1 Kings 8:8

And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy [place] before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

And they drew out {H748} the staves {H905}, that the ends {H7218} of the staves {H905} were seen out {H7200} in the holy {H6944} place before {H6440} the oracle {H1687}, and they were not seen {H7200} without {H2351}: and there they are unto this day {H3117}.

The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this day.

The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 8:8

This verse is situated within the grand narrative of the dedication of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. Following seven years of construction, the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God's presence among His people, is finally brought from the City of David and placed into its permanent resting place within the Most Holy Place (also known as the oracle or debir). The preceding verses describe the priests bringing the Ark into the Temple, and this specific verse details the unique position of the staves (poles) used to carry the Ark.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Ark's Permanent Placement: The verse signifies the culmination of a long journey for the Ark, which had previously resided in the Tabernacle and various temporary locations. Its installation in the Temple marked a new era of stability for Israel's worship.
  • Sacredness of the Most Holy Place: The description of the staves being visible only from the Holy Place (the main sanctuary) but not from outside underscores the extreme sanctity and restricted access to the oracle, where God's presence was believed to dwell. Only the High Priest could enter this innermost chamber, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:7).
  • Divine Presence and Continuity: The statement "and there they are unto this day" serves as a historical marker, affirming the enduring presence of the Ark and the significance of its placement at the time the historical record was compiled. It reinforces the idea that God's covenantal presence remained with Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The term "holy [place]" refers to the hekal, the main hall of the Temple, while "the oracle" translates the Hebrew word debir, which specifically designates the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies. The "staves" were the long poles, originally made of shittim wood overlaid with gold, used for carrying the Ark of the Covenant. Their visibility from the hekal, but not beyond, highlights the architectural design that both honored the Ark's mobility (it was designed to be carried, as seen in Numbers 4:6) and its newly found, sacred immobility within the Temple.

Practical Application

While the physical Ark and Temple no longer exist, the principles embedded in this verse remain relevant. It reminds us of God's desire for a dedicated space among His people and the reverence due to His presence. For believers today, the concept of God dwelling among us has shifted from a physical structure to the spiritual indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The sanctity of the Ark's place in the Temple can inspire us to maintain reverence and devotion in our personal walk with God and in communal worship, recognizing that God's presence is holy and transformative.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 37:4

    And he made staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

  • Exodus 37:5

    And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

  • Exodus 25:13

    And thou shalt make staves [of] shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

  • Exodus 25:15

    The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:9

    And they drew out the staves [of the ark], that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.

  • Joshua 4:9

    And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

  • Matthew 28:15

    So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
← Back