1 Kings 6:11-14 & Acts 7:46-50...A Contradiction?

[David Ben Yosef]

Here we see that HaShem will indeed dwell in Solomons Temple...

(1 Kings 6:11-14 Complete Jewish Bible)
Then this word of ADONAI came to Shlomo: "Concerning this house which you are building: if you will live according to my regulations, follow my rulings and observe all my mitzvot and live by them, then I will establish with you my promise that I made to David your father- I will live in it among the people of Isra'el, and I will not abandon my people Isra'el." So Shlomo finished building the house.

Here, Stephan appears to contradict that concept...

(Acts 7:46-50 New Jerusalem Bible)
He [David] won God's favour and asked permission to find a dwelling for the House of Jacob, though it was Solomon who actually built a house for God. Even so the Most High does not live in a house that human hands have built: for as the prophet says: With heaven my throne and earth my footstool, what house could you build me, says the Lord, what place for me to rest, when all these things were made by me?


So, is this a direct contradiction of ? Is there a reasonable explanation? What are your thoughts on these two passages?

[jimmie]

I noticed that you use two different bible translations to show your “contradiction”. I would be interested to see if either are in harmony with its’ self as is the KJV.

I Kings 6:11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
14 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

Acts 7:46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

Dwell: to live as a resident. God dose not live in temples made by hands.
Dwell: to fasten one’s attention upon. God will pay attention to those who keep his laws.

I see no contradiction in these passages.

[tonga]

The CJB does not have a very good translation.
In Hebrew it says:
וְשָׁכַנְתִּי, בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

which means: "and I will dwell among the children of Israel".
There is no "I will LIVE in IT" in the text.

Of course, one may infer that the text means G-d's presence will dwell
amongst b'nai Yisrael in the Temple, but it doesn't explicitly say that.

[zionlion]

1 Kings 8 tells us that it was David's desire to build a house for Elohim; it was not G-d's intention.
Because He was pleased that it was in David's heart to do this, He consented to having the presence of "My Name" in the house; but His dwelling was in Heaven. (vs.29 & 30)

[lawrenceofisrael]

2. Samuel 7 verse 1-13 tells us a different story brother. The temple was a clear requirment of the almighty.

peace and blessings be upon you.

[zionlion]

Verse 7 would seem to disagree.

Blessings

[David Ben Yosef]

Apr 22, 2010 7:07:37 GMT -8 jimmie said:

I noticed that you use two different bible translations to show your “contradiction”.

For the record, I do not believe there is a contradiction at all, in those two passages. However, some Christians, as well as Messianics, attempt to diminish the importance of the Bet HaMikdash. It's absolutely essential for the ideal mode of worship for all those who seek a covenant relationship with HaShem.

Apr 22, 2010 7:07:37 GMT -8 jimmie said:

I see no contradiction in these passages.

Neither do I, Brother. However, many have come to the erroneous conclusion from Acts 7:48 that HaShem has never dwelt in the Bet HaMikdash, and therefore it was never really necessary. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches the contrary. That the Bet Mikdash was not only HaShem's perfect will for Israel to construct it, but aside from faith in HaShem, it was the most vital implement as to the mode of that worship.



Shalom

[David Ben Yosef]

Apr 22, 2010 20:30:49 GMT -8 zionlion said:

1 Kings 8 tells us that it was David's desire to build a house for Elohim; it was not G-d's intention.

Nowhere does the Bible say that it was not HaShem's intention for the Bet HaMikdash to be built. That's adding to the word of G-d, not to mention it's flat out false. HaShem intended for it to be built all along. HaShem tells the children of Israel that the primary reason for Him bringing them up out of bondage in Egypt [as well as to keep His promise to Avraham], is so they can worship Him:

(Exodus 3:12 Complete Jewish Bible)
He replied, "I will surely be with you. Your sign that I have sent you will be that when you have led the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

This worship that HaShem desires from the children of Israel includes the tabernacle services, which is a mobile form of the Bet HaMikdash. The tabernacle served HaShem's will until the children of Israel reached the promise land, where He already had the exact spot chosen for the construction of the stationary Temple. HaShem even made provision for the tabernacle's building materials:

(Exodus 12:35-36 Complete Jewish Bible)
The people of Isra'el had done what Moshe had said - they had asked the Egyptians to give them silver and gold jewelry and clothing; and ADONAI had made the Egyptians so favorably disposed toward the people that they had let them have whatever they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Clearly, HaShem had the construction of the Tabernacle in mind when He softened the hearts of the Egyptians, to give the children of Israel all that they desired, which were the building materials needed for such a task. We should also note that HaShem commanded the tabernacle to built. It wasn't merely a suggestion:

(Exodus 25:8-9 Complete Jewish Bible)
"They are to make me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. You are to make it according to everything I show you - the design of the tabernacle and the design of its furnishings. This is how you are to make it.

This is the set-apart place where HaShem chose for His presence to reside, in all the Earth. It's not as if HaShem's left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, and the tabernacle and the Bet HaMikdash just sort of happened. Or that He was merely appeasing the fleshly desires of His set-apart children. HaShem Himself desired the tabernacle, and the Temple to built. He even designed the blue prints for it's construction Himself, and then commanded it to built by His chosen covenant people. Those who choose to believe that the Temple was not necessary then, and definately not necassary now, are clearly in error, not knowing or understanding the will of G-d.



Shalom

[David Ben Yosef]

Apr 23, 2010 3:26:32 GMT -8 @lawrenceofisrael said:

2. Samuel 7 verse 1-13 tells us a different story brother. The temple was a clear requirement of the almighty.

Apr 23, 2010 7:02:41 GMT -8 zionlion said:

Verse 7 would seem to disagree.

Verse 7 is not a negative statement by HaShem. Clearly, only one who feels the Temple is not necessary would read negativity into that statement, when it's not warranted by the surrounding text. HaShem's question has a qualifying word in it. He says that He had already been dwelling in a tabernacle, which He commanded to be built [2 Samuel 7:6]. But had never spoken a word about constructing a house of cedar for Him to dwell in. The word cedar would be the qualifying word in that verse. In other words, HaShem alone would provide the blueprint for it's construction. In addition to that, HaShem desired for Shlomo to build it, not David. Pretty simple really. It makes no sense at all that HaShem is saying that He never asked for a house to be built for him in verse 7, and then turn right around and say that He desires Shlomo to build Him a house, and establish the throne of His Kingdom forever in verse 13. Lawrenceofisrael is absolutely correct, in that HaShem required a Temple from His chosen covenant people. There are a whole plethora of passages in the Bible that make this crystal clear. It saddens me that almost all of Christianity, as well as Messianics have such a negative attitude when it comes to the Temple. This is the effect that man made doctrine has had on the truth of G-d's word. They have twisted it so badly that it is hardly recognizable when compared to Scripture.


Shalom

[davidwiseman]

I think the answer to the problem is found in I Kings 8:27. Certainly, the statement is made in chapter six that God will dwell there, but in 8:27 Shlomo clarifies. He does not mean that God will literally dwell in the physical Beith HaMiqdash (Temple), but rather that "Your eyes will be open to this place day and night" (I King 8:29).
So, I Kings clarifies itself. No, God does not literally dwell in the Temple, because even the heavens and the earth cannot contain Him. But, in a sense, His presence dwells there in the midst of Israel.