8 Also at the same time H6256 Solomon H8010 kept H6213 the feast H2282 seven H7651 days, H3117 and all Israel H3478 with him, a very H3966 great H1419 congregation, H6951 from the entering in H935 of Hamath H2574 unto the river H5158 of Egypt. H4714
In the same H1931 day H3117 the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant H1285 with Abram, H87 saying, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 have I given H5414 this land, H776 from the river H5104 of Egypt H4714 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578
And at that time H6256 Solomon H8010 held H6213 a feast, H2282 and all Israel H3478 with him, a great H1419 congregation, H6951 from the entering H935 in of Hamath H2574 unto the river H5158 of Egypt, H4714 before H6440 the LORD H3068 our God, H430 seven H7651 days H3117 and seven H7651 days, H3117 even fourteen H702 H6240 days. H3117
Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 The fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of this seventh H7637 month H2320 shall be the feast H2282 of tabernacles H5521 for seven H7651 days H3117 unto the LORD. H3068 On the first H7223 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation: H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein. Seven H7651 days H3117 ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD: H3068 on the eighth H8066 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation H4744 unto you; and ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD: H3068 it is a solemn assembly; H6116 and ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein. These are the feasts H4150 of the LORD, H3068 which ye shall proclaim H7121 to be holy H6944 convocations, H4744 to offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD, H3068 a burnt offering, H5930 and a meat offering, H4503 a sacrifice, H2077 and drink offerings, H5262 every thing H1697 upon his H3117 day: H3117 Beside the sabbaths H7676 of the LORD, H3068 and beside your gifts, H4979 and beside all your vows, H5088 and beside all your freewill offerings, H5071 which ye give H5414 unto the LORD. H3068 Also in the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the seventh H7637 month, H2320 when ye have gathered H622 in the fruit H8393 of the land, H776 ye shall keep H2287 a feast H2282 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days: H3117 on the first H7223 day H3117 shall be a sabbath, H7677 and on the eighth H8066 day H3117 shall be a sabbath. H7677 And ye shall take H3947 you on the first H7223 day H3117 the boughs H6529 of goodly H1926 trees, H6086 branches H3709 of palm H8558 trees, and the boughs H6057 of thick H5687 trees, H6086 and willows H6155 of the brook; H5158 and ye shall rejoice H8055 before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God H430 seven H7651 days. H3117 And ye shall keep H2287 it a feast H2282 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days H3117 in the year. H8141 It shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 in your generations: H1755 ye shall celebrate H2287 it in the seventh H7637 month. H2320 Ye shall dwell H3427 in booths H5521 seven H7651 days; H3117 all that are Israelites H3478 born H249 shall dwell H3427 in booths: H5521 That your generations H1755 may know H3045 that I made the children H1121 of Israel H3478 to dwell H3427 in booths, H5521 when I brought them out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt: H4714 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430
And on the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the seventh H7637 month H2320 ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work, H4399 and ye shall keep H2287 a feast H2282 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days: H3117 And ye shall offer H7126 a burnt offering, H5930 a sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD; H3068 thirteen H7969 H6240 young H1241 H1121 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 and fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year; H8141 they shall be without blemish: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 shall be of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 three H7969 tenth deals H6241 unto every H259 bullock H6499 of the thirteen H7969 H6240 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 tenth deals H6241 to each H259 ram H352 of the two H8147 rams, H352 And a several tenth deal H6241 to each H259 lamb H3532 of the fourteen H702 H6240 lambs: H3532 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the second H8145 day H3117 ye shall offer twelve H8147 H6240 young H1121 H1241 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and the meat offering H4503 thereof, and