2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6:1-2

Ch. 2 Chronicles 6:1-11 (= 1 Kings 8:12-21). Solomon’s Blessing 1, 2. These verses come from 1 Kings, the only important variation being, But I have built (Chron.), for I have surety built (1 Kin.). They seem to have been originally taken from some song.

2 Chronicles 6:4

4. who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David] R.V. which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it. The A.V. has needlessly changed the order of the Hebrew.

2 Chronicles 6:5

5. neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel] The Chronicler regards Saul as rejected rather than chosen; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.

2 Chronicles 6:7

7. in the heart of David] Cp. 1 Chronicles 17:1-2; 1 Chronicles 22:7.

2 Chronicles 6:9

9. thou shalt not build] Cp. 1 Chronicles 22:8, note.

2 Chronicles 6:11

11. with the children of Israel] In 1 Kings 8:21, with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 6:12-39

12–39 (= 1 Kings 8:22-50). Solomon’s Prayer The prayer is reproduced from 1 Kings with a few verbal changes and with the omission of v. 50–53. it is chiefly to the effect that future prayers made “in” or “towards this house” may be heard. The subjects of the different parts of the prayer are as follows:— Ch 6:14-17. The promise made to David. Ch 6:18-21. Prayer made towards this place. Ch 6:22-23. The oath of ordeal taken in this place. Ch 6:24-25. Prayer under defeat. Ch 6:26-27. Prayer for rain. Ch 6:28-31. Prayer under diverse afflictions. Ch 6:32-33. The stranger’s prayer. Ch 6:34-35. The prayer of the army at war abroad. Ch 6:36-39. The prayer of Israel in captivity. . Solomon had made a brasen scaffold] This “scaffold” is not mentioned in 1 Kings. The word used (kiyyôr) properly means a “laver” (Son 4:6).

2 Chronicles 6:14

14. which keepest covenant and shewest mercy] R.V. who keepest covenant and mercy (so 1 Kings).

2 Chronicles 6:16

16. yet so that] R.V. if only. walk in my law] In 1 Kings 8:25, walk before me. The Chronicler characteristically introduces a reference to the Law of the Lord (the tôrah). In Samuel and Kings neither David nor Solomon ever mentions this.

2 Chronicles 6:18

18. dwell with men] The Peshitta (a Jewish work) limits the sense and translates, cause his Shekinah to dwell with (al. rest upon) his people Israel. The words, with men, are absent from the Heb. text of 1 Kings, but appears in LXX. (A and B).

2 Chronicles 6:19

19. prayer … and … supplication] “Supplication” as distinguished from “prayer” is prayer for favour.

2 Chronicles 6:20

20. which thy servant prayeth] R.V. which they servant shall pray. Solomon refers in this ver. to future prayers, not (as in 2 Chronicles 6:19) to the prayer he is now praying.

2 Chronicles 6:21

21. from thy dwelling place, even from heaven] Here, as in 2 Chronicles 6:18, Solomon refuses to regard the Temple as Jehovah’s “dwelling place.” Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:6.

2 Chronicles 6:22

22. and an oath be laid upon him] Cp. Exodus 22:11. The oath means a curse which a man imprecates upon himself under certain conditions. and the oath come] R.V. and he come and swear.

2 Chronicles 6:23

23. by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying tie righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness] R.V. requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

2 Chronicles 6:24

24. be put to the worse] R.V. be smitten down (as in 1 Kings). and shall return] R.V. and shall turn again (as in 1 Kings) i.e. repent.

2 Chronicles 6:25

25. from the heavens] R.V. from heaven (as in