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2 Chronicles 6:1-11 King James Version (KJV)

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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.

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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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

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 American Standard (ASV)

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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.

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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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.'

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

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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.

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 World English Bible (WEB)

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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.

2 Chronicles 6:1-11 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

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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 » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 6 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 6

The glory of the Lord, in the vehicle of a thick cloud, having filled the house which Solomon built, by which God manifested his presence there, he immediately improves the opportunity, and addresses God, as a God now, in a peculiar manner, nigh at hand.

  • I. He makes a solemn declaration of his intention in building this house, to the satisfaction of the people and the honour of God, both of whom he blessed (v. 1-11).
  • II. He makes a solemn prayer to God that he would please graciously to accept and answer all the prayers that should be made in, or towards, that house (v. 12-42). This whole chapter we had before, with very little variation (1 Ki. 8:12-53), to which it may not be amiss here to look back.

2Ch 6:1-11

It is of great consequence, in all our religious actions, that we design well, and that our eye be single. If Solomon had built this temple in the pride of his heart, as Ahasuerus made his feast, only to show the riches of his kingdom and the honour of his majesty, it would not have turned at all to his account. But here he declares upon what inducements he undertook it, and they are such as not only justify, but magnify, the undertaking.

  • 1. He did it for the glory and honour of God; this was his highest and ultimate end in it. It was for the name of the Lord God of Israel (v. 10), to be a house of habitation for him, v. 2. He has indeed, as to us, made darkness his pavilion (v. 1), but let this house be the residence of that darkness; for it is in the upper world that he dwells in light, such as no eye can approach.
  • 2. He did it in compliance with the choice God had been pleased to make of Jerusalem, to be the city in which he would record his name (v. 6): I have chosen Jerusalem. A great many stately buildings there were in Jerusalem for the king, his princes, and the royal family. If God chooses that place, it is fit that there be a building for him which may excel all the rest. If men were thus honoured there, let God be thus honoured.
  • 3. He did it in pursuance of his father's good intentions, which he never had an opportunity to put into execution: "It was in the heart of David my father to build a house for God;' the project was his, be it known, to his honour (v. 7), and God approved of it, though he permitted him not to put it in execution (v. 8), Thou didst well that it was in thy heart. Temple-work is often thus done; one sows and another reaps (Jn. 4:37, 38), one age begins that which the next brings to perfection. And let not the wisest of men think it any disparagement to them to pursue the good designs which those that went before them have laid, and to build upon their foundation. Every good piece is not an original.
  • 4. He did it in performance of the word which God had spoken. God had said, Thy son shall build the house for my name; and now he had done it, v. 9, 10. The service was appointed him, and the honour of it designed him, by the divine promise; so that he did not do it of his own head, but was called of God to do it. It is fit that he who appoints the work should have the appointing of the workmen; and those may go on in their work with great satisfaction who see their call to it clear.

2Ch 6:12-42

Solomon had, in the foregoing verses, signed and sealed, as it were, the deed of dedication, by which the temple was appropriated to the honour and service of God. Now here he prays the consecration-prayer, by which it was made a figure of Christ, the great Mediator, through whom we are to offer all our prayers, and to expect all God's favours, and to whom we are to have an eye in every thing where we have to do with God. We have opened the particulars of this prayer (1 Ki. 8) and therefore shall now only glean up some few passages in it which may be the proper subjects of our meditation.