their drink offerings. H5262 And on the third H7992 day H3117 eleven H6249 H6240 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without blemish; H8549 And their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the fourth H7243 day H3117 ten H6235 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 and fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without blemish: H8549 Their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the fifth H2549 day H3117 nine H8672 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 and fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the sixth H8345 day H3117 eight H8083 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 and fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without blemish: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the seventh H7637 day H3117 seven H7651 bullocks, H6499 two H8147 rams, H352 and fourteen H702 H6240 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without blemish: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullocks, H6499 for the rams, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262 On the eighth H8066 day H3117 ye shall have a solemn assembly: H6116 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein: But ye shall offer H7126 a burnt offering, H5930 a sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD: H3068 one H259 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without blemish: H8549 Their meat offering H4503 and their drink offerings H5262 for the bullock, H6499 for the ram, H352 and for the lambs, H3532 shall be according to their number, H4557 after the manner: H4941 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering; H2403 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering. H5262
And the border H1366 shall fetch a compass H5437 from Azmon H6111 unto the river H5158 of Egypt, H4714 and the goings out H8444 of it shall be at the sea. H3220 And as for the western H3220 border, H1366 ye shall even have the great H1419 sea H3220 for a border: H1366 this shall be your west H3220 border. H1366 And this shall be your north H6828 border: H1366 from the great H1419 sea H3220 ye shall point out H8376 for you mount H2022 Hor: H2023 From mount H2022 Hor H2023 ye shall point out H8376 your border unto the entrance H935 of Hamath; H2574 and the goings forth H8444 of the border H1366 shall be to Zedad: H6657
Thou shalt observe H6213 the feast H2282 of tabernacles H5521 seven H7651 days, H3117 after that thou hast gathered H622 in thy corn H1637 and thy wine: H3342 And thou shalt rejoice H8055 in thy feast, H2282 thou, and thy son, H1121 and thy daughter, H1323 and thy manservant, H5650 and thy maidservant, H519 and the Levite, H3881 the stranger, H1616 and the fatherless, H3490 and the widow, H490 that are within thy gates. H8179 Seven H7651 days H3117 shalt thou keep a solemn feast H2287 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the place H4725 which the LORD H3068 shall choose: H977 because the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall bless H1288 thee in all thine increase, H8393 and in all the works H4639 of thine hands, H3027 therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. H8056
From Sihor, H7883 which is before H6440 Egypt, H4714 even unto the borders H1366 of Ekron H6138 northward, H6828 which is counted H2803 to the Canaanite: H3669 five H2568 lords H5633 of the Philistines; H6430 the Gazathites, H5841 and the Ashdothites, H796 the Eshkalonites, H832 the Gittites, H1663 and the Ekronites; H6139 also the Avites: H5761 From the south, H8486 all the land H776 of the Canaanites, H3669 and Mearah H4632 that is beside the Sidonians, H6722 unto Aphek, H663 to the borders H1366 of the Amorites: H567 And the land H776 of the Giblites, H1382 and all Lebanon, H3844 toward the sunrising, H4217 H8121 from Baalgad H1171 under mount H2022 Hermon H2768 unto the entering H935 into Hamath. H2574
And Solomon H8010 reigned H4910 over all kingdoms H4467 from the river H5104 unto the land H776 of the Philistines, H6430 and unto the border H1366 of Egypt: H4714 they brought H5066 presents, H4503 and served H5647 Solomon H8010 all the days H3117 of his life. H2416 And Solomon's H8010 provision H3899 for one H259 day H3117 was thirty H7970 measures H3734 of fine flour, H5560 and threescore H8346 measures H3734 of meal, H7058 Ten H6235 fat H1277 oxen, H1241 and twenty H6242 oxen H1241 out of the pastures, H7471 and an hundred H3967 sheep, H6629 beside harts, H354 and roebucks, H6643 and fallowdeer, H3180 and fatted H75 fowl. H1257 For he had dominion H7287 over all the region on this side H5676 the river, H5104 from Tiphsah H8607 even to Azzah, H5804 over all the kings H4428 on this side H5676 the river: H5104 and he had peace H7965 on all sides H5650 H5676 round about H5439 him. And Judah H3063 and Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 safely, H983 every man H376 under his vine H1612 and under his fig tree, H8384 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba, H884 all the days H3117 of Solomon. H8010
