The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7
Chapter VII · Vol. II, pp. 851–852
1 God having given testimony to Solomon's prayer by fire from heaven, and glory in the temple, the people worship him. 4 Solomon's solemn sacrifice. 8 Solomon having kept the feast of tabernacles, and the feast of the dedication of the altar, dismisseth the people. 12 God appearing to Solomon giveth him promises upon condition.
1 Now whena Solomon had made an end of praying, the bfire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the cglory of the LORD1 filled the house.
a 1 Ki.8.54. Da.9.20. Is.58.9; 65.24.
b Le.9.24. Ju.6.21. 1 Ki.18.38.
A.M. 3001. B.C. 1003.
c Ex.40.34,35. 1 Ki.8.11. ch.5.13,14. Re.15.8.
1 The cloud concealing, yet revealing the Shechinah, or sacred symbol of Him who 'covers himself with light as with a garment,' Ps.104.2; yet, because of our weakness, hath ever 'clouds and darkness around him' (Ps.97.2). See Ex.24.17.—C.
2 And the priests dcould not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they ebowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, fFor he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
e Ex.4.31. Nu.16.22; 14.5. Ps.95.6.
f ch.5.13; 20.21,22. 1 Ch.16.7,36. Ps.107.1,2; cxxxvi. cxlv.-cl. Is.63.7.
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 And king Solomon goffered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen,2 and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep.3 So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
g 1 Ki.8.62,63. 1 Ch.16.1,2; 29.21. Ezr.6.17. ch.30.24; 35.7,8; 1.6; 5.6. Mi.6.7. Ep.5.2. Ro.12.1. Ps.110.3.
2 Which could not all be offered in one day, when he made his prayer, but while the feast lasted, which was in the whole fourteen days.—Patrick.
3 See note on 1 Ki.8.63. In confirmation of which, compare ch.5.6. 1 Ki.8.5.—C.
6 Andh the priests waited on their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music 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;4 and the priests isounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
h 1 Ch.15.16; 6.31,32; 16.41; 23.4,5; xxv.
4 Heb. by their hand.
i ch.5.12. Nu.10.1-10. Ps.89.15. Mar.16.15.
7 Moreover, kSolomon 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 brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat.
8 Also at the same time Solomon kept thel feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, mfrom the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.5
l Of tabernacles, Le.23.34. Nu.29.13-38. 1 Ki.8.65,66.
m Ge.15.18. Jos.13.3-5. Nu.34.5-8.
5 From north to south. C.——'The entering in of Hamath' is the opening in the great mountain chain, at the northern end of Lebanon, from the coast of the Mediterranean to the plain of Hamath. 'The river (or rather 'torrent-bed') of Egypt' is Wady el-Arish, not the Nile, which would be designated by a different Hebrew word. The whole extent of the country occupied by the Israelites was thus represented in this national assembly.—P.
9 And in the neighth day they made a solemn assembly:6 for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast7 seven days.
n Le.23.36. Nu.29.35-38. Jn.7.37-39.
6 Heb. restraint.
7 That is, the feast of tabernacles, which commencing, according to order, on the 15th, was completed on the 22d, and on the 23d the people were dismissed.—C.
10 And on the othree and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent8 the people away into their tents, pglad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
o Le.23.34. Nu.29.13,35.
8 In 1 Ki.8.66, it is said, 'They blessed the king,' i.e. they wished him all temporal and spiritual happiness. They were contented with their king at peace among themselves, and happy in their God, so that they returned to their homes magnifying him for all his bounty to them, their country, and their king. How happy and prosperous would they have been had Solomon continued to walk uprightly before God. But, alas! the king fell, and his people fell with him.—I.
p Ps.105.1-5; 107.1-32; 136.1-26; cxlv.-cl.; 40.5. Is.63.7.
11 Thus qSolomon 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.
12 And the rLORD appeared to Solomon by night,9 and said unto him, I have sheard thy prayer, and thave chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If uI 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;
u ch.6.26-31. De.28.23. Joel 1.4,12; 2.2-11. Hag.1.11; 2.17. Am.4.6-11; 7.1-4. 2 Sa.24.15.
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall xhumble 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.
x Ja.4.9,10. Le.26.40,41. Ps.50.15. Is.45.19. Eze.36.37; 33.11. De.4.29,30; 30.1-6.
15 Now ymine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer9 that is made in this place.1
y ch.6.20,40. De.11.12. Ps.65.2; 130.2.
9 Heb. to the prayer of this place.
1 That prayer ever was and is equally acceptable to God, in whatever place it may be offered, is the doctrine both of reason and of Scripture. Why then this special promise? Because prayer with sacrifice could now be only at the temple—and to this accompaniment the Lord refers, ver.12—an emblem of that one body and sacrifice of Christ, by which alone our prayers are acceptable to the Father, He.9.24; 10.10,14-22.—C.
16 For now have zI chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.2
z ch.6.9. 1 Ki.9.3. Ps.132.13,14. Mat.3.17; 17.5. 2 Co.5.19.
2 This is no mere figure, ascribing to God what he has not: it is a true description of 'God manifest in the flesh,' of him whose eyes wept, and whose heart yearned, over the sin and sorrow of the beloved but impenitent and devoted city.—C.
17 And as for thee, aif thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, baccording as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
b 1 Ch.17.11-14. ch.6.10. 2 Sa.7.12-14. Ps.89.28-37. Je.33.21-26.
19 Butc if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20 Then will I dpluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it eto be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to fevery one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, gWhy hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this 3house?
f La.2.15.
g De.29.24. Je.22.8,9; 5.9,19; 13.22; 16.10-12.
3 National judgments inculcate great moral lessons, which are never more impressive than when seen in ruined churches, of which none have ever been destroyed, but as the just punishment of formality, worldliness, heresy, superstition, or idolatry. C.——The temple itself is wholly destroyed. Not one stone of it has been left upon another. The rock on which it was founded on the summit of Moriah was left bare and desolate after the destruction of Jerusalem. In the seventh century a mosque was erected over the site of the great altar of burnt-offering. That mosque still stands, and its beautiful dome, surmounted by a gilded crescent. Thus the symbol of a lying prophet, the emblem of a false faith, is raised on high, as if in scorn and derision, above the very spot where the glory of Jehovah was once manifested. Well may the passer-by now say, 'Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?'—P.
22 And it shall be answered, Because they hforsook 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; itherefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
h De.29.25,26. Ju.2.13. Je.2.13,19; 4.18; 5.25; 13.27; 50.7.
i 2 Ki.17.18. ch.15.2; 36.15-17. La.1.8,18; 3.39. Da.9.12.
Notes
Reflections.—What pleasure God takes in the earnest and solemn prayer of faith!—he is always ready to give an honourable and gracious return! How infinite is the majesty of God! What solemn awe the manifestations of his presence do or should produce: and what high praises and cheerful aboundings in the worship of God! Always on this side hell praise is our duty: and if we delight in God's service we shall not think the time long. All our prosperity in our undertakings is from God: and when we make his glory our first concern we may expect success. He takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants; and in keeping his commandments there is a great reward. But dreadful is the danger? after remarkable favours received, we turn again to folly: and terrible the work that obstinate apostasy from God makes in nations, churches, and ordinances!