Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 8:9
[There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone ] We read in Heb 9:4 that in the ark of the covenant ‘was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded’ as well as the tables of the covenant, and we may be sure that the writer there speaks according to tradition. The Old Testament narrative (Exo 16:34) says that the pot of manna was laid up ‘before the testimony’ and the same expression is used (Num 17:10) concerning Aaron’s rod. This does not define whether they were put inside or on the outside of the ark. But it is most probable that during the time when the ark was moved from place to place they were kept inside it, but as soon as it was placed within the Temple they were removed. For the tables of stone were alone intended to be stored in the ark, being ‘the testimony (Exo 25:16) which God had given to Israel.’ The other things would still be ‘before the testimony’ if they were placed outside.
when the Lord made a covenant] There is no word for ‘covenant’ in the Hebrew, but the verb is the technical term used in this sense, meaning literally ‘to cut’ in allusion to the sacrifices which usually accompanied covenant-making. No doubt by this time the verb alone had come to have the sense of ‘making a covenant.’ So the italics of the A. V. are rather misleading. The same verb without any noun following is found in this sense 1Sa 11:2; 1Sa 20:16; 1Sa 20:18 and in other places. The verse is a little expanded but not changed in sense in the LXX.
Josephus adds here an account of the other furniture of the Temple, with the position which it occupied, and adds, what no doubt he had seen in his own time, that the brazen altar stood before the shrine, straight opposite the outer door, so that when that was thrown open the altar was visible, and the priestly acts and the completion of the sacrifice could all be seen. This is, in a way, a comment on 1Ki 8:8. The people outside could see through all the length of the holy place, but only one coming near to the partition, could, when the door into the most holy was open, notice the extended heads of the staves.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Comparing this statement with Heb 9:4, it would seem that Solomon, now that the sacred chest had reached its final resting-place, and stood in a large chamber surrounded by tables 2Ch 4:8, removed the pot of manna and the rod from the interior, and set them elsewhere in the holy of holies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Save the two tables of stone] See Clarke on Heb 9:4.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Nothing in the ark; strictly and properly: for in a more large sense, as in is oft taken for by or near, as is confessed, and hath been proved before; so the pot of manna and Aarons rod were also in it, Heb 9:4, i.e. by it, to wit, in the most holy place, before the ark of the testimony, where God commanded Moses to put them, as it is expressed, Exo 16:33,34; Num 17:10, and not strictly in it. But of this more, God assisting, on Heb 9:4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. There was nothing in the ark savethe two tables of stoneNothing else was ever in the ark, thearticles mentioned (Heb 9:4)being not in, but by it, being laid in the most holyplace before the testimony (Exo 16:33;Num 17:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
There was nothing in the ark, save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb,…. That is, there were no other writings; or, as Ben Gersom says, no other part of the law, but the decalogue otherwise he observes there were in it Aaron’s rod and the pot of manna, according to Heb 9:4 though the particle there may be rendered “at”, or “with”, or “by”, [See comments on Heb 9:4] and so they might be not within it, but in some place on the sides of it, see
De 31:26,
when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt; about two months after.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) There was nothing.The emphasis of this (repeated in 2Ch. 5:10) is remarkable, and seems intended to make it clear that the various things laid up before the testimonythe pot of manna (Exo. 16:33-34), the rod of Aaron (Num. 17:10), the copy of the Law (Deu. 31:24-26)were not in the ark, but (as in the last case is actually stated), at the side of the ark. Unless any change afterwards took placewhich is highly improbablethis clear statement must determine the interpretation of the well-known passage in the Epistle to the Hebrews (1Ki. 9:4), in which no stress need be laid on the literal accuracy of the word wherein; for its purpose is simply a general description of the Temple, its chief parts, and its most sacred furniture. The command to deposit the tables in the ark is recorded in Exo. 25:16, and the actual deposit of them there in Exo. 40:20, immediately after the erection of the Tabernacle.
There is something singularly impressive in the especial hallowing of the granite tables of the Law of Righteousness, as the most sacred of all the revelations of the Nature of God; thus indissolubly binding together religion and morality, and showing that God is best known to man, not in His omnipotence, or even in His infinite wisdom, which man can only in slight degree imitate, but in His moral nature, as the very Truth and Righteousness, of which all that in man is called true and righteous is but the reflection. The one main object of all prophetic teaching was to bring out the truth here implied, thus writing the law on the heart and on the mind (Jer. 31:33), and rebuking moral evil at least as strongly as religious error and apostasy. The very name of the Messiah for whom they prepared is Jehovah our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Nothing in the ark save the two tables These were apparently all, according to the Old Testament writers, that was ever placed in the ark. The pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were laid up before the Testimony, (Exo 16:34; Num 17:10,) but this alone leaves it undecided whether they were placed in the ark or by the side of it. According to Heb 11:4, however, they were in the ark, which also held the Testimony; and this latter passage doubtless expresses the Jewish traditional view of their position before the Lord and before the Testimony, as stated in the passages referred to in Exodus and Numbers. The pot and the rod had probably become lost during the ark’s captivity among the Philistines.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 8:9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, &c. See Heb 9:4.
Note; Though our eyes behold not the lustre of the Jewish temple, yet whilst by faith we are enabled to look to Jesus, all our requests will be granted, and at last with open face, we shall behold his brighter glory.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(9) There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
It is worthy our closest observation, how particular the Holy Ghost is, in more places than one, in pointing out what was in the ark. Heb 9:3-5 ; Rev 11:19 . No doubt, as the ark was one of the most expressive types of Jesus, all that was put into the ark had a reference to the fulness contained in Jesus. He is the Covenant itself, and all the blessings included in it. Eph 1:22-23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 8:9 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
Ver. 9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables. ] That is, Nothing of the book of the law, saith Vatablus, but the decalogue: the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were also in the ark, Heb 9:4 though Junius holdeth that there relateth not to the ark, but to the tabernacle.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
save, &c. Heb 9:4 speaks of the Ark as it was in the Tabernacle, not as in the Temple. Compare Heb 9:2, Heb 9:3, Heb 9:4.
when. Israel. The Septuagint reads “the Tables which Moses placed [there] in Horeb, which [Tables] the LORD covenanted with the sons of Israel”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
nothing: Exo 25:21, Deu 10:2, 2Ch 5:10
in the ark: Exo 16:33, Num 17:10, Heb 9:4
put there at Horeb: Exo 25:21, Exo 40:20, Deu 10:2, Deu 10:5, Deu 31:26
when: or, where, 1Ki 8:21, Exo 24:8, Exo 34:27, Exo 34:28, Deu 4:13, the cloud, Exo 13:21, Exo 14:24, Exo 16:10, Exo 24:16-18, Exo 40:34, Exo 40:35, Lev 16:2, Num 9:15, 2Ch 5:13, 2Ch 5:14, 2Ch 7:1-3, Eze 10:4, Rev 15:8
Reciprocal: Exo 16:34 – General Exo 25:16 – General 2Ki 23:2 – the book 2Ch 5:9 – the ends 2Ch 6:11 – I put the ark Jer 31:32 – Not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 8:9. There was nothing in the ark, &c. Strictly and properly speaking. But in a looser sense, the pot of manna, and Aarons rod were also in or by it, (Heb 9:4,) being placed by Moses, as God commanded, (Num 17:10,) before the ark of the testimony, in the most holy place.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:9 [There was] nothing in the ark {e} save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
(e) For it is likely that the enemy when they had the ark in their hands took away the rod of Aaron and the pot of manna.