1 Kings 8:17

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

1 Kings 8:17-20. It was in the heart of David my father — In his desire and purpose, as this and the like phrase is often used. Thou didst well that it was in thine heart — Thy intention and affection were well pleasing to me, although I did not permit thee, for wise reasons, to put thy pious designs into execution. The Lord hath performed his word — He concludes, as he began, with a thankful acknowledgment of God’s goodness in fulfilling his promise.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:12-21 Solomon encouraged the priests, who were much astonished at the dark cloud. The dark dispensations of Providence should quicken us in fleeing for refuge to the hope of the gospel. Nothing can more reconcile us to them, than to consider what God has said, and to compare his word and works together. Whatever good we do, we must look on it as the performance of God's promise to us, not of our promises to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The marginal reference completes the sense of this verse here. The passage is in accordance with archaic modes of speech, and is probably the more verbally accurate of the two.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. the king turned his face about—From the temple, where he had been watching the movement of the mystic cloud, and while the people were standing, partly as the attitude of devotion, partly out of respect to royalty, the king gave a fervent expression of praise to God for the fulfilment of His promise (2Sa 7:6-16).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

In the heart of David my father; in his desire and purpose, as this or the like phrase is used, 1 Samuel 10:7 14:7 2 Samuel 7:3.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And it was in the heart of David my father,.... His mind was disposed to it, his heart was set upon it, he had taken up a resolution:

to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel; for his worship and service, for his honour and glory, 2 Samuel 7:3.

Geneva Study Bible

And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. And it was in the heart, &c. The conjunction is better rendered in 2 Chronicles 6:7, ‘Now it was in the heart.’ The two should be alike.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - And it was in the heart of David my father [2 Samuel 7:2; 1 Chronicles 17:1] to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 1 Kings 8:17

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

David's intention to build the temple, and the answer of God that his son was to execute this work, are so far copied from 2 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, that God approves the intention of David as such. הטיבת, "Thou didst well that it was in thy mind."