Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 8:44
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house that I have built for thy name:
44. If thy people go out to battle ] The case here is of a war undertaken by God’s direction, and therefore in a righteous cause. Under such circumstances the people may trust in Him for support.
shall pray unto the Lord toward the city ] Not only the Jews but other people were wont to turn their faces toward some sacred spot when praying in a distant land, as Daniel did in Babylon (Dan 6:10). Thus the Mohammedans turn towards Mecca, and the early Christians inherited from the Jews the custom of turning to the east when they prayed. Cf. Tert. Apol.16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 44. If thy people go out to battle] The SIXTH case refers to wars undertaken by Divine appointment: whithersoever thou shalt send them; for in no other wars could they expect the blessing and concurrence of the Lord; in none other could the God of truth and justice maintain their cause. There were such wars under the Mosaic dispensation, there are none such under the Christian dispensation: nor can there be any; for the Son of man is come, not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. Except mere defensive war, all others are diabolic; and, query, if there were no provocations, would there be any attacks, and consequently any need of defensive wars?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Withersoever thou shalt send them, i.e. in a just cause, and by thy warrant or commission; whereby he implies that it was unlawful for them to undertake any war merely for their own glory or lust, or to enlarge their empire beyond its due bounds; and that they could not with safe conscience pray to God for his blessing upon such a war.
And shall pray unto the Lord; whereby he instructs them that they should not trust either to the strength or justice of their arms, but only to Gods help and blessing, which they were to pray for.
The city which thou hast chosen, to wit, for thy dwelling-place, and the seat of thy temple.
Toward the house that I have built for thy name; for to it they were to turn their faces in prayer; partly thereby to profess themselves to be the worshippers of the true God, in opposition to idols; and that they sought help from him, and from no other; and partly to strengthen faith in Gods promises and covenant, the tables whereof were contained in that house.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy,…. In a foreign country, threatening to invade them, or having trespassed on their borders, or some way or other infringed on their liberties and privileges, and so given them just occasion to go to war with them:
whithersoever thou shalt send them; this case supposes their asking counsel of God, or having a direction and commission from him by a prophet, or some other way, to engage in war with the enemy:
and shall pray unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house I have built for thy name: for, notwithstanding the justness of their cause, and having a warrant from God to go to war, yet they were to pray to him for success when at a distance, even in a foreign land, and about to engage the enemy; and this they were to do, turning their faces towards the city of Jerusalem, and the temple there; declaring thereby that their dependence was upon the Lord that dwelt there, and their expectation of victory was only from him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(44-50) If thy people go
out.The prayer here returns once more to invoke Gods aid against earthly enemies. It is characteristic of the foreboding tone of sadness, which runs through the whole prayer, that it touches but lightly on the first petition, for Gods blessing on the arms of Israel, so often granted in days gone by, and enlarges on the second petition, for mercy and deliverance in the event of defeat and captivity. The spirit, and in the confession of 1Ki. 8:47 the very words, of this prayer of Solomon are strikingly reproduced in the solemn supplication of Daniel, when the close of the Babylonish captivity drew near (Dan. 9:4-15).There we find a confession of sin, perverseness, and wickedness, literally the same; we find also a similar pleading with God, as keeping covenant and mercy, a similar reference to the deliverance from Egypt, and a similar emphasis on the consecration of the city and its people by Gods great name. There is a striking pathos of circumstance in the fact, that over the sanctuary that was desolate (Dan. 9:17), with his windows open towards Jerusalem, Daniel utters the same prayer, which had marked the day of its consecration in all magnificence and prosperity.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
44. Whithersoever thou shalt send them This indicates that the battle referred to is one undertaken by Divine counsel or sanction, as was every righteous war for the defence or honour of the nation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 8:44 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house that I have built for thy name:
Ver. 44. If thy people go out to battle. ] Upon a necessary justice, or a just necessity. For that soldier can never answer it to God that strikes not more as a justicer, than as any enemy.
And shall pray unto the Lord.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
enemy. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “enemies”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a Plea for National Righteousness
1Ki 8:44-53
How true it is that there is no man that sinneth not, 1Ki 8:46! Only one that ever walked this earth was holy, guileless, and undefiled, Heb 7:26. When we fail to watch and abide in Christ, we are easily carried into captivity. How many of Gods children are thus taken captive! They are in bondage to some besetting sin, to some evil habit, to some degrading business, or to some unseemly alliance. Like blind Samson, they grind in the prison-house.
Let any such, who long for freedom, take home to their souls the infinite comfort which Gods Word affords. Let them bethink-themselves of the holy and blessed days of the past. Let them repent, that is, in their heart and in practice put away the evil thing which is the outward badge of their sad condition. Let them turn again to the Savior, who has passed into the Holiest, that He may intercede in the presence of God for us all. There will be an immediate response. God will hearken in all that they call unto Him for, will forgive transgression and sin, and will restore His people to become again His own inheritance for His glory and praise.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
go out to battle: Deu 20:1-4, Deu 31:3-6, Jos 1:2-5, 2Ch 6:34
whithersoever: Num 31:1-12, Jos 6:2-5, Jos 8:1, Jos 8:2, Jdg 1:1, Jdg 1:2, Jdg 4:6, Jdg 6:14, 1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 15:18, 1Sa 30:8, 2Sa 5:19, 2Sa 5:23
shall pray: 2Ch 14:9-12, 2Ch 18:31, 2Ch 20:6-13, 2Ch 32:20
toward the city: Heb. the way of the city, 1Ki 8:16, Psa 78:67-69, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14, Dan 9:17-19
Reciprocal: 2Sa 15:32 – he worshipped 1Ki 8:48 – the city 1Ki 12:27 – go up 1Ki 14:21 – the city 2Ki 21:7 – In this house 1Ch 5:20 – for they cried 2Ch 7:16 – have I chosen 2Ch 33:7 – which I have Psa 20:2 – from Dan 6:10 – his windows
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 8:44-45. If thy people go out to battle In a just cause, and by thy warrant and commission. This is the next case recommended by Solomon to the divine favour. Whithersoever thou shalt send them In this is implied, that it was unlawful for them to undertake any war merely for their own pleasure or profit, or the gratification of their own worldly or ambitious desires; or to enlarge their empire beyond its due bounds; and that they could not, with a good conscience, pray to God for his blessing on such a war. And shall pray unto the Lord Whereby he instructs them that they should not trust either to the strength or justice of their arms, but only to Gods help and blessing, for which they were to pray. Toward the city which thou hast chosen For thy dwelling-place, and the seat of thy temple. Toward the house which I have built For to it they were to turn their faces in prayer; to profess themselves worshippers of the true God, in opposition to idols; and to strengthen their faith in Gods promises and covenant, the tables whereof were contained in that house. Soldiers in the field must not think it enough that others pray for them; they must pray for themselves; and they are here encouraged to expect a gracious answer. Praying should always go along with fighting. Maintain their cause Declare the justice of their cause by giving them the victory.