1 Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.
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,
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:
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
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:
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.
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.
11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.
1 Then said H559 Solomon, H8010 The LORD H3068 hath said H559 that he would dwell H7931 in the thick darkness. H6205
2 But I have built H1129 an house H1004 of habitation H2073 for thee, and a place H4349 for thy dwelling H3427 for ever. H5769
3 And the king H4428 turned H5437 his face, H6440 and blessed H1288 the whole congregation H6951 of Israel: H3478 and all the congregation H6951 of Israel H3478 stood. H5975
4 And he said, H559 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 who hath with his hands H3027 fulfilled H4390 that which he spake H1696 with his mouth H6310 to my father H1 David, H1732 saying, H559
5 Since the day H3117 that I brought forth H3318 my people H5971 out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 I chose H977 no city H5892 among all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to build H1129 an house H1004 in, that my name H8034 might be there; neither chose H977 I any man H376 to be a ruler H5057 over my people H5971 Israel: H3478
6 But I have chosen H977 Jerusalem, H3389 that my name H8034 might be there; and have chosen H977 David H1732 to be over my people H5971 Israel. H3478
7 Now it was in the heart H3824 of David H1732 my father H1 to build H1129 an house H1004 for the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
8 But the LORD H3068 said H559 to David H1732 my father, H1 Forasmuch as it was in thine heart H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 thou didst well H2895 in that it was in thine heart: H3824
9 Notwithstanding H7535 thou shalt not build H1129 the house; H1004 but thy son H1121 which shall come forth H3318 out of thy loins, H2504 he shall build H1129 the house H1004 for my name. H8034
10 The LORD H3068 therefore hath performed H6965 his word H1697 that he hath spoken: H1696 for I am risen up H6965 in the room of David H1732 my father, H1 and am set H3427 on the throne H3678 of Israel, H3478 as the LORD H3068 promised, H1696 and have built H1129 the house H1004 for the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
11 And in it H8033 have I put H7760 the ark, H727 wherein is the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 that he made H3772 with the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
1 Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built thee a house of habitation, and a place for thee to dwell in for ever.
3 And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.
4 And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:
6 but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
8 But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:
9 nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
10 And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
11 And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.
1 Then said Solomon, `Jehovah said -- to dwell in thick darkness,
2 and I -- I have built a house of habitation for Thee, and a fixed place for Thy dwelling to the ages.'
3 And the king turneth round his face, and blesseth the whole assembly of Israel, and the whole assembly of Israel is standing,
4 and he saith, `Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of Israel, who hath spoken with His mouth with David my father, and with His hands hath fulfilled `it', saying:
5 `From the day that I brought out My people from the land of Egypt, I have not fixed on a city out of any of the tribes of Israel to build a house for my name being there, and I have not fixed on a man to be leader over My people Israel;
6 and I fix on Jerusalem for My name being there, and I fix on David to be over My people Israel.
7 `And it is with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah God of Israel,
8 and Jehovah saith unto David my father, Because that it hath been with thy heart to build a house for My name, thou hast done well that it hath been with thy heart,
9 but thou dost not build the house, for thy son who cometh forth out from thy loins, he doth build the house for My name.
10 `And Jehovah doth establish His word that He spake, and I rise up in the stead of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah spake, and I build the house for the name of Jehovah, God of Israel,
11 and I place there the ark, where `is' the covenant of Jehovah that He made with the sons of Israel.'
1 Then said Solomon: Jehovah said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built a house of habitation for thee, even a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
3 And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel; and the whole congregation of Israel stood.
4 And he said: Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:
6 but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.
8 But Jehovah said to David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart;
9 nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.
10 And Jehovah has performed his word which he spoke; and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and I have built the house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.
11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.
1 Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built you a house of habitation, and a place for you to dwell in forever.
3 The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.
4 He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:
6 but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
8 But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart:
9 nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.
10 Yahweh has performed his word that he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11 There have I set the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with the children of Israel.
1 Then Solomon said, O Lord, to the sun you have given the heaven for a living-place, but your living-place was not seen by men,
2 So I have made for you a living-place, a house in which you may be for ever present.
3 Then, turning his face about, the king gave a blessing to all the men of Israel; and they were all on their feet together.
4 And he said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who himself gave his word to my father David, and with his strong hand has made his word come true, saying,
5 From the day when I took my people out of the land of Egypt, no town in all the tribes of Israel has been marked out by me for the building of a house for the resting-place of my name; and I took no man to be a ruler over my people Israel;
6 But now I have made selection of Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and of David, to be over my people Israel.
7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to put up a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
8 But the Lord said to David my father, You did well to have in your heart the desire to make a house for my name:
9 But you yourself will not be the builder of the house; but your son, the offspring of your body, he it is who will put up a house for my name.
