Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. This introduction to Solomon's address was evidently suggested by the remarkable incident recorded at the close of the last chapter-the phenomenon of a densely opaque and uniformly shaped cloud descending in a slow and majestic manner, and filling the whole area of the temple. He regarded it himself, and directed the people also to regard it, as an undoubted sign and welcome pledge of the divine presence and acceptance of the building reared to His honour and worship. He referred not to any particular declaration of God, but to the cloud having been all along, in the national history of Israel, the recognized symbol of the divine presence (Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:16; Exodus 40:34; Numbers 9:15; 1 Kings 8:10-11).