Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

Ver. 1. The fire came down from heaven.] In a miraculous manner, to testify God’s approbation. This fire was kept alive till the captivity of Babylon: and after that, it was said to have been miraculously also renewed; {/APC 2Ma 1:18-22} fides sit penes authorem.

And the glory of the Lord filled the house,] i.e., The thick cloud, a sign of God’s glory, hidden here from us who are not able to behold it: like as we cannot look upon the sun in rota, but only in radiis. When we come to heaven, we shall see him as he is; see as we are seen.

2 Chronicles 7:2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.

Ver. 2. And the priests could not enter.] See 1 Kings 8:11. By reason of an astonishing reverence: besides the brightness of the glory, as before.

2 Chronicles 7:3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Ver. 3. Saw how the fire came down.] Though the Lord do not now thus sensibly answer prayers by fire from heaven, or by shaking the house, as Acts 4:31, yet by faith we are assured, and by experience confirmed, that they are graciously accepted.

2 Chronicles 7:4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

Ver. 4. Then the king, &c.] See 1 Kings 8:62.

2 Chronicles 7:5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

Ver. 5. Of twenty and two thousand oxen.] The greatest offering that we do anywhere read of. The emperor’s hecatombs - wherein they gloried, and whereby they thought they merited - consisting of a hundred eagles, a hundred lions, a hundred swine, &c., offered to their gods, were nothing to it.

2 Chronicles 7:6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy [endureth] for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

Ver. 6. To praise the Lord,] sc., With Psalms 136:1-26 See 2 Chronicles 5:13. The rest of the Israelites stood by the priests and Levites, praising God in their hearts.

2 Chronicles 7:7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that [was] before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

Ver. 7. Moreover, Solomon hallowed.] See on 1 Kings 8:64.

2 Chronicles 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

Ver. 8. Solomon kept the feast.] See 1 Kings 8:65.

2 Chronicles 7:10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

Ver. 10. And on the three and twentieth day.] On the two and twentieth he dismissed those that dwelt within a Sabbath day’s journey. [1 Kings 8:66]

2 Chronicles 7:11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

Ver. 11. See on 1 Kings 9:1.

2 Chronicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

Ver. 12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night.] Night and day God is doing good to his people. As a good householder, if he hear but a noise in the house by night, or smell but a smoke, starteth up, &c.; so here.

2 Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

Ver. 13. If I shut up heaven, &c.] In answer this is to that prayer of Solomon, 1 Kings 8:35; 1 Kings 8:37.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Ver. 14. And turn from their wicked ways.] This is optima et aptissima poenitentia, saith Luther, the best repentance.

And will heal their land.] Of the wounds and bloody welts that my judgments have left upon it.

2 Chronicles 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.

Ver. 15-17, &c. See on 1 Kings 9:3-9.

2 Chronicles 7:22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

Ver. 22. And it shall be answered.] Or, And they shall answer. [1 Kings 9:9] Non quidem omnes, sed pii et rerum periti. The godly who shall say so.