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1 Kings 8:54

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 8:54 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.
1 Kings 8:54 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
51(for they are thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);
52that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them whensoever they cry unto thee.
53For thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.
54And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.
55And he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56Blessed be Jehovah, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.
57Jehovah our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us;
← 1 Kings 8:531 Kings 8:55 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, etc.] In which he was a type of Christ, praying and interceding for his people before the golden attar, (<660803>Revelation 8:3,4), he arose from before the altar of the Lord; the altar of burnt offering, over against which he was: from kneeling on his knees; upon the brasen scaffold; (see <140613>2 Chronicles 6:13), in which posture he was during this long prayer: with his hands spread up to heaven; which gesture he had used in his prayer, and now continued in blessing the people.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If the prayer of Solomon be, as it has all the appearance of being, a genuine document of the time, preserved in the archives to which the authors of both Kings and Chronicles had access, all theories of the late origin of Deuteronomy must be regarded as baseless. While references are not infrequent to other portions of the Pentateuch, the language of the prayer is mainly modelled upon Deuteronomy, the promises and threats contained in which are continually before the mind of the writer. (See the margin reference). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:54-56 Solomon praised God’s faithfulness and goodness to Israel in giving the people rest as promised (see Josh 21:43-45; 23:14; 2 Sam 7:1). Some Israelites failed to appropriate the rest that only God provides (Ps 95:10-11; Heb 3:7-19; 4:1-11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“when Solomon: Luk 11:1, Luk 22:45 kneeling: Ch2 6:13; Psa 95:6; Luk 22:41, Luk 22:45; Act 20:36, Act 21:5 with his hands: Kg1 8:22; Ch2 6:12 3 Kings (1 Kings) 8:55”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Concluding Act of the dedication of the temple. Kg1 8:54-61. Blessing the congregation. - After the conclusion of the prayer, Solomon rose up from his knees and blessed all the assembled congregation. פּרוּשׂות וכפּיו is a circumstantial clause, which must be connected with the previous words and rendered thus: "from lying upon his knees with his hands spread out towards heaven." "And he stood," i.e., he came from the altar and stood nearer to the assembled congregation. The blessing begins with praise to the Lord for the fulfilment of His promises ( Kg1 8:16), and consists in the petition that the Lord will always fulfil his (Solomon's) prayers, and grant His people the promised salvation.…”
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Sources and verification