The Kohanim brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to its place,
to the inner sanctum of the Temple, to the Holy of Holies.
1 Kings 8:6
Upon the Temple of the Lord’s completion, King Solomon addressed the God of Israel’s universality. In 1 Kings 8:41-43, Solomon pronounced “Also a gentile who is not of your people Israel, but will come from a distant land, for Your Name’s sake- for they will hear of Your great Name and your strong hand and your outstretched arm- and will come and pray toward this Temple- May You hear from Heaven, the foundation of Your abode, and act according to all that the gentile calls out to you, so that all peoples of the world may know Your Name, to fear You as [does] Your people Israel, and to know that Your Name is proclaimed upon this Temple that I have built.” 1 Kings 8:41-43. Individuals praying at this structure would likely develop an awareness of the the Ark of the Covenant and its contents- the Ten Commandments.
Solomon alludes that the God of Israel is not only a universal diety, but he is one connecting to the entire strata of humanity. While the God of Israel is inviting to the heads of foreign nations, he is also one that is capable of hearing the cries of those in bondage. Solomon’s anthromorphistic language of the strong hand and outstretched arm is a reminder of the God of Israel’s role in the Exodus. In essense, Solomon characterizes him as the redeemer who welcomes all walks of life.
Solomon’s expression can be construed as commentary on his choseness. Essential to the choseness was delegation of a people to spread the Lord’s words and his name. Solomon’s invitation to the outside world created an opportunity for the world outside of the promised land to gain awareness of the Ten Commandments. Those visitors would naturally be curious and would likely have learned about Ten Commandments and its contents.
With Mt. Sinai, the Decalogue’s expression was to the Children of Israel. The Master of the Universe defined himself by his action with respect to the Exodus from Egypt. Likewise, when first encountering Moses, he defined himself as being the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. With Solomon and the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the King’s statement provided an additional definition. He reminded others that the God of Israel was God of all the peoples of the world.
In sum, while Ten Commandments themselves remain unchanged, various post-Pentateuch events have the shaped Decalogue’s meaning and symbolism. In this instance, unlike the past in which the Ark of Covenant served a symbolic role when the Israelites engaged in war, the Ten Commandments, via the Temple, now became a symbol of peace, openess and access.
Be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 