[I Kings, 7:51–8:21]
“When all the work was completed” [7:51]. When the work of the Temple was completed and King Solomon brought all the gold, silver and vessels of his father David into the Temple. He did not use it for the Temple, but he placed it all in the treasury. Some sages say that he placed it in the treasury because he did not want to use it. Solomon knew that the Temple would be destroyed and the nations would say that it was destroyed because David had taken much of the silver and gold through force and robbery and allowed the Temple to be built from it. Some other sages say that King Solomon said that there was a great famine in the days of David and he had much silver and gold and he did not feed the poor. That is why Solomon did not want to have that silver and gold. He would rather let poor people live from that silver and gold.1Yalkut Shimoni, I Kings, Remez, 186; Pesikta Rabbati, Piska 6. From here we learn that it is a greater mitzvah to give charity to the poor and to feed them when they are hungry rather than to have sacred objects in the synagogue. There are many people who give beautiful metal or silver [objects] in the synagogue and they do not know that it is more important to feed poor people.
It is written in Midrash Pesikta Rabbati. Scripture says here, “from his work” [Genesis, 2:2]. All the labors were completed. This teaches us that God created the world, but the work of creation was not completed until the Temple was finished. Another explanation of this verse teaches us that there was great peace when the Temple was built. All the artisans who built the Temple were healthy and fresh. None of them had headaches and none of them died. No ax broke nor did any tool that they used to work on the Temple. Rabbi Eliezer says that this was nothing new. The Holy One allowed each one to live while working on the Temple for the sake of His glory. I want to show you that even for the sake of Jacob’s honor; those Egyptians who accompanied him to his burial in the land of Israel, there were thousands of them, and nobody became sick, much less died. They all came home in peace.2Yalkut Shimoni, I Kings, Remez, 186; Pesikta Rabbati, Piska 6.
“Then Solomon assembled” [8:1]. Solomon assembled the elders and the leaders to bring up the Holy Ark from the City of David. The Seder Olam writes that the Shekhinah only rests in the midst of a community, or where there is a synagogue.3Seder Olam Rabbah, chap. 16. Therefore, everyone should be warned to go to pray with a minyan. That is why King Solomon assembled all of Israel to bring up the Holy Ark.4Yalkut Shimoni, I Kings, Remez, 187.
“In the month of Ethanim” [8:2]. King Solomon assembled Israel in the month of Tishrei. It is called Ethanim because it is heavy with much grain. Another explanation of why it is called Ethanim is that the Patriarchs were born in Tishrei. Another explanation of why it is called Ethanim is because the month of Tishrei is heavy with commandments, and many holidays that were in Tishrei.5Yalkut Shimoni, I Kings, Remez, 184.
“And King Solomon” [8:5]. King Solomon and all of Israel brought so many sacrifices that they could not be counted.
“And the priests brought” [8:6]. And the priests brought the Ark into the innermost place in the Temple, under the wings of the birds that Solomon had made. Solomon made great birds from the ground until they reached over the Ark.6Rashi, I Kings, 8:6.
“The poles were so long” [8:8]. The poles of the Ark with which the Ark was carried were very long and they always remained with the Ark. The Talmud writes in [tractate] Yoma that when the Temple was destroyed, the nations did not take the Ark with the poles, but they sank into the earth and they could not be found.7B. Yoma, 53b; Yalkut Shimoni, I Kings, Remez, 184.
“There was nothing in the Ark” [8:9]. There were only the two Tablets that Moses had received on Mount Sinai, when Israel left Egypt.
“When the priests went out” [8:10]. When the priests went out of the Temple, the cloud was full of smoke and the priests could not stand in the Temple because of the great amount of smoke.
“Then Solomon said” [8:12]. When Solomon saw in the Temple, he said that the Holy One has kept His word when He promised to let His Shekhinah rest in the Temple. Now, with the cloud, it was shown that the Shekhinah was resting in the Temple.8Rashi, I Kings, 8:12.
“I have built” [8:13]. Solomon said: I have built a house for God to rest in, to sit in forever, unlike the other houses that the Holy One had, which were not eternal.
“And the king turned” [8:14]. King Solomon tuned around and blessed all of Israel while all of Israel stood.
“He said, blessed” [8:15]. He blessed and praised God. Praised be God who kept His word that he promised my father David.
“From the day” [8:16]. God said: from the day that I took Israel from Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build My house that My name should be on it. However, I have chosen David to be a king over Israel.
“He had in mind” [8:17]. Solomon said: my father David had the idea in his heart to build a house for the Holy One. God said to David: you did properly to have in your heart to build the Temple. However, I do not want to have you build the Temple, but your son Solomon should build the Temple. Now the Holy One has kept his word and I, Solomon the son of David, have sat on the throne of Israel and have built the house for the God of Israel.
“And I placed there” [8:21]. I have made a dwelling for the Ark in the Temple, to place there the Tablets of God. God made a covenant with Israel to take Israel out of Egypt.