(18) But will God in very deed.—Or, what? will God, &c.—The LXX. imitates the Hebrew ὅτι εἰ ; Vuig., “ergone credibile est ut habitet Deus?”With men.—Not in Kings. Syriac, “with his people, Israel;” Arabic, “with his people.” (Comp. Revelation 21:3.) read more
(19) Have respect therefore.—But turn thou unto. The Authorised Version follows the LXX. and Vulg., ἐπιβλέψῃ); “ut respicias.”Before thee.—Kings adds, “to-day.” So LXX., Syriac, Arabic here. read more
(20) Upon.—Unto or toward. “Day and night” (as in Psalms 1:2); Kings, “night and day” (as in Isaiah 27:3); for which the chronicler has substituted a more usual phrase. The Syriac and Arabic follow Kings.Prayeth.—Shall pray, scil., at any time.Toward this place.—The margin is wrong, though supported by the Syriac, Arabic, and Vulg. The Temple of Jerusalem was, and is, the Kebla of the Jew. (Comp. Daniel 6:10, and 2 Chronicles 6:34 infr., which is a kind of paraphrase of this expression.) read more
(21) Supplications.—Tahănûnîm, a word chiefly poetic and late, which nowhere appears in Kings, and only here in Chronicles. Kings has the older synonym tĕhinnâh.Hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven.—Yea thou—thou shalt hear from the place of thy dwelling, from the heavens. For “from,” in both places, Kings has “unto,” an unusual pregnant construction, which is probably original. read more
The Blessing of Unrealized Aims 2 Chronicles 6:8 According to the old story, our own Queen Mary is reported to have said to her courtiers that after her death they would find the word Calais graven upon her heart so long had she brooded upon the loss of that French sea-coast town. Had you examined King David's heart you would have found graven upon it the picture of a temple. That temple had been David's dream. In vision he had for years seen it crowning the crest of Zion. Night and day he... read more
CHAPTER 6 Solomon’s Address and Dedicatory Prayer 1. Solomon’s address to the congregation (2 Chronicles 6:1-11 ) 2. Solomon’s dedicatory prayer (2 Chronicles 6:12-42 ) The report of Solomon’s address is the same as recorded in 1 Kings 8:12-21 . The opening statement of this chapter has been well characterized as a pregnant expression of the king’s realization of the mystery of the Being of Jehovah, the all-creative God, as well as the condescension displayed in His self-limitation to... read more
6:20 That thine {e} eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.(e) That you may declare in effect that you have a continual care over this place. read more
SOLOMON SPEAKS TO GOD AND TO THE PEOPLE (vv.1-11) Solomon began his inauguration address by first speaking to the Lord, reminding Him that He had said He would dwell in the dark cloud and that he (Solomon) had built this exalted house for the Lord to dwell in. Then he turned to address the whole assembly of Israel, the people standing at attention. We are told he blessed them, but the way he did this was by saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what... read more
SOLOMON ’S REIGN HIS PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER (2 Chronicles 1:1-3 ) With verses three and four compare 1 Chronicles 16:0 , and especially 1 Chronicles 16:37-40 . The tabernacle at Gibeon was the legal place for worship, but the threshing-floor on Matthew Moriah was chosen by David for the reason given (1 Chronicles 21:29 ). A comparison with the corresponding place in 1 Kings will show how this account is abbreviated as the matter was not necessary to the author’s purpose. HIS POWER AND... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 6:1-42
Solomon’s PrayerThe first 39 vv. of this chapter repeat 1 Kings 8:12-50, the conclusion of the prayer, as given in 1 Kings 8:51-61, being omitted and three additional vv. being substituted.5. Neither chose I any man] Saul, though chosen, was subsequently rejected: 1 Samuel 15:26.13. For Solomon had made, etc.] This is not mentioned in 1 Kings 8.41. Now therefore arise, etc.] The same words occur in Psalms 132:8, Psalms 132:9. Be clothed with.. goodness] i.e. enjoy victory and prosperity.42.... read more