And on the second H8145 day H3117 were gathered together H622 the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of all the people, H5971 the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 unto Ezra H5830 the scribe, H5608 even to understand H7919 the words H1697 of the law. H8451 And they found H4672 written H3789 in the law H8451 which the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 by H3027 Moses, H4872 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 should dwell H3427 in booths H5521 in the feast H2282 of the seventh H7637 month: H2320 And that they should publish H8085 and proclaim H5674 H6963 in all their cities, H5892 and in Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 Go forth H3318 unto the mount, H2022 and fetch H935 olive H2132 branches, H5929 and pine H8081 branches, H6086 H5929 and myrtle H1918 branches, H5929 and palm H8558 branches, H5929 and branches H5929 of thick H5687 trees, H6086 to make H6213 booths, H5521 as it is written. H3789 So the people H5971 went forth, H3318 and brought H935 them, and made H6213 themselves booths, H5521 every one H376 upon the roof of his house, H1406 and in their courts, H2691 and in the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and in the street H7339 of the water H4325 gate, H8179 and in the street H7339 of the gate H8179 of Ephraim. H669 And all the congregation H6951 of them that were come again H7725 out of the captivity H7628 made H6213 booths, H5521 and sat H3427 under the booths: H5521 for since the days H3117 of Jeshua H3442 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 unto that day H3117 had not the children H1121 of Israel H3478 done so. H6213 And there was very H3966 great H1419 gladness. H8057 Also day H3117 by day, H3117 from the first H7223 day H3117 unto the last H314 day, H3117 he read H7121 in the book H5612 of the law H8451 of God. H430 And they kept H6213 the feast H2282 seven H7651 days; H3117 and on the eighth H8066 day H3117 was a solemn assembly, H6116 according unto the manner. H4941
But, behold, I will raise up H6965 against you a nation, H1471 O house H1004 of Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 the God H430 of hosts; H6635 and they shall afflict H3905 you from the entering in H935 of Hemath H2574 unto the river H5158 of the wilderness. H6160
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left H3498 of all the nations H1471 which came H935 against Jerusalem H3389 shall even go up H5927 from H1767 year H8141 to year H8141 to worship H7812 the King, H4428 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up H5927 of all the families H4940 of the earth H776 unto Jerusalem H3389 to worship H7812 the King, H4428 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 even upon them shall be no rain. H1653 And if the family H4940 of Egypt H4714 go not up, H5927 and come H935 not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, H4046 wherewith the LORD H3068 will smite H5062 the heathen H1471 that come not up H5927 to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521 This shall be the punishment H2403 of Egypt, H4714 and the punishment H2403 of all nations H1471 that come not up H5927 to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521
Howbeit G235 we know G1492 this man G5126 whence G4159 he is: G2076 but G1161 when G3752 Christ G5547 cometh, G2064 no man G3762 knoweth G1097 whence G4159 he is. G2076 Then G3767 cried G2896 Jesus G2424 in G1722 the temple G2411 as he taught, G1321 G2532 saying, G3004 Ye both G2504 know me, G1492 and G2532 ye know G1492 whence G4159 I am: G1510 and G2532 I am G2064 not G3756 come G2064 of G575 myself, G1683 but G235 he that sent G3992 me G3165 is G2076 true, G228 whom G3739 ye G5210 know G1492 not. G3756 But G1161 I G1473 know G1492 him: G846 for G3754 I am G1510 from G3844 him, G846 and he G2548 hath sent G649 me. G3165 Then G3767 they sought G2212 to take G4084 him: G846 but G2532 no man G3762 laid G1911 hands G5495 on G1909 him, G846 because G3754 his G846 hour G5610 was G2064 not yet G3768 come. G2064 And G1161 many G4183 of G1537 the people G3793 believed G4100 on G1519 him, G846 and G2532 said, G3004 G3754 When G3752 Christ G5547 cometh, G2064 will he do G3385 G4160 more G4119 miracles G4592 than these G5130 which G3739 this G3778 man hath done? G4160 The Pharisees G5330 heard G191 that