Bible Commentary

1 Kings 8:63

1 Kings 8:63

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord,.... Part of which belonged to the offerer, and with those Solomon feasted the people all the days of the feast of the dedication, if not of tabernacles also; for the number was exceeding large, as follows:22,000 oxen, and 120,000 sheep; which, as suggested, might be the number for all the fourteen days; nor need it seem incredible, since, as Josephus says, at a passover celebrated in the times of Cestius the Roman governor, at the evening of the passover, in two hours time 256,500 lambs were slain; however, this was a very munificent sacrifice of Solomon's, in which he greatly exceeded the Heathens, whose highest number of sacrifices were hecatombs, or by hundreds, but his by thousands:so the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord; devoted it to divine and religious worship by these sacrifices: hence in imitation of this sprung the dedication of temples with the Heathens; the first of which among the Romans was that in the capitol at Rome by Romulus; the rites and ceremonies used therein by them may be read in Cicero, Livy, Tacitus, and others .

De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 3. Vid. Liv. Hist. Decad. 1. l. 1. p. s. & l. 2. p. 33. Vid. Hospinian. de Templis, l. 4. c. 2. p. 451. & Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 6. c.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for 1 Kings 8:63

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

1 Kings 8 — Overview1 Kings 8 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe building and furniture of the temple were very glorious, but the dedication of it exceeds in glory as much as prayer and praise, the work of saints, exceed the casting of metal and the graving of stones,…1 Kings 8 — Overview1 Kings 8 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Kings 8:1, The feast of the dedication of the temple; 1 Kings 8:12, Solomon’s blessing; 1 Kings 8:22, Solomon’s prayer; 1 Kings 8:54, Solomon’s blessing; 1 Kings 8:62, His sacrifice of peace offerings.1 Kings 8 — Overview1 Kings 8 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how…1 Kings 8:1-661 Kings 8:1-66 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE.—The stately and impressive service with which the Temple, the character and contents of which have now been described, was dedicated, is related in this chapter, and divides…1 Kings 8:1-661 Kings 8:1-66 · The Pulpit CommentaryThat thine eyes may be open [This anthropomorphism does not conflict with what was said under 1 Kings 8:27] toward this house night and day [not so much to watch over it as to see the worship and prayer offered there],…1 Kings 8:1-661 Kings 8:1-66 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe Dedication of the Temple and its Teaching. The eighth day of the seventh month of the year 1004 B.C or, according to some, B.C. 1000, was one of the brightest days of Jewish history— "a day in golden letters to be…