1 Kings 8:62

KJV

¶ And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the king {H4428}, and all Israel {H3478} with him, offered {H2076} sacrifice {H2077} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the king, together with all Isra'el, offered sacrifices before ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.

American Standard Version

And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 8:62 vividly portrays a monumental act of corporate worship and national dedication following the completion and consecration of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. With the manifest glory of the LORD having filled the newly built sanctuary, King Solomon, in unified action with the entire nation of Israel, offered an immense volume of sacrifices before the LORD. This grand offering served as a profound expression of thanksgiving, covenant affirmation, and joyous celebration, marking the culmination of a significant period in Israel's history where the physical dwelling place for God's presence was established and acknowledged by both the monarch and his people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the climactic dedication of the Temple, a pivotal event in Israel's history. Solomon has just concluded a lengthy and fervent prayer of dedication in [1 Kings 8:22-53](/1_kings/8-22-53 "1 Kings 8:22-53 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication"), acknowledging God's faithfulness and pleading for His continued presence and blessing upon Israel. Prior to this, the glory of the LORD had dramatically filled the Temple, signifying divine acceptance and indwelling, causing the priests to be unable to minister ([1 Kings 8:10-11](/1_kings/8-10-11 "1 Kings 8:10-11 - The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple")). The offering of sacrifices in verse 62, and the immense scale detailed in the subsequent verse ([1 Kings 8:63](/1_kings/8-63 "1 Kings 8:63 - The Scale of the Sacrifices")), represents the people's collective response of worship, gratitude, and renewed covenant commitment in light of God's manifest presence and the fulfillment of His promises regarding a dwelling place among them. It transitions from the theological declaration of the Temple's purpose to the practical, communal act of worship, solidifying the spiritual significance of the physical structure.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The construction and dedication of the Temple were the zenith of Solomon's reign, fulfilling David's desire to build a permanent dwelling for the Ark of the Covenant. In ancient Israelite culture, sacrifice was the primary means of approaching God, expressing devotion, seeking atonement, and celebrating fellowship. The scale of the sacrifices described here (implied by "all Israel" and explicitly detailed in [1 Kings 8:63](/1_kings/8-63 "1 Kings 8:63 - The Sacrifices Offered")) would have been unprecedented, reflecting the national significance of the Temple's completion and the immense prosperity of Solomon's kingdom. The king, as the representative head of the nation, played a crucial role in leading this corporate worship, symbolizing the unity of the people under God's sovereignty. This event also solidified Jerusalem's status as the central place of worship, a concept emphasized in [Deuteronomy 12](/deuteronomy/12 "Deuteronomy 12 - Centralization of Worship"), thereby centralizing Israelite religious life around the Temple and reinforcing the unique relationship between Yahweh and His chosen people.
* **Key Themes:** Several major themes converge in this verse, highlighting its theological richness. **Corporate Worship** is paramount, emphasizing the unity of the king and "all Israel" in a shared act of devotion. This communal participation underscores the idea that faith is not merely individual but a collective covenant relationship with God, where the entire nation engages in a unified expression of reverence. **Covenant Affirmation** is also central; by offering these sacrifices, the people were reaffirming their commitment to the covenant established at Sinai, much like the original covenant ceremony involving sacrifices in [Exodus 24:5-8](/exodus/24-5-8 "Exodus 24:5-8 - Covenant Ratification"). The act of sacrifice itself embodies **Thanksgiving and Dedication**, expressing profound gratitude for God's faithfulness in enabling the Temple's completion and for His willingness to dwell among His people. Finally, the verse subtly reinforces the theme of **Divine Presence**, as the sacrifices are offered "before the LORD," who has just filled the Temple with His glory, confirming His acceptance of their worship and His dwelling among them as promised.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **King (Hebrew, _melek'_):** (H4428) Refers to Solomon, the reigning monarch. In ancient Israel, the king served as both political and religious head, often leading the nation in acts of worship and covenant renewal. His participation here signifies the national, divinely ordained leadership in this sacred act of dedication.
* **Israel (Hebrew, _Yisrâʼêl'_):** (H3478) This term, derived from Jacob's symbolic name, signifies "he will rule as God" and refers to the collective posterity of Jacob, the nation chosen by God. The phrase "all Israel" emphasizes the comprehensive and unified participation of the entire nation. While likely a hyperbole for the vast numbers present, it signifies that this was not a private royal ceremony but a national event, representing the collective faith and dedication of God's chosen people.
* **Offered (Hebrew, _zâbach'_):** (H2076) A primitive root meaning "to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)." This verb specifically denotes the act of preparing and presenting a sacrificial offering. It implies a costly, tangible act of worship involving the shedding of blood, central to the Old Testament sacrificial system. In this context, given the dedication of the Temple, these were primarily peace offerings (fellowship offerings) and burnt offerings (whole dedication), symbolizing communion with God and total surrender.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the king, and all Israel with him":** This opening clause immediately establishes the scope and nature of the event. It was a joint endeavor, led by the supreme human authority (the king) but participated in by the entire community. This highlights the unity of purpose and the collective nature of their worship and covenant relationship with God. The king's leadership legitimized and organized the national act, while the presence of "all Israel" underscored its popular, communal significance, demonstrating a unified national response to God's presence.
* **"offered sacrifice":** This is the central action of the verse. The act of offering sacrifice was the prescribed means of approaching God in the Old Covenant. In this context, it was primarily an act of joyous thanksgiving and dedication following the successful completion and divine acceptance of the Temple. The sheer volume of sacrifices, elaborated in the subsequent verse, speaks to the immense gratitude and devotion of the king and the people. It was a tangible, costly expression of their worship and commitment, a physical manifestation of their spiritual posture.
* **"before the LORD":** This phrase emphasizes the direct object and recipient of the worship. The sacrifices were not offered to idols or mere human leaders, but to Yahweh (H3068), the self-Existent or Eternal God of Israel, who had just manifested His glorious presence in the Temple. It underscores the sacredness of the act and the reality of God's immanent presence among His people, making the Temple the focal point of their encounter with the divine and confirming His acceptance of their worship.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound meaning and the grandeur of the event. **Synecdoche** is present in "all Israel," where a part (the representatives or a vast multitude) stands for the whole nation, emphasizing the comprehensive and unified nature of the communal worship. The act of "offered sacrifice" is rich in **Symbolism**, representing not only atonement and fellowship but, in this specific context, profound thanksgiving, dedication, and the renewal of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The entire scene is imbued with a sense of **Grandeur** and **Magnificence**, underscored by the preceding narrative of the Temple's awe-inspiring construction and dedication, and the implied scale of the offerings. This pervasive sense of awe and solemnity contributes significantly to the verse's impact, highlighting the unparalleled significance of this moment in Israel's religious and national history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 8:62 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of worship and the covenant relationship between God and His people. It demonstrates that true worship is a corporate act, involving both leadership and the entire community, offered in gratitude for God's faithfulness and presence. The sacrifices, though physical, symbolized the people's spiritual dedication and their ongoing commitment to the covenant. This act of national worship affirmed God's unique sovereignty over Israel and their unique status as His chosen people, now with a central dwelling place for His name. It foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that would fully reconcile humanity to God, transcending the temporary nature of these animal offerings.