the people G3793 murmured G1111 such things G5023 concerning G4012 him; G846 and G2532 the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 the chief priests G749 sent G649 officers G5257 to G2443 take G4084 him. G846 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 unto them, G846 Yet G2089 a little G3398 while G5550 am I G1510 with G3326 you, G5216 and G2532 then I go G5217 unto G4314 him that sent G3992 me. G3165 Ye shall seek G2212 me, G3165 and G2532 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 me: and G2532 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 thither ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come. G2064 Then G3767 said G2036 the Jews G2453 among G4314 themselves, G1438 Whither G4226 will G3195 he G3778 go, G4198 that G3754 we G2249 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 him? G846 will G3361 G3195 he go G4198 unto G1519 the dispersed G1290 among the Gentiles, G1672 and G2532 teach G1321 the Gentiles? G1672 What G5101 manner of saying G3056 is G2076 this G3778 that G3739 he said, G2036 Ye shall seek G2212 me, G3165 and G2532 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 me: and G2532 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 thither ye G5210 cannot G3756 G1410 come? G2064 G1161 In G1722 the last G2078 day, G2250 that great G3173 day of the feast, G1859 Jesus G2424 stood G2476 and G2532 cried, G2896 saying, G3004 If G1437 any man G5100 thirst, G1372 let him come G2064 unto G4314 me, G3165 and G2532 drink. G4095 He that believeth G4100 on G1519 me, G1691 as G2531 the scripture G1124 hath said, G2036 out of G1537 his G846 belly G2836 shall flow G4482 rivers G4215 of living G2198 water. G5204 (But G1161 this G5124 spake he G2036 of G4012 the Spirit, G4151 which G3739 they that believe G4100 on G1519 him G846 should G3195 receive: G2983 for G1063 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 was G2258 not yet G3768 given; because G3754 that Jesus G2424 was G1392 not yet G3764 glorified.) G1392
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 7
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 7 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
The divine confirmation of the dedication of the temple . - 2 Chronicles 7:1-10. The consecration of the sacrificial service by fire from heaven (2 Chronicles 7:1-3), and the sacrifices and festival of the people (2 Chronicles 7:4-10).
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
At the conclusion of Solomon's prayer there fell fire from heaven, which devoured the burnt-offering and the thank-offering, and the glory of the Lord filled the house, so that the priests could not enter the house of Jahve. The assembled congregation, when they saw the fire and the glory of the Lord descend, bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped God to praise. Now since this narrative is not found in 1 Kings 8:54., and there a speech of Solomon to the whole congregation, in which he thanks God for the fulfilment of His promise, and expresses the desire that the Lord would hear his prayers at all times, and bestow the promised salvation on the people, is communicated, modern criticism has rejected this narrative of the Chronicle as a later unhistorical embellishment of the temple dedication. “If we turn our attention,” says Berth. in agreement with Then., “to 2 Chronicles 5:11-14, and compare 2 Chronicles 5:14 with our second verse, we must maintain that our historian found that there existed two different narratives of the proceedings at the dedication of the temple, and received both into his work. According to the one narrative, the clouds filled the house (1 Kings 8:10, cf. 2 Chronicles 5:11-14); and after this was done Solomon uttered the prayer, with the conclusion which we find in 1 Kings 8; according to the other narrative, Solomon uttered the prayer, with the conclusion which we find in Chron., and God thereafter gave the confirmatory signs. Now we can hardly imagine that the course of events was, that the glory of Jahve filled the house (2 Chronicles 5:14); that then Solomon spoke the words and the prayer in 2 Chron 6; that while he uttered the prayer the glory of Jahve again left the house, and then came down in a way manifest to all the people (2 Chronicles 7:3), in order to fill the house for a second time.” Certainly it was not so; but the narrative itself gives no ground for any such representation. Not a word is said in the text of the glory of Jahve having left the temple during Solomon's prayer. The supposed contradiction between 2 Chronicles 5:14 and the account in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 is founded entirely on a misinterpretation of our verse. The