I Kings 8:27 Commentary: Rashi & Malbim

כִּ֚י הַֽאֻמְנָ֔ם יֵשֵׁ֥ב אֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ הִ֠נֵּה הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּשְׁמֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א יְכַלְכְּל֔וּךָ אַ֕ף כִּֽי־הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנִֽיתִי׃

But will God in very truth dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded!

Rashi on I Kings

Will. [This is] an expression of wonder.
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Malbim on I Kings

The question: This phrase ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth’ has no explanation because there is no continuity between this and the next verse ‘And You shall turn toward Your servant's prayer.’
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Rashi on I Kings

Cannot contain You. Cannot contain You.18The root of יכלכלוך is “כול”, meaning to contain, as in, “each basin could hold [=יכיל],” in 7:38 above.
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