* [Exodus 24:5-8](/exodus/24-5-8 "Exodus 24:5-8 - Covenant Ratification through Sacrifice")
* [2 Chronicles 7:4-5](/2_chronicles/7-4-5 "2 Chronicles 7:4-5 - Parallel Account of Temple Dedication Sacrifices")
* [Psalm 116:17](/psalms/116-17 "Psalm 116:17 - Offering Sacrifices of Thanksgiving")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in 1 Kings 8:62 invites contemporary believers to reflect on the nature of our own worship and dedication to God. Just as "all Israel" gathered to offer sacrifices, there is profound value in corporate worship, where the community of faith comes together to acknowledge God's greatness, express gratitude, and dedicate themselves anew to His purposes. This verse challenges us to consider the "cost" of our worship – not in terms of animal sacrifice, but in the offering of our time, talents, resources, and indeed, our very lives, as "living sacrifices" in response to God's immense grace. It reminds us that true worship is a holistic response to God's presence and faithfulness, marked by both individual devotion and communal expression, fostering unity and a shared commitment to God's kingdom. It calls us to participate actively and wholeheartedly in the worship of the Lord, recognizing that our collective adoration brings glory to His name and strengthens the bonds of fellowship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the corporate nature of worship in 1 Kings 8:62 challenge or affirm your understanding of communal church gatherings today?**
* **In what practical ways can we, as individuals and as a community, "offer sacrifice" to the LORD in our daily lives, reflecting gratitude and dedication?**
* **What does "worshiping before the LORD" mean for you personally, knowing that God's presence is no longer confined to a physical temple but dwells within believers?**

### FAQ

**What was the primary purpose of these sacrifices at the Temple dedication?**

Answer: While Old Testament sacrifices served various purposes (atonement, fellowship, burnt offerings for dedication), the primary purpose of the immense sacrifices at the Temple dedication was an outpouring of thanksgiving and joyous dedication. Having witnessed the glory of the LORD fill the Temple and hearing Solomon's fervent prayer of dedication, the king and all Israel were responding with profound gratitude for God's faithfulness in providing a dwelling place for His name and for His presence among them. It was a national celebration and a reaffirmation of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The sheer scale of the offerings, explicitly elaborated in [1 Kings 8:63](/1_kings/8-63 "1 Kings 8:63 - The Scale of the Sacrifices"), speaks to the magnitude of their thanksgiving and commitment, signifying a national act of devotion and celebration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The grand scene of sacrifice in 1 Kings 8:62, while a magnificent display of Old Covenant worship, ultimately points forward to its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The myriad of animal sacrifices, offered "before the LORD" as a costly expression of dedication and thanksgiving, served as a foreshadowing of the singular, once-for-all sacrifice of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world. Unlike the repeated offerings of the Old Covenant, which could never fully atone for sin or perfect those who drew near ([Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Inadequacy of Old Covenant Sacrifices")), Christ's sacrifice on the cross perfectly and eternally accomplished reconciliation between God and humanity ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10-14 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). Through His shed blood, a new and living way was opened into the very presence of God, no longer confined to a physical temple but accessible to all who believe ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19-22 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God through Christ")). Thus, the lavish dedication in 1 Kings 8:62 finds its ultimate meaning in the infinitely more precious dedication of Christ, who offered Himself as the supreme act of worship and the perfect covenant sacrifice, enabling believers to now offer themselves as "living sacrifices" in response to His grace, which is our spiritual act of worship ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 6:17

And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

2 Samuel 6:19

And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon [of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.

2 Chronicles 7:4

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

2 Chronicles 7:10

And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

Ezra 6:16

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

Ezra 6:17

And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.