Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 6

Introduction

1  Solomon, having blessed the people, blesses God.
12  Solomon's prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the brasen scaffold, etc.

Verse 1

Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
The Lord
Exodus 20:21, 24:15-18, Leviticus 16:2, Deuteronomy 4:11, 1 Kings 8:12-21, Psalms 18:8-11, 97:2, Nahum 1:3, Hebrews 12:18

Verse 2

But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
I have built
2:4-6, 2 Samuel 7:13, 1 Kings 8:13, 1 Chronicles 17:12, 22:10,11, 28:6,20, Psalms 132:5, Psalms 132:13,14, John 4:21-23, Hebrews 9:11,12, Revelation 21:3

Verse 3

And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
turned his face
1 Kings 8:14
blessed
29:29, Numbers 6:23-27, Joshua 22:6, 1 Kings 8:55-61, 1 Chronicles 16:2, Luke 24:50,51
all the congregation
1 Kings 8:14, Nehemiah 8:5-7, Matthew 13:2

Verse 4

And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,
Blessed
1 Kings 8:15, 1 Chronicles 29:10,20, Psalms 41:13, 68:4,32-35, 72:18,19, Luke 1:68,69, Ephesians 1:3
who hath with
1 Chronicles 17:12, Psalms 138:1,2, Matthew 24:35, Luke 1:70

Verse 5

Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
Since the day
2 Samuel 7:6,7, 1 Kings 8:16
my name
Exodus 20:24, 23:21, Deuteronomy 12:5,11, Daniel 9:19
neither chose
The judges and Saul were chosen by God, for a season, to be rulers of Israel; but not to establish a permanent and hereditary authority over that people, as was the case with David. This clause is wanting in the parallel passage of Kings; but it helps to clear the sense.
1 Samuel 10:24, 13:13,14, 15:23, 2 Samuel 7:15,16

Verse 6

But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
But I have chosen Jerusalem
This clause is also not found in Kings. Jerusalem was expressly marked out, by the building of the temple, to be the centre of the worship of Israel; as Jehovah had before spoken by Moses: see the parallel passages.
12:13, Psalms 48:1, 78:68-70, 132:13, Isaiah 14:32
chosen David
1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Chronicles 28:4, Psalms 89:19,20

Verse 7

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
2 Samuel 7:2,3, 1 Kings 5:3, 8:17, 1 Chronicles 17:1, 22:7, 28:2-4

Verse 8

But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:
thou didst well
1 Kings 8:18-21, Mark 14:8, 2 Corinthians 8:12

Verse 9

Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
thy son
2 Samuel 7:12,13, 1 Chronicles 17:4,11,12

Verse 10

The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
performed his word
I am risen
1:1, 1 Kings 2:12, 3:6,7, 1 Chronicles 29:15,23, Ecclesiastes 1:4, 2:18,19
as the Lord
1 Chronicles 17:11, 28:5

Verse 11

And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.
I put the ark
5:7,10, Exodus 40:20, 1 Kings 8:9,21, Hebrews 9:4
the covenant
As "there was nothing in the ark but the two tables of stone," consequently they are called the covenant, i.e., a sign of the covenant.

Verse 12

And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
he stood
1 Kings 8:22-53, 2 Kings 11:14, 23:3, Psalms 29:1,2
spread forth
Exodus 9:33, Job 11:13, Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 68:31, 141:2, 143:6, Isaiah 50:10, 1 Timothy 2:8

Verse 13

For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
scaffold
Nehemiah 8:4
long
Heb. the length thereof, etc. the court.
4:9, 1 Kings 6:36, 7:12
kneeled down
1 Kings 8:54, Ezra 9:5, Psalms 95:6, Daniel 6:10, Luke 22:41, Acts 20:36, 21:5

Verse 14

And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
O Lord God
Genesis 33:20, 35:10, Exodus 3:15, 1 Kings 8:23, 18:36, 1 Chronicles 29:10,20
no God
Exodus 15:11, Deuteronomy 4:39, 2 Samuel 7:22, Psalms 86:8, 89:6,8, Jeremiah 10:6,16
keepest covenant
Deuteronomy 7:9, Nehemiah 1:5, Psalms 89:28, Daniel 9:4, Micah 7:18-20, Luke 1:72
mercy
Psalms 103:17,18, Luke 1:50,54,55
walk before
Genesis 5:24, 17:1, 1 Kings 3:6, 6:12, Luke 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:12

Verse 15

Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
and spakest
2 Samuel 7:12, 1 Kings 8:24, 1 Chronicles 22:9,10
hast fulfilled

Verse 16

Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
keep
Ezekiel 36:37, John 15:14,15
saying
7:18, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, 1 Kings 2:4, 6:12, Psalms 132:12
There shall not fail thee a man
Heb. There shall not a man be cut off. to walk.
Psalms 26:3, 119:1