course of events described here was, as the words run, this: Fire came down from heaven upon the sacrifices and devoured them, and the glory of the Lord filled the house; and this is in 2 Chronicles 7:3 more exactly and precisely repeated by the statement that the people saw the fire and the glory of Jahve descend upon the house. According to these plain words, the glory of Jahve descended upon the temple in the fire which came down from heaven. In the heavenly fire which devoured the sacrifices, the assembled congregation saw the glory of the Lord descend upon the temple and fill it. But the filling of the temple by the cloud when the ark was brought in and set in its place (2 Chronicles 5:13) can be without difficulty reconciled with this manifestation of the divine glory in the fire. Just as the manifestation of the gracious divine presence in the temple by a cloud, as its visible vehicle, does not exclude the omnipresence of God or His sitting enthroned in heaven, God's essence not being so confined to the visible vehicle of His gracious presence among His people that He ceases thereby to be enthroned in heaven, and to manifest Himself therefrom; so the revelation of the same God from heaven by a descending fire is not excluded or set aside by the presence of the cloud in the holy place of the temple, and in the most holy. We may consequently quite well represent to ourselves the course of events, by supposing, that while the gracious presence of God enthroned above the cherubim on the ark made itself known in the cloud which filled the temple, or while the cloud filled the interior of the temple, God revealed His glory from heaven, before the eyes of the assembled congregation, in the fire which descended upon the sacrifices, so that the temple was covered or overshadowed by His glory. The parts of this double manifestation of the divine glory are clearly distinguished even in our narrative; for in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 the cloud which filled the house, as vehicle of the manifestation of the divine glory, and which hindered the priests from standing and serving (in the house, i.e., in the holy place and the most holy), is spoken of; while in our verses, again, it is the glory of God which descended upon the temple in the fire coming down from heaven on the sacrifices, and so filled it that the priests could not enter it, which is noticed.
Since, therefore, the two passages involve no contradiction, the hypothesis of a compounding together of discrepant narratives loses all standing ground; and it only remains to determine the mutual relations of the two narratives, and to answer the question, why the author of the book of Kings has omitted the account of the fire which came down from heaven upon the sacrifices, and the author of the Chronicle the blessing of the congregation (1 Kings 8:54-61). From the whole plan and character of the two histories, there can be no doubt that in these accounts we have not a perfect enumeration of all the different occurrences, but only a record of the chief things which were done. The authority made use of by both, however, doubtless contained both the blessing of the congregation (1 Kings 8:55-61) and the account of the fire which devoured the sacrifices (2 Chronicles 7:2-3); and probably the latter preceded the blessing spoken by Solomon to the congregation (Kings). In all probability, the fire dame down from heaven immediately after the conclusion of the dedicatory prayer, and devoured the sacrifices lying upon the altar of burnt-offering; and after this had happened, Solomon turned towards the assembled congregation and praised the Lord, because He had given rest to His people, of which the completion of the temple, and the filling of it with the cloud of the divine glory, was a pledge. To record this speech of Solomon to the congregation, falls wholly in with the plan of the book of Kings, in which the prophetic interest, the realization of the divine purpose of grace by the acts and omissions of the kings, is the prominent one; while it did not lie within the scope of his purpose to enter upon a detailed history of the public worship. We should be justified in expecting the fire which devoured the sacrifices to be mentioned in the book of Kings, only if the temple had been first consecrated by this divine act to be the dwelling-place of the gracious presence of God, or a sanctuary of the Lord; but such significance the devouring of the sacrifices by fire coming forth from God did not possess. Jahve consecrated the temple to be the dwelling-place of His name, and the abode of His gracious presence, in proclaiming His presence by the cloud which filled the