SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:22
¶ Y se puso Salomón delante del altar del SEÑOR, en presencia de toda la congregación de Israel, y extendiendo sus manos al cielo,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:22
Verse 22. Stood] He ascended the brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and then kneeled down upon his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven, and offered up the following prayer: see ver. 54, and 2 Chron. v. 12, 13. And spread forth his hands toward heaven] This was a usual custom in all nations: in prayer the hands were stretched out to heaven, as if to invite and receive assistance from thence; while, humbly kneeling on their knees, they seemed acknowledge at once their dependence and unworthiness. On this subject I have spoken elsewhere. In the Scriptures we meet with several examples of the kind: Hear my voice-when I LIFT UP MY HANDS toward thy holy oracle; Psa. xxviii. 2. LIFT UP YOUR HANDS in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord; Psa. cxxxiv. 2. Let my prayer be set forth-and the LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS as the evening sacrifice; Psa. cxli. 2. And see 1 Tim. ii. 8, &c.
In heathen writers examples are not less frequent: SUSTULIT exutas vinclis ad sidera PALMAS.
Vos aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum Testor numen, ait. VIRG. AEn. lib. ii., ver. 153.
Ye lamps of heaven, he said, and LIFTED HIGH HIS HANDS, now free; thou venerable sky, Inviolable powers! And that they kneeled down when supplicating I have also proved. Of this too the Scriptures afford abundant evidence, as do also the heathen writers.
I need add but one word:- Et GENBIUS PRONIS supplex, similisque roganti, Circumfert tacitos, tanquam sun brachia, vultus.
OVID, Met. lib. iii., f. 3, ver. 240.
Indeed, so universal were these forms in praying, that one of the heathens has said, "All men, in praying, lift up their hands to heaven."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord , etc.] The altar of the burnt offering in the court of the priests, where he prayed the following prayer; and which altar was typical of Christ, who is always to be in sight in prayer, and through whom all sacrifices of prayer and praise become acceptable to God. In ( 2 Chronicles 6:13) he is said to stand upon a scaffold of brass, five cubits long, five broad, and three high, which stood in the midst of the court; it was a sort of a pulpit, round, as a laver, for which the word is sometimes used, and on which he kneeled: in the presence of all the congregation of Israel ; who stood in the great court before him, called the court of Israel: and spread forth his hands toward heaven ; and hence it appears, that though Solomon stood before the altar, he did not lay hold on it with his hands, as the Heathens did when they prayed; for they say f148 , that prayer alone does not appease the Deity, unless he that prays also lays hold on the altar with his hands; hence altars, at first, as we are told f149 , were called “ansae”; and lifting up or spreading the hands towards heaven was a proper gesture with the Greeks and Romans f150 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-53 - In this excellent prayer, Solomon does as we should do in every prayer he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God's promise call for larger praises. He sues for grace and favour from God. The experiences we have of God's performing his promises, should encourag us to depend upon them, and to plead them with him; and those wh expect further mercies, must be thankful for former mercies. God' promises must be the guide of our desires, and the ground of our hope and expectations in prayer. The sacrifices, the incense, and the whol service of the temple, were all typical of the Redeemer's offices oblation, and intercession. The temple, therefore, was continually to be remembered. Under one word, "forgive," Solomon expressed all that he could ask in behalf of his people. For, as all misery springs from sin forgiveness of sin prepares the way for the removal of every evil, an the receiving of every good. Without it, no deliverance can prove blessing. In addition to the teaching of the word of God, Solomo entreated the Lord himself to teach the people to profit by all, eve by their chastisements. They shall know every man the plague of his ow heart, what it is that pains him; and shall spread their hands in prayer toward this house; whether the trouble be of body or mind, the shall represent it before God. Inward burdens seem especially meant Sin is the plague of our own hearts; our in-dwelling corruptions ar our spiritual diseases: every true Israelite endeavours to know these that he may mortify them, and watch against the risings of them. Thes drive him to his knees; lamenting these, he spreads forth his hands in prayer. After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the genera request, that God would hearken to his praying people. No place, now under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us In this manner the Israel of God is established and sanctified, the backslider is recovered and healed. In this manner the stranger is brought nigh, the mourner is comforted, the name of God is glorified Sin is the cause of all our troubles; repentance and forgiveness lea to all human happiness.
Original Hebrew
ויעמד 5975 שׁלמה 8010 לפני 6440 מזבח 4196 יהוה 3068 נגד 5048 כל 3605 קהל 6951 ישׂראל 3478 ויפרשׂ 6566 כפיו 3709 השׁמים׃ 8064
