1 Kings 7:51

King James Version (KJV)

So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Solomon brought in the things - It has been a question whether Solomon, in the structure of the temple, used any of the gold and silver which David had provided? And here it seems answered in the negative; for after the house was finished, with all its utensils and ornaments, with its immense profusion of gold, it is here said that Solomon brought in the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, which David his father had dedicated. It appears therefore that Solomon had employed four years to make preparation for the work before it was begun. During the whole time of the building, he was no doubt still appropriating a part of the public revenue for this purpose; and the provision made by his father he placed among the treasures of the house; but the temple was truly Solomon's, as he had provided all its materials, and borne every expense.

As the temple was built in some measure on the model of the tabernacle, and dedicated to the same use, I wish to refer the reader to the description of the former, in Exodus 25-27 (note) and Exodus 35-39 (note).

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

The things which David had dedicated - Not only the things described in 1 Chronicles 28:14-18, but also the spoil of the nations which he had subdued (margin reference), and also the vessels of gold, silver, and brass, sent him by Toi king of Hamath, on his victory over Hadadezer. Solomon now brought these into the temple treasury. A sacred treasury had been established at least as early as the time of Saul, to which Saul himself, Abner, Joab, and others, had contributed 1 Chronicles 26:28.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Christ is now the Temple and the Builder; the Altar and the Sacrifice; the Light of our souls, and the Bread of life; able to supply all the wants of all that have applied or shall apply to him. Outward images cannot represent, words cannot express, the heart cannot conceive, his preciousness or his love. Let us come to him, and wash away our sins in his blood; let us seek for the purifying grace of his Spirit; let us maintain communion with the Father through his intercession, and yield up ourselves and all we have to his service. Being strengthened by him, we shall be accepted, useful, and happy.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

51. Had dedicated. David had accumulated an immense amount of silver and gold for the Temple and its furniture (1 Chron. 22:3-5, 14-16; 28:14-18; 29:2-5). Much booty taken in war was dedicated to the Lord and the Temple treasury (1 Chron. 18:7-11). Such a treasury seems to have been in existence for some time, to which Samuel, Saul, Abner, and Joab, as well as David, had made their contributions (1 Chron. 26:26-28).

chapter 8

1 The feast of the dedication of the temple. 12, 54 Solomon’s blessing. 22 Solomon’s prayer. 62 His sacrifice of peace offerings.

1. Solomon assembled. The account of the rites connected with the dedication of the Temple constitutes one of the outstanding chapters of the Bible. The narrative is one of great beauty and deep spiritual significance. In it leaders of the church have found words of inspiration and encouragement throughout the centuries for the consecration of houses of worship. This chapter stands in remarkable contrast with the preceding one. There we find the formal and technical details having to do with the material things of the Temple. Here we enter into the deeper significance of the things having to do with the house of Godâ€”we come into contact with God Himself. Both chapters have their part in giving us a true and complete picture of the Temple and its significance, and neither would be complete without the other.

Solomon is the important personage leading out in the various activities connected with the dedication of the Temple. His kingly majesty is conspicuous. But he seems to be more than a mere king, engaged only in the secular affairs of state. He is engaged now in a distinctly religious service for God. Such a service would not at all serve to lessen his royal dignity but to enhance it. He performs the functions that as king we would expect of him, and more. He calls together the leaders of the nation and directs in the arrangements made. But having done that, it might be expected that the priests would take over and lead out in the distinctly religious functions. But that is not the case. It is the king who consecrates the sanctuary, who offers the dedicatory prayer, who admonishes the people to be faithful to God, and who pronounces upon them the divine blessing.

Solomon provided exactly the type of spiritual leadership that God asks from those who are appointed to act as leaders in His work. Unfortunately this leadership continued but for a brief period. The one upon whose head rested such unequaled concentration of temporal and spiritual dignity before long fell victim to the temptation of self-idolatry. In a short time humility, devotion, and obedience gave way to pride, ambition, and indulgence, and gifts once employed for the glory of God were perverted to selfish purposes and worldly ambition, with the result that he who had been so highly honored with tokens of divine favor degenerated into an oppressive tyrant whose kingdom broke apart at his death. Israel, following his example, lost the secret of finding peace and riches on earth, and the once flourishing theocracy became a corrupt and desolate ruin.

Heads of the tribes. In the bringing up of the ark to Mt. Moriah, all the leaders of Israel were to have a part. There must have been a great concourse of people, elders, heads of tribes, and chiefs of the fathers, for at the time that David brought forth the ark of God “that dwelleth between the cherubims,” out of the house of Abinadab, to bring it to the City of David, the “chosen men of Israel” employed numbered 30,000 (2 Sam. 6:1-5).

The ark. Foremost among the services of dedication was the bringing up of the ark from the City of David to its new home in the most holy place of the Temple. The transfer of the ark by David from the house of Obed-edom to the tabernacle that he had made for it in his own city, was an occasion of great joy as well as solemnity (2 Sam. 6:12-19). The ark containing the two tables of the law was the most important item in the sanctuary.

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Ellen G. White
The Great Controversy, 23

Two days before the Passover, when Christ had for the last time departed from the temple, after denouncing the hypocrisy of the Jewish rulers, He again went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives and seated Himself with them upon the grassy slope overlooking the city. Once more He gazed upon its walls, its towers, and its palaces. Once more He beheld the temple in its dazzling splendor, a diadem of beauty crowning the sacred mount. GC 23.1

A thousand years before, the psalmist had magnified God's favor to Israel in making her holy house His dwelling place: “In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion.” He “chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like high palaces.” Psalm 76:2; 78:68, 69. The first temple had been erected during the most prosperous period of Israel's history. Vast stores of treasure for this purpose had been collected by King David, and the plans for its construction were made by divine inspiration. 1 Chronicles 28:12, 19. Solomon, the wisest of Israel's monarchs, had completed the work. This temple was the most magnificent building which the world ever saw. Yet the Lord had declared by the prophet Haggai, concerning the second temple: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.” “I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:9, 7. GC 23.2

After the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar it was rebuilt about five hundred years before the birth of Christ by a people who from a lifelong captivity had returned to a wasted and almost deserted country. There were then among them aged men who had seen the glory of Solomon's temple, and who wept at the foundation of the new building, that it must be so inferior to the former. The feeling that prevailed is forcibly described by the prophet: “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” Haggai 2:3; Ezra 3:12. Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter house should be greater than that of the former. GC 23.3

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The United Monarchy under Solomon (2)

Solomon's Economic Enterprises

Solomon's Building Activities

Solomon's Temple

Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon

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1 Kings 7:51