THE KI NG ’ S BUSINESS lowing year, how shall we explain the interval? The reason usually assigned is that the king waited for the feast of tabernacles in the fall, when one of the greatest assemblies took place and for this purpose the most appro priate.— C. W. Com. v. 4. Brought tabernacle. It is prob able that both that which Moses set up in the wilderness, which was in Gibeon, and that which David pitcheu in Zion, were brought to the temple to which they did, as it were, surrender all their holiness, merging it in that of the temple which must henceforwaru be the place where God must be sought unto. Thus will all the church’s holy things on earth that are so much its joy and glory, be swallowed up in tne perfections of holiness above.^—Henry. v. 5. Sacrifice of sheep and oxen. Expressing confession of sin, trust in atonement through blood, communion with God.— Torrey. It is remarkable in connection with the dedication of the temple how the leading part was taken throughout by King . Solomon. The priest occupied a second and tributary position. The question arises, was not Solomon in reality more than a king? Did he not occupy a kind of typical position as being in anticipation of none other than the great High Priest, Jesus Christ Himself? The kingship and the priesthood are combined in the Chris tian character of the later dispensation, “ Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation.” This is precisely what Solomon was, namely, a royal priest. Solomon was before the ark, offering sacrifices. The counter part of this we find in Hebrews where we read that “ Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many,” and again, “ By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are' sanctified.”— Par ker. v. 8 . They drew out staves. The staves now become memorials of their journeys with God.— Gaebelein.
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v. 1. The temple. The temple in contrast with the tabernacle, which was a portable tent, was a substantial house built of stone, probably the hard white limestone of the COMMENTS EKOM d i s t r i c t , with MANY SOURCES c h a m b e r s in Keith li. Brooks three stories half the height of the building (1 Kings 6:5, 6 ), round the sides and in front, a stately porch (6 :3 ), before which stood two lofty bronze pillars (7:21; 2 Chron. 3:4, 15-17). Within the house was lined with cedar overlaid with gold, engraven with fig ures of cherubim, palms and open flow ers (6:15, 18, 21, 22, 29), and a par tition of cedar or stone divided the in terior into .two apartments, one the holy place, the other the most holy place or oracle (6:16-18). The floor was of stone covered with fir, likewise over laid with gold (6:15, 30). The plat form, on which the whole building stood, probably rose above the level of the court in front and the building may have been approached by steps.— Int. Bible Encÿ. Solomon assembled the elders. The consecration of the temple illustrates all consecration. The ark was the most all-inclusivé type of Christ of any one of the vessels of the taber nacle. When the priests therefore brought the ark into the court they were in type enthroning Christ over the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. In Christian experience this answers to Rom. 12:1-3; Eph. 5:18.— Scofield. v. 2. Assembled at the feast. There were in all fourteen days of confession of sin. No wonder God manifested Him self to them in such a glorious way. If any nation today would give them selves up for fourteen days to seeking God and His favor, He would manifest Himself just as gloriously.— Torrey. In the seventh month. Since the tem ple was completed in the eighth month of the previous year (6:38) and not dedicated until the seventh of the fol
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