  • I. Here are some doctrinal truths occasionally laid down. As,
    • 1. That the God of Israel is a being of incomparable perfection. We cannot describe him; but this we know, there is none like him in heaven or in earth, v. 14. All the creatures have their fellow-creatures, but the Creator has not his peer. He is infinitely above all, and over all, God blessed for ever.
    • 2. That he is, and will be, true to every word that he has spoken; and all that serve him in sincerity shall certainly find him both faithful and kind. Those that set God always before them, and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them, v. 14.
    • 3. That he is a being infinite and immense, whom the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain, and to whose felicity nothing is added by the utmost we can do in his service, v. 18. He is infinitely beyond the bounds of the creation and infinitely above the praises of all intelligent creatures.
    • 4. That he, and he only, knows the hearts of the children of men, v. 30. All men's thoughts, aims, and affections, are naked and open before him; and, however the imaginations and intents of our hearts may be concealed from men, angels, and devils, they cannot be hidden from God, who knows not only what is in the heart, but the heart itself and all the beatings of it.
    • 5. That there is no such thing as a sinless perfection to be found in this life (v. 36): There is no man who sinneth not; nay, who doeth good and sinneth not; so he writes, agreeable to what he here says, Eccl. 7:20.
  • II. Here are some suppositions or cases put which are to be taken notice of.
    • 1. He supposed that if doubts and controversies arose between man and man both sides would agree to appeal to God, and lay an oath upon the person whose testimony must decide the matter, v. 22. The religious reverence of an oath, as it was ancient, so, it may be presumed, it will continue as long as there are any remains of conscience and right reason among men.
    • 2. He supposed that, though Israel enjoyed a profound peace and tranquillity, yet troublesome times would come. He did not think the mountain of their prosperity stood so strong but that it might be moved; nay, he expected sin would move it.
    • 3. He supposed that those who had not called upon God at other times, yet, in their affliction, would seek him early and earnestly. "When they are in distress they will confess their sins, and confess thy name, and make supplication to thee.' Trouble will drive those to God who have said to him, Depart, v. 24, 26, 28.
    • 4. He supposed that strangers would come from afar to worship the God of Israel and to pay homage to him; and this also might reasonably be expected, considering what worthless things the gods of the nations were, and what proofs the God of Israel had given of his being Lord of the whole earth.
  • III. Here are petitions very pertinent.
    • 1. That God would own this house, and have an eye to it, as the place of which he had said that he would put his name there, v. 20. He could not, in faith, have asked God to show such peculiar favour to this house above any other if he himself had not said that it should be his rest for ever. The prayer that will speed must be warranted by the word. We may with humble confidence pray to God to be well pleased with us in Jesus Christ, because he had declared himself well pleased in him-This is my beloved Son; but he says not now of any house, "This is my beloved place.'
    • 2. That God would hear and accept the prayers which should be made in or towards that place, v. 21. He asked not that God should help them whether they prayed for themselves or no, but that God would help them in answer to their prayers. Even Christ's intercessions do not supersede but encourage our supplications. He prayed that God would hear from his dwelling-place, even from heaven. Heaven in his dwelling-place still, not this temple; and thence help must come. When thou hearest forgive. Note, The forgiveness of our sins is that which makes way for all the other answers to our prayers, Removendo prohibens-The evil which it drives away it keeps away.
    • 3. That God would give judgment according to equity upon all the appeals that should be made to him, v. 23, 30. This we may, in faith, pray for, for we are sure it shall be done. God sitteth on the throne judging right.
    • 4. That God would return in mercy to his people when they repented, and reformed, and sought unto him, v. 25, 27, 38, 39. This we also may, in faith, pray for, building upon the repeated declarations God has made of his readiness to accepts penitents.
    • 5. That God would bid the strangers welcome to this house, and answer their prayers (v. 33); for, if there be in duty, why should there not be in privilege one law for the stranger and for one born in the land? Lev. 24:22.
    • 6. That God would, upon all occasions, own and plead the cause of his people Israel, against all the opposers of it (v. 35): Maintain their cause; and again, v. 39. If they be the Israel of God, their cause is the cause of God, and he would espouse it.
    • 7. He concludes this prayer with some expressions which he had learned of his good father, and borrowed from one of his psalms. We had then not in the Kings, but here we have them, v. 41, 42. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; and how can we express ourselves in better language to God than that of his own Spirit? But these words were of use, in a special manner, to direct Solomon, because they had reference to this very work that he was now doing. We have them, Ps. 132:8-10. He prayed (v. 41),
      • (1.) That God would take possession of the temple, and keep possession, that he would make it his resting-place: Thou and the ark; what will the ark do without the God of the ark-ordinances without the God of the ordinances?
      • (2.) That he would make the ministers of the temple public blessings: Clothe them with salvation, that is, not only save them, but make them instrumental to save others, by offering the sacrifices of righteousness.
      • (3.) That the service of the temple might turn abundantly to the joy and satisfaction of all the Lord's people: Let thy saints rejoice in goodness, that is, in the goodness of thy house, Ps. 65:4. "Let all that come hither to worship, like the eunuch, go away rejoicing.' He pleads two things, v. 42.
        • [1.] His own relation to God: "Turn not away the face of thy anointed. Lord, thou hast appointed me to be king, and wilt not thou own me?'
        • [2.] God's covenant with his father: Remember thy mercies of David thy servant-the piety of David towards God (so some understand it and so the word sometimes signifies), his pious care of the ark, and concern for it (see Ps. 132:1, 2, etc.), or the promises of God to David, which were mercies to him, his great support and comforts in all his troubles. We may plead, as Solomon does here, with an eye to Christ:-"We deserve that God should turn away our face, that he should reject us and our prayers; but we come in the name of the Lord Jesus, thy anointed, thy Messiah (so the word is), thy Christ, so the LLX. Him thou hearest always, and wilt never turn away his face. We have no righteousness of our own to plead, but, Lord, remember the mercies of David thy servant.' Christ is God's servant (Isa. 42:1), and is called David, Hos. 3:5. "Lord, remember his mercies, and accept us on the account of them. Remember his tender concern for his Father's honour and man's salvation, and what he did and suffered from that principle. Remember the promises of the everlasting covenant, which free grace has made to us in Christ, and which are called the sure mercies of David,' Isa. 55:3 and Acts 13:34. This must be all our desire and all our hope, all our prayer and all our plea; for it is all our salvation.