Verse 17

Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
O Lord
4,14, Exodus 24:10, Isaiah 41:17, 45:3
let thy
2 Samuel 7:25-29, Jeremiah 11:5

Verse 18

But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
But will
Exodus 29:45,46, 1 Kings 8:27, Psalms 68:18, 113:5,6, Isaiah 57:15, 66:1, Acts 7:48,49, 17:24
heaven
Hashshamayim ooshemey hashshamayim "the heavens and the heavens of heavens;" which words seem to imply that there are systems and systems of systems, each possessing its sun, its primary and secondary planets; all extending beyond each other in unlimited space, in the same regular and graduated order which we find to prevail in our solar system; which, probably, in its thousands of millions of miles in diameter, is, to some others, no more than the area of the lunar orbit to that of Georgium Sidus.
2:6, Psalms 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:24, 2 Corinthians 12:2
how much
32:15, Job 4:19, 9:14, 25:4-6, Matthew 7:11

Verse 19

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
Have respect
1 Kings 8:28, Psalms 74:20, 130:2, Daniel 9:17-19, Luke 18:1-7
to hearken
Psalms 4:1, 5:1,2, 20:1-3, John 17:20

Verse 20

That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
thine eyes
16:9, 1 Kings 8:29,30, 2 Kings 19:16, Nehemiah 1:6, Psalms 34:15, 121:5
put thy name
6, Deuteronomy 26:2, Colossians 2:9
toward this place
or, in this place.
Daniel 6:10

Verse 21

Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
make
Heb. pray. thy dwelling place.
39, 30:27, Job 22:12-14, Psalms 123:1, Ecclesiastes 5:2, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 6:9
forgive
Psalms 85:2,3, 130:3,4, Isaiah 43:25, Daniel 9:19, Micah 7:18, Matthew 6:12

Verse 22

If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
sin
1 Kings 8:31,32
and an oath, etc
Heb. and he require an oath of him.
Exodus 22:11, Leviticus 5:1, Proverbs 30:9
the oath
Numbers 5:19-22, Matthew 23:18

Verse 23

Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
from heaven
requiting
Numbers 5:27, 2 Kings 9:26, Psalms 10:14, Proverbs 1:31, Isaiah 3:11, Jeremiah 28:16,17, 51:56, Romans 2:9
justifying
Deuteronomy 25:1, Proverbs 17:15, Isaiah 3:10, Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 2:10

Verse 24

And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
put to the worse
or, be smitten.
Leviticus 26:17,37, Deuteronomy 28:25,48, Joshua 7:8, 1 Kings 8:33,34, Psalms 44:10
because
Joshua 7:11,12, Judges 2:11,14,15, 2 Kings 17:7-18
shall return
Leviticus 26:40-42, Deuteronomy 4:29-31, 30:1-6, Nehemiah 1:8,9, Proverbs 28:13, Jeremiah 3:12,13
pray
Ezra 9:5-15, Nehemiah 9:1-37, Isaiah 63:1-64, Daniel 9:3-19
in
or, toward.

Verse 25

Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
forgive the sin
Ezra 1:1-6, Psalms 106:40-47, Jeremiah 33:6-13
which thou
Genesis 13:15, Exodus 6:8, Joshua 21:43

Verse 26

When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
the heaven
Leviticus 26:19, Deuteronomy 11:17, 28:23, 1 Kings 17:1-18, Luke 4:25
there is no rain
Isaiah 50:1,2, 5:6, Ezekiel 14:13, Amos 4:4-9, Revelation 11:6
if they pray
Jeremiah 14:1-9, Joel 1:13-20, 2:15-17
turn
Proverbs 28:13, Ezekiel 18:27-32
thou dost
33:12,13, Hosea 5:15, 6:1

Verse 27

Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
when thou hast
1 Kings 8:35,36, Psalms 25:4,5,8,12, 94:12, 119:33, Micah 4:2, John 6:45
good way
Isaiah 30:21, Jeremiah 6:16, 42:3
send rain
1 Kings 18:40-45, Job 37:11-14, Psalms 68:9, Jeremiah 5:24, 14:22, Ezekiel 34:26, Hosea 2:21,22, Joel 2:23, Zechariah 10:1, James 5:17,18

Verse 28

If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
if there be dearth
"Persia," says Chardin, "is subject to have its harvest spoiled by hail, by drought, or by insects; either locusts, or small insects, which they call sim, which are small white lice;" probably the caterpillars of the text.
20:5-13, Leviticus 26:16,25,26, Deuteronomy 28:21-61, Ruth 1:1, 1 Kings 8:37-40, 2 Kings 6:25-29, 8:1
locusts
Exodus 10:12-15, Joel 1:4-7,11, 2:25, Revelation 9:3-11
their enemies
12:2-5, 20:9-13, 32:1, Leviticus 26:25, Deuteronomy 28:52-57
cities of their land
Heb. land of their gates. whatsoever.
32:24, 1 Kings 8:37,38, James 5:13

Verse 29

Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
what prayer
Psalms 33:12,13, 50:15, 91:15
know
Psalms 32:2-6, 142:1,2, Proverbs 14:10
spread forth
12,13, Isaiah 1:15
in
or, toward.