10 And the Lord has kept his word; for I have taken my father David's place on the seat of the kingdom of Israel, as the Lord gave his word; and I have made the house for the name of the Lord the God of Israel.
11 And there I have put the ark, in which is the agreement of the Lord, which he made with the people of Israel.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
2Ch 6:1-41. Solomon Blesses the People and Praises God.
1. 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 honor 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 (Ex 16:10; 24:16; 40:34; Nu 9:15; 1Ki 8:10, 11).
13. Solomon had made a brazen scaffold—a sort of platform. But the Hebrew term rendered "scaffold," being the same as that used to designate the basin, suggests the idea that this throne might bear some resemblance, in form or structure, to those lavers in the temple, being a sort of round and elevated pulpit, placed in the middle of the court, and in front of the altar of burnt offering.
upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees—After ascending the brazen scaffold, he assumed those two attitudes in succession, and with different objects in view. He stood while he addressed and blessed the surrounding multitude (2Ch 6:3-11). Afterwards he knelt down and stretched out his hands towards heaven, with his face probably turned towards the altar, while he gave utterance to the beautiful and impressive prayer which is recorded in the remainder of this chapter. It is deserving of notice that there was no seat in this pulpit—for the king either stood or knelt all the time he was in it. It is not improbable that it was surmounted by a canopy, or covered by a veil, to screen the royal speaker from the rays of the sun.
18-21. how much less this house which I have built! Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant—No person who entertains just and exalted views of the spiritual nature of the Divine Being will suppose that he can raise a temple for the habitation of Deity, as a man builds a house for himself. Nearly as improper and inadmissible is the idea that a temple can contribute to enhance the glory of God, as a monument may be raised in honor of a great man. Solomon described the true and proper use of the temple, when he entreated that the Lord would "hearken unto the supplications of His servant and His people Israel, which they should make towards this place." In short, the grand purpose for which the temple was erected was precisely the same as that contemplated by churches—to afford the opportunity and means of public and social worship, according to the ritual of the Mosaic dispensation—to supplicate the divine mercy and favor—to render thanks for past instances of goodness, and offer petitions for future blessings (see on 1Ki 8:22). This religious design of the temple—the ONE temple in the world—is in fact its standpoint of absorbing interest.
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, &c.—In cases where the testimony of witnesses could not be obtained and there was no way of settling a difference or dispute between two people but by accepting the oath of the accused, the practice had gradually crept in and had acquired the force of consuetudinary law, for the party to be brought before the altar, where his oath was taken with all due solemnity, together with the imprecation of a curse to fall upon himself if his disavowal should be found untrue. There is an allusion to such a practice in this passage.
38. If they return to thee … in the land of their captivity … and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers—These words gave rise to the favorite usage of the ancient as well as modern Jews, of turning in prayer toward Jerusalem, in whatever quarter of the world they might be, and of directing their faces toward the temple when in Jerusalem itself or in any part of the holy land (1Ki 8:44).
41. arise, O Lord God into thy resting-place—These words are not found in the record of this prayer in the First Book of Kings; but they occur in Ps 132:8, which is generally believed to have been composed by David, or rather by Solomon, in reference to this occasion. "Arise" is a very suitable expression to be used when the ark was to be removed from the tabernacle in Zion to the temple on Mount Moriah.
into thy resting-place—the temple so called (Isa 66:1), because it was a fixed and permanent mansion (Ps 132:14).
the ark of thy strength—the abode by which Thy glorious presence is symbolized, and whence Thou dost issue Thine authoritative oracles, and manifest Thy power on behalf of Thy people when they desire and need it. It might well be designated the ark of God's strength, because it was through means of it the mighty miracles were wrought and the brilliant victories were won, that distinguish the early annals of the Hebrew nation. The sight of it inspired the greatest animation in the breasts of His people, while it diffused terror and dismay through the ranks of their enemies (compare Ps 78:61).
let thy priests … be clothed with salvation—or with righteousness (Ps 132:9), that is, be equipped not only with the pure white linen garments Thou hast appointed for their robe of office, but also adorned with the moral beauties of true holiness, that their person and services may be accepted, both for themselves and all the people. Thus they would be "clothed with salvation," for that is the effect and consequence of a sanctified character.
42. turn not away the face of thine anointed—that is, of me, who by Thy promise and appointment have been installed as king and ruler of Israel. The words are equivalent in meaning to this: Do not reject my present petitions; do not send me from Thy throne of grace dejected in countenance and disappointed in heart.
remember the mercies of David thy servant—that is, the mercies promised to David, and in consideration of that promise, hear and answer my prayer (compare Ps 132:10).