sanctuary, when the ark was brought into the most holy place. The devouring of the sacrifices upon the altar by fire from heaven was merely the confirmatory sign that the Lord, enthroned above the ark in the temple, accepted, well pleased, the sacrificial service carried on on the altar of this temple; and since the people could draw near to the Lord only with sacrifices before the altar, it was a confirmatory sign that He from His throne would bestow His covenant grace upon those who appeared before him with sacrifices; cf. Leviticus 9:23. Implicitly, this grace was already secured to the people by God's consecrating the sanctuary to be the throne of His grace by the cloud which filled the temple; and the author of the book of Kings thought it sufficient to mention this sign, and passed over the second, which only served as a confirmation of the first. With the chronicler the case was different; for his plan to portray in detail the glory of the worship of the former time, the divine confirmation of the sacrificial worship, which was to be carried on continually in the temple as the only legitimate place of worship, by fire from heaven, was so important that he could not leave it unmentioned; while the words of blessing spoken by Solomon to the congregation, as being already implicitly contained in the dedicatory prayer, did not appear important enough to be received into his book. For the rest, the sacrifices which the fire from heaven devoured are the sacrifices mentioned in 2 Chronicles 5:6, which the king and the congregation had offered when the ark was borne into the temple. As there was an immense number of these sacrifices, they cannot all have been offered on the altar of burnt-offering, but, like the thank-offerings afterwards brought by Solomon and the congregation, must have been offered on the whole space which had been consecrated in the court for this purpose (2 Chronicles 7:7). This is expressly attested by 2 Chronicles 7:7, for the העלות can only be the sacrifices in 2 Chronicles 5:6, since the sacrifices in 2 Chronicles 7:5 of our chapter were only שׁלמים ; cf. 1 Kings 8:62.
2 Chronicles 7:4-6
The sacrifices and the festival. After fire from heaven had devoured the sacrifices, and Solomon had praised the Lord for the fulfilment of His word, and sought for the congregation the further bestowal of the divine blessing (1 Kings 8:54-61), the dedication of the temple was concluded by a great thank-offering, of which we have in 2 Chronicles 7:5, 2 Chronicles 7:6 an account which completely agrees with 1 Kings 8:62-63. - In 2 Chronicles 7:6 the author of the Chr. again makes express mention of the singing and playing of the Levites when these offerings were presented. In the performance of this sacrificial act the priests stood על־משׁמרותם , in their stations; but that does not signify separated according to their divisions (Berth.), but in officiis suis (Vulg.), i.e., ordines suos et functiones suas a Davide 1 Chron. 2 Chronicles 24:7. institutas servarunt (Ramb.); see on Numbers 8:26. The Levites with the instruments of song of Jahve, which David had made, i.e., with the instruments invented and appointed by David for song to the praise of the Lord. בּידם דויד בּהלּל , not hymnos David canentes per manus suas (Vulg.), taking דויד הלּל for the praising appointed by David, which by the hands of the Levites, i.e., was performed by the hands of the Levites (Berth.), but literally: when David sang praise by their hand (i.e., their service). This clause seems to be added to the relative clause, “which king David had made,” for nearer definition, and to signify that the Levites used the same instruments which David had introduced when he praised God by the playing of the Levites. The form מחצצרים as in 1 Chronicles 15:24.
2 Chronicles 7:7-10
2 Chronicles 7:7 contains a supplementary remark, and the ו relat. expresses only the connection of the thought, and the verb is to be translated in English by the pluperfect. For the rest, compare on 2 Chronicles 7:4-10 the commentary on 1 Kings 8:62-66.
2 Chronicles 7:11-22
The Lord's answer to Solomon's dedicatory prayer. Cf. 1 Kings 9:1-9. The general contents, and the order of the thoughts in the divine answer in the two texts, agree, but in the Chronicle individual thoughts are further expounded than in the book of Kings, and expressions are here and there made clear. The second clause of 2 Chronicles 7:11 is an instance of this, where “and all the desire of Solomon, which he was pleased to do,” is represented by “and all that came into Solomon's heart, to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house, he prosperously effected.” Everything else is explained in the Com. on 1 Kings 9.