1 Kings 8

Sacrifice as a similitude of the Son

And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 1 Kings 8:5

Animal sacrifice was given as a likeness of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten. The countless animals at the temple point to the one great and last sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

• a type of what is in Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice "is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father."
• a type of what is in Alma 34:14 — The law of sacrifice points to the great and last sacrifice, the Son of God.

Mercy Seat

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 1 Kings 8:6–9

The place under the cherubim's wings over the ark was the mercy seat, where the high priest sprinkled blood on the Day of Atonement. It points to Christ, through whose blood mercy is given, and who entered the true most holy place for us.

• alludes to Exodus 25:20-22 — Cherubim wings covering the mercy seat, where God would meet with Moses.
• alludes to Hebrews 9:5 — "Cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat."
• a type of what is in Hebrews 9:11-12 — Christ entered the holy place by His own blood.

Jehovah (glory of the LORD)

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 1 Kings 8:10–11

Jehovah's glory visibly filled His house, showing He accepted the temple. The same Lord later appeared in glory in the Kirtland Temple as Jesus Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 — Same event: the house filled with a cloud, the glory of the LORD.
• alludes to Exodus 40:34-35 — The glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle so Moses could not enter.
• alluded to by D&C 84:5 — A latter-day temple where the cloud, the glory of the Lord, shall fill the house.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One

Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 1 Kings 8:12–13

Solomon speaks of the LORD, Jehovah, the premortal Christ, coming to dwell in the house built for Him.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:1-2 — Same words of Solomon.

Solomon, Son of David, as a type of Christ

Solomon — "peaceable"

And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. 1 Kings 8:18–20

The promised son of David who sits on David's throne and builds the house of the Lord is first Solomon, but the promise reaches its fullness in Jesus, the Son of David and Prince of Peace, who builds God's true house. Jesus Himself said "a greater than Solomon is here."

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to 2 Samuel 7:12-13 — Nathan's prophecy of David's seed building a house for the LORD's name.
• a type of what is in Matthew 12:42 — "A greater than Solomon is here."

Jehovah, God of Israel

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One

And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 1 Kings 8:23–24

Solomon praises the LORD God of Israel, Jehovah (the premortal Christ), for keeping His covenant and showing mercy.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:14-15 — Same opening of the dedicatory prayer.

Messiah, heir of David's throne

Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. 1 Kings 8:25–26

Solomon asks Jehovah to keep His promise that David's line would never lack a king. Though the earthly kings failed, the promise is kept forever in Jesus Christ, born of David's line, whose kingdom has no end.

• alludes to 2 Samuel 7:16 — David's house, kingdom and throne established for ever.
• fulfilled by Luke 1:32-33 — God gives Jesus the throne of His father David; of His kingdom there shall be no end.

God dwelling on earth (the Incarnation)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 1 Kings 8:27

Solomon wonders how the God whom the heavens cannot hold could live on earth. The answer came when Jehovah was born as Jesus and truly dwelt among men, Emmanuel, God with us.

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:18 — Same question in Chronicles.
• fulfilled by John 1:14 — "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

Jehovah, who hears and forgives

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One

Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 1 Kings 8:28–30

Solomon asks the LORD, whose name is placed on the temple, to hear prayers made toward it and forgive. Forgiveness comes through Jehovah, who is the Redeemer, Jesus Christ; the pattern repeats for each kind of need in vv. 31-40.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:19-21 — Same petition in Chronicles.

Jehovah's name known to all nations

Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; 1 Kings 8:41–43

Solomon prays that even foreigners who come for the Lord's name would be heard, so that all the earth would know Him. It foreshadows the Lord's gospel going to every nation.

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 — Same prayer for the stranger.

Jehovah, who forgives the repentant

If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; 1 Kings 8:46–50

Because everyone sins, Solomon pleads that when Israel repents with all their heart, the Lord will forgive. This is the Lord's pattern of repentance, made possible through His Atonement.

• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:36-39 — Same petition in Chronicles.

Jehovah the Deliverer

For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: 1 Kings 8:51–53

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is the God who rescued Israel from Egypt's "furnace of iron" and made them His own people.

• alludes to Deuteronomy 4:20 — The LORD took Israel out of the iron furnace to be His inheritance.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One

Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 1 Kings 8:56–61

Solomon blesses the LORD, Jehovah, who gave His people rest and never broke a promise, and asks Him to turn their hearts to Him.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Joshua 21:45 — "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken."

Sacrifice as a similitude of the Son

And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 1 Kings 8:62–64

The temple is dedicated with burnt offerings and peace offerings, sacrifices that pointed to Christ, whose offering brings us peace with God.

• a type of what is in Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice as a similitude of the Only Begotten's sacrifice.
• a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 7:4-7 — Same dedicatory sacrifices.