Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

The Lord appeared to Solomon - The design of this appearance, which was in a dream, as that was at Gibeon, was to assure Solomon that God had accepted his service, and had taken that house for his dwelling-place, and would continue it, and establish him and his descendants upon the throne of Israel for ever, provided they served him with an upright heart; but, on the contrary, if they forsook him, he would abandon both them and his temple.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

This appearance is fixed by 1 Kings 9:1 to Solomon‘s twenty-fourth year, the year in which he completed his palace 1 Kings 6:37-38; 1 Kings 7:1. The fact seems to be that, though the temple was finished in Solomon‘s eleventh year, the dedication did not take place until his twenty-fourth year. The order of the narrative in Kings agrees with this view, since it interposes the account of the building of the palace 1 Kings 7:1-12, and of the making of the furniture 1 Kings 6:38 and the ceremony of the Dedication 1 Kings 8.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time,.... Junius and Tremellius read this verse with the following, to the end of the ninth, in a parenthesis, and render this clause, "for the Lord had appeared", &c. and Piscator translates it, "moreover the Lord appeared", &c. as beginning a distinct narrative from the former; and indeed if the words are to be connected with the preceding, as in our version, this appearance must be thirteen years after the building of the temple, which is not probable; but rather it was the night after the dedication of it, when an answer was returned to Solomon's prayer in the preceding chapter; for that it should be deferred twelve or thirteen years is not reasonable to suppose; and this appearance was the second of the kind and manner:

as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon; in a dream and a vision, and by night, 1 Kings 3:5, see 2 Chronicles 7:12.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

That — rather, “For.”

the Lord appeared — This appearance was, like the former one at Gibeon, most probably made in a supernatural vision, and on the night immediately following the dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 7:12). The strain of it corresponds to this view, for it consists of direct answers to his solemn inaugural prayer (1 Kings 9:3 is in answer to 1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 9:4, 1 Kings 9:5 is in answer to 1 Kings 8:25, 1 Kings 8:26; 1 Kings 9:6-9 to 1 Kings 8:33-46; see also Deuteronomy 29:22-24).

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

Ver. 2. That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time.] This was a great engagement upon Solomon to cleave close to that God who had appeared unto him twice. [1 Kings 11:9] See an analogical appearance to all that love him, [John 14:21] and be instructed, lest God’s soul depart from us, [Jeremiah 6:8] for our "evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God." [Hebrews 3:12]

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

To wit, in a dream or vision; for that which is mentioned 1 Kings 6:11, seems to have been imparted unto him by some prophet or messenger sent from God with that errand. The time of this revelation was either,

1. After all Solomon’s buildings, as the words thus rendered plainly imply. And if it seem strange that God should not reveal this purpose and sentence of his concerning the temple till so many years after the finishing of it, it must be considered,

1. That as it is an act of God’s singular grace when he doth thus reveal himself to any person, so it is but meet he should choose his own time for it.

2. That God had presently after the finishing of the temple, at the feast of the dedication of it, sufficiently showed his acceptance and approbation of it by that glorious cloud, 1 Kings 8:10,11, and therefore this revelation was not then necessary.

3. That God might choose this as the fittest time for giving Solomon the following admonition, when he perceived that his heart befall to be lifted up in pride for his sumptuous and magnificent buildings, &c., and that he was grown vain, and careless, and secure; and therefore most needed such all awakening oracle. Or,

2. Presently after the building of the temple, as may be thought from the matter of this revelation, which seems best to suit with that time when it was newly built, and when Solomon’s prayer here mentioned was newly made; for seeing the following words contain God’s answer to that prayer, it seems improbable, that the answer should come so many years after it. But then this second verse, and the rest, even to 1 Kings 9:11, are to be enclosed with a parenthesis; and the place must be thus rendered, 1 Kings 9:2, For (so the Hebrew vau is oft rendered) the Lord appeared, or had appeared, to Solomon, &c.; 1 Kings 9:3, And the Lord had said unto him, &c. And this parenthesis may seem to have a foundation in 1 Kings 9:10, where the first verse (in substance, though not in the very same words) is repeated, as is usual after long digressions; and then he completes the sentence, 1 Kings 9:11, &c., which till then had been suspended. Nor are such long parentheses without example in Scripture. See my Latin Synopsis on Romans 5:12, &c.; Ephesians 3:1, &c. Revelation 22:7.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2.As he had appeared unto him at Gibeon — Namely, in a dream by night, (1 Kings 3:5; 2 Chronicles 7:12,) reminding him of the covenant with David, and conditioning his future happiness on his obedience. These two appearances to Solomon marked two memorable turning points in his career. The one given him in the simplicity of his youth (1 Kings 3:7) lifted him into an element of wisdom and favour with both God and man; the other, given in the blaze of his worldly glory, was, alas! soon followed by shameful idolatries. Like Saul, when he was little in his own eyes the Lord made him great, (1 Samuel 15:17;) but when exalted among men, he lightly observed the Divine counsels.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Gabaon; that is, "during the night," 2 Paralipomenon vii. 12. God had spoken to Solomon, by a prophet, while he was building the temple; (chap. vi. 11.; Haydock) unless that passage relate to the same time as that which is here recorded more in detail, and took place in the night, after Solomon had poured forth his most solemn prayer. (Calmet) --- Others think that God deferred answering his petition for thirteen years, till Solomon was on the point of falling off from the observance of piety, that so he might be restrained more effectually. (Salien, the year before Christ 1011.) --- Fire from heaven had sufficiently signified that his former request had been granted. (Menochius) --- The context shews that the admonition was not sent till the palace was finished, (ver. 1, and 10.) in the 23rd year of Solomon. (Salien)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

as He had appeared. See 1 Kings 3:5.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

That (rather for) the Lord appeared. This appearance was, like the former one at Gibeon, most probably made in a supernatural vision, and on the night immediately following the dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 7:12). The strain of it corresponds to this view, because it consists of direct answers to his solemn inaugural prayer: 1 Kings 9:3 is an answer to 1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 9:4-5, are an answer to 1 Kings 8:25-26; 1 Kings 9:6-9, to 1 Kings 8:33-46 (see also Deuteronomy 29:22-24)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

as he

3:5; 11:9; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 7:12