Verse 30

Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
render
Psalms 18:20-26, 62:12, Jeremiah 17:10, Ezekiel 18:30, Matthew 16:27
thou only
1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 29:17, Psalms 11:4,5, John 2:25, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23

Verse 31

That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
fear thee
Exodus 20:20, 1 Samuel 12:24, Job 28:28, Psalms 128:1, 130:4, Acts 9:31
so long, etc
Heb. all the days which they live upon the face of the land.

Verse 32

Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
the stranger
Exodus 12:48,49, Ruth 1:16, 2:11,12, 1 Kings 8:41-43, 10:1,2, Isaiah 56:3-7, Matthew 2:1, 8:10,11, John 10:16, 12:20, Acts 8:27-39, 10:1-4, Ephesians 2:12,13
is come
Exodus 18:8-12, Joshua 2:9, 9:9, 2 Kings 5:3,8,15, Isaiah 60:1-10, Zechariah 8:22, Matthew 12:42
thy mighty
Exodus 3:19,20, 13:14, Psalms 89:13
if they come
Isaiah 66:20, Zechariah 14:16,17, Acts 2:10

Verse 33

Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
that all people
1 Samuel 17:46, 2 Kings 19:19, Psalms 22:27, 46:10, 67:2, 138:4,5, Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 49:6, 54:1-3, Revelation 11:15
fear thee
Jeremiah 10:7
this house, etc
Heb. they name is called upon this house.
Numbers 6:27, 1 Kings 8:16

Verse 34

If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
thy people
14:11,12, 20:4, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Joshua 1:2-5, 1 Kings 8:44,45
by the way
Numbers 31:2-6, Joshua 8:1-8, Judges 1:1,2, 1 Samuel 15:3,18
they pray
14:9-12, 18:31, 20:6-13, 32:20,21
toward
6, 1 Kings 8:13, Isaiah 14:32, Daniel 6:10

Verse 35

Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
hear thou
Daniel 9:17-19
maintain
Isaiah 37:21-36
cause
or, right.
Psalms 9:3,4, Jeremiah 5:28

Verse 36

If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
they sin
1 Kings 8:46,50
for there is no man
Job 15:14-16, Psalms 130:3, 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, James 3:2, 1 John 1:8-10
thou be angry
Leviticus 26:34-44, Deuteronomy 4:26,27, 28:36,64-68, 29:24-28, 2 Kings 17:6,18,23, 2 Kings 15:21, Daniel 9:7-14, Luke 21:24
they carry them away captives
Heb. they that take them captives carry them away.

Verse 37

Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
Yet if
Leviticus 26:40-45, Deuteronomy 4:29,30, 30:1-3, Luke 15:17
bethink themselves
Heb. bring back to their heart. We have sinned.
Ezra 9:6,7, Nehemiah 1:6, 9:26-30, Job 33:27,28, Psalms 106:6, Isaiah 64:6-12, Jeremiah 3:12-14, 31:18-20, Daniel 9:5-11, Luke 15:18,19

Verse 38

If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
return
Deuteronomy 30:2-6, Jeremiah 29:12-14, Hosea 14:1-4, Joel 2:12,13
pray toward
33:11-13, Daniel 9:3,4
the city
34, Daniel 6:10

Verse 39

Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
cause
or, right.
35, Zechariah 1:15,16
forgive
Psalms 25:18, Micah 7:18-20

Verse 40

Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
my God
Psalms 7:3, 13:3, 22:1,2, 88:1
thine eyes
7:15, 16:9, 1 Kings 8:52, Psalms 34:15, Isaiah 37:17, Daniel 9:16-19
thine ears
Psalms 17:1, 31:2, 116:2
that is made in this place
Heb. of this place.

Verse 41

Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
arise
Psalms 132:8-10,16
thy resting
1 Chronicles 28:2, Isaiah 66:1
the ark
Joshua 3:13, 6:4,5, Psalms 110:2, Romans 1:16
thy priests
Isaiah 59:16-18, 61:3,6,10, Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 4:22-24, Revelation 19:8,14
thy saints
Nehemiah 9:25, Psalms 65:4,11, Isaiah 65:18,19, Zechariah 9:17, Philippians 3:3, 4:4

Verse 42

O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.
turn not
That is, "reject not thine anointed;" or, "repulse him not," agreeably to the interpretation of this phrase in the Syriac and Arabic versions.
1 Kings 2:16
thine anointed
1 Kings 1:34, Psalms 2:2, Isaiah 61:1
remember
Psalms 132:1, Isaiah 55:3, Acts 13:34
the mercies
Or, as Dr. Geddes renders, "the pious deeds of thy servant David." The Syriac has, "the good actions of thy servant."

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