1 Kings 6:11
Then the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying:
BSB
ASV
And the word of Jehovah came to Solomon, saying,
KJV
And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying,
And the word of the Lord came to Solomon,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum, foretelling what would be the case of this building, according to the obedience or disobedience of him and the people of Israel; which was brought to him either by an impulse of the Spirit of God upon him; or by the hand of a prophet, as Kimchi thinks; and some of the Jewish writers (y), as he particularly, name Ahijah the Shilonite as the prophet that was sent with this message to him: saying, as follows. (y) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 20. p. 53.
The word of the Lord came to Solomon - Some think that this is the same revelation as that mentioned 1Ki 9:2, etc., which took place after the dedication of the temple: but to me it appears different; it was a word to encourage him while building; to warn him against apostasy, and to assure him of God’s continued protection of him and his family, if they continued faithful to the grace which God had given.
It was very seasonable, being designed: first, to encourage him to go on with the building, by confirming anew the promise made to his father David (2Sa 7:12-16); and secondly, to warn him against the pride and presumption of supposing that after the erection of so magnificent a temple, he and his people would always be sure of the presence and favor of God.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
