Turn not away the face of thine anointed - "At least do me good; and if not for my sake, do it for thy own sake." - Jarchi. These two last verses are not in the parallel place in 1 Kings 8:22-53. There are other differences between the two places in this prayer, but they are not of much consequence. read more
In the thick darkness ; Hebrew, מַּעֲרַפֶל . The Lord had said this in so many words, and also by not a few practical examples (Le 2 Chronicles 16:2 ; Exodus 19:9 ; Exodus 24:16 ; Exodus 25:22 ; Exodus 40:34 , Exodus 40:35 ). This thing which he said, and did, even while really instructing, after the manner of special revelation, a specialized people, is essentially what he ever has said and ever is doing in all time, in all the world, and in all nature and providence. It is... read more
God, the incomprehensible One. What is the historical reference? Is it to the luminous cloud that shone between the cherubim? or is it not, rather, to the Divine manifestation, on. Mount Sinai, of which God had said, "I will come unto thee in a thick cloud" ( Exodus 19:9 )? God "dwells in the light which no man can approach unto" ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ), and this is the same thing; for the dazzling light is to us as the darkness. As our eye is constituted to receive no more than a certain... read more
The dedication of the temple: 2. The address of Solomon. I. To JEHOVAH . ( 2 Chronicles 6:1 , 2 Chronicles 6:2 .) On beholding the cloud which filled the temple ( 2 Chronicles 6:13 ), Solomon uttered words which expressed: 1 . Recognition of Jehovah ' s presence. "The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness." Though nowhere occurring in Old Testament Scripture, this promise accorded substantially with the declarations Jehovah had often made ( Exodus... read more
The dedication, and Solomon's prayer. The ark once within the most holy place, the whole temple seems to wait expectant for its own solemn offering and dedication, to that heaven from which its pattern came, to its own supreme Architect, of whose wisdom it was designed, and of whose inspiration of the mind and heart of so many, its beautiful and costly materials had been ungrudingly given and skilfully wrought. The picture photographed so faithfully in this chapter does not fail of... read more
Solomon's words now address themselves to God. For ever. These words refer rather to the permanence and station-ariness of the temple as the dwelling-place of the ark. and the mercy-seat and cherubim, and all that symbolized and invited the Divine presence, than design any prophecy of length of time. They contrast with the wandering people, and wandering worship and sacrifices, and wandering tent and tabernacle with all their sacred contents ( Psalms 68:16 ; Psalms 132:14 ; 1... read more
Reading between the lines, this verse shows us that the face of Solomon had been turned to the symbol of God's presence, while he addressed to him the words of our second verse, since he now faces round to the assembly of the congregation. What words Solomon used in thus blessing the whole congregation are not given either here or in the parallel. The impression one takes is that the blessing was, in fact, wrapt up tacitly in all that Solomon recounts, when he said, Blessed be the Lord God... read more
(See 2 Samuel 7:4-17 ; 1 Chronicles 11:2 ; 1 Chronicles 17:4-14 .) With his hands,… with his mouth . Expressions like this, antithesis and all, remind how language formed itself in the concrete mould at first, from that, ever becoming more abstract as time grew. The ampler language of later date would be, Who hath indeed fulfilled that which he spake. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 6:41
Let thy saints rejoice in goodness - "In the abundance of the tithes and other goods which shall be given to the Levites, as their reward for keeping the ark, and singing before it." - Jarchi. read more