1 Kings 8:9

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 εν η there relateth not to κιβωτου the ark, but to σκηνη the tabernacle.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 8:9. There was nothing in the ark, &c. — Strictly and properly speaking. But in a looser sense, the pot of manna, and Aaron’s 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.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

8:9 The focus on the two stone tablets that Moses placed in the Ark (cp. 8:21; see Exod 25:21; Deut 31:26) suggests that Solomon had in mind both a renewal of the Mosaic covenant and the Temple dedication.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

For it is like that the enemies when they had the Ark in their hands, took away the rod of Aaron and the pot with Manna.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone--Nothing else was ever in the ark, the articles mentioned (Heb 9:4) being not in, but by it, being laid in the most holy place before the testimony (Exo 16:33; Num 17:10).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 9. Save the two tables of stone] See Clarke on Heb 9:4.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(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 testimony”—the 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 place—which is highly improbable—this 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).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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 Gill on Heb 9:4 and so they might be not within it, but in some place on the sides of it, see Deu 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.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Nothing else, &c. There was nothing else but the tables of the law within the ark. But on the outside of the ark, or near the ark, were also the rod of Aaron, and a golden urn with manna, Hebrews ix. 4. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- These might have been in the ark while it was not fixed: but after the temple was built, all but the tables were placed in the treasury; where, we find, the book of the law was discovered, under Joas, Deuteronomy xxxi. 26., and 2 Paralipomenon xxxiv. 14. Others think that, in the days of St. Paul, the rod, &c., might have been reposited in the ark, though they had not been admitted at the time when this book was written. (Bellarmine, &c.) --- But we have no assurance that the ark was ever placed in the second temple; and Josephus informs us, that when the Romans destroyed the temple, "there was noting at all" in the sanctuary. (Calmet) --- In area might easily signify ad, or juxta arcam, "near the ark." (Salien)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

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 Aaron’s 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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

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.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there. (Exo_25:16 Exo_40:20 Deu_10:5) This statement appears to be at variance with Heb_9:4, which mentions "the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron"s rod that budded," as in the ark, along with "the tables of the covenant." And it is to be observed that, while our text excludes these relics from the ark (temp. Solomon), no other scripture save that just cited expressly includes them. Exo_16:34 and Num_17:10 they are commanded to be laid up "before the testimony," words which no doubt may mean, as they were long interpreted to mean, "before the tables of testimony in the ark observe, the words are "before the testimony," not "before the ark but which are now generally thought to import "in front of the ark which con-rained the testimony." We know the book of the law was put "at the side (dXmi) of the ark", (Deu_31:26) and hence it is held by some that the golden pot, etc., occupied a similar position. It seems preferable, however, considering the distinct statement of St. Paul, or the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which, to say the least, embodies Jewish tradition, to adhere to the ancient interpretation that the golden pot of manna and Aaron"s rod were in the ark. And this in no wise conflicts with the statement of the text, for these treasures might well have been removed by the Philistines, whose first thought, we may be sure, would be to open their new acquisition. It is not improbable, indeed, that the object of the men of Bethshemesh in looking into the ark was to see whether these treasures were still there. For if the golden pot ever was in the ark, we can hardly suppose it would escape the rapacity of the Philistines, who would leave the two tables of stone as things of no value. Indeed, it is just possible that the trespass offering, the golden mice, etc., were designed as a return for the golden pot which had been removed. And the statement of the text, "there was nothing," etc., almost implies that there had been something there at one time. (see Alford on Heb_9:4) It seem probable, therefore, that the golden pot and Aaron"s rod were originally deposited "before the testimony" in the ark; that they were removed during its captivity; (1Sa_5:6) and that the sacrilege was discovered at Bethshemesh. (1Sa_6:19) This last mentioned episode explains how it came to be known that "there was nothing," etc. It is hardly likely after that memorable visitation that Solomon could have opened the ark and taken out the two relics, as Rawlinson suggests. Nor have we any warrant for the view that the mercy seat, with the cherubs, was removed to make way for a new lid without them, and so the interior of the ark was disclosed to view (Stanley) at Horeb. (See Exo_3:1 Exo_17:6 Exo_33:6 1Ki_19:8) This name, which means dry ground, desert, would appear to have belonged to two or three different places in the wilderness. But as the name of the place where the law was given and the covenant with God made (Deu_4:10, Deu_4:13) it became subsequently a nomen generale for the whole of the Sinaitic region (Dict. Bib. 3. p. 1326). Here the mount of the law is clearly meant when Heb. which, rva is occasionally found in the sense of quum, as in Deu_11:6 Psa_139:15 2Ch_35:20; of. 1Ki_9:10 (Gesen., Thessalonians, s.v.) the Lord made a covenant Heb. cut; see note on 1Ki_5:12. tyriB is to be understood. Same ellipsis in 1Sa_20:16 1Sa_22:8 with the children of Israel when they came Heb. in their coming out of the land of Egypt. Exo_34:27, 28 Deu_4:13

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Nothing - Strictly and properly: but in a more large sense, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod were also in it, Heb. ix, 4, that is, by it, in the most holy place, before the ark of the testimony, where God commanded Moses to put them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

It came about that

This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

translationWords

ark

Moses

Horeb

Yahweh

covenant

Israel

Egypt

priest

holy place

temple

servant

glory

house

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.