our endowments, and all our enjoyments, is, to consecrate them to God, and use them for him.

2. Those who know the worth of true wisdom, will grudge no pains or cost to compass it. The queen of Sheba put herself to a great deal of trouble and expense, to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and yet, learning from him to serve God, and do her duty, she thought herself well paid for her pains. Heavenly wisdom is that pearl of great price, for the purchase of which, if we part with all, we make a good bargain.

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which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom;

6 Howbeit, I believed not their words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the cone half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum-trees and precious stones.

11 And the king made of the algum-trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king: so she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold ;

e 1 Kings 3. 28. Prov. 21. 3. f Ps. 72. 10, 15. 1 Kings 10. 11, almug. § highways, or, stays.

g Ec. 2. 8. h c. 8. 18. Ps. 92. 3. Rev. 5. 8. 14. 2

3. As every man has received the gift, so he ought to minister the same for the edification of others, as he has opportunity. Solomon was communicative of his wisdom, and willing to teach others what he knew himself. Being taught of God, freely he had received, and freely he gave. Let them that are rich in wisdom as well as wealth, learn to do good, and be ready to distribute. Give to every one that asketh,

4. Good order in a family, a great family, especially in the things of God, and a regular discharge of the duties of religious worship are highly expedient, and to be much admired wherever found. The queen of Sheba was exceedingly affected to see the propriety with which Solomon's servants attended him, and with which both he and they attended in the house of God. David's ascent to the house of the Lord was also pleasant and interesting, Ps. 42. 4.

5. Those are happy, who have the opportunity of a constant converse with such as are knowing, wise, and good. The queen of Sheba thought Solomon's servants happy, who continually heard his wisdom; for, it seems, even to them he was communicative. And it is observable, that the posterity of those who had places in his court, were willing to have the names of their ance tors forgotten, and thought themselves sufficiently distinguished and dignified, when they were called the children of Solomon's servants, (Ezra 2. 55. Neh. 7. 57;) so eminent wero they, it was honour enough to be named from them.

6. We ought to rejoice, and give God thanks, for the gifts, graces, and usefulness, of others. The queen of Sheba blessed God, for the honour he put upon Solomon, and the favour he did to Solomon, in advancing him to the throne, v. 8. By giving God the praise of the prosperity of others, we share in the comfort of it; whereas, by envying the prosperity of others, we lose the comfort even of our own. The happiness both of king and kingdom, she traces up to the fountain of all bliss, the divine favour it was because thy God delighted in thee, and because he loved Israel. Those mercies are doubly sweet, which we can taste the kindness and good will of God in, as our God.

7. It becomes those that are wise and good, to be generous according to their place and power. The queen of Sheba was so to Solomon, Solomon was so to her, v. 9, 12. They both knew how to value wisdom, and therefore were neither of them covetous of their money, but cultivated the acquaintance, and confirmed the friendship, they had contracted, by mutual presents. Our Lord Jesus has promised to give us all our desire: Ask, and it shall be given you. Let us study what we shall render to him, and not think any thing too much to do, or suffer, or part with, for him.

V. 13-31. We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne would not secure him from the grave. Mors sceptra ligonibus æquat-Death wrenches from the hand the sceptre as well as the spade.

I. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, such as, for aught I know, could never since be paralleled by any king whatsoever. I cannot pretend to be critical in comparing the grandeur of Solomon with that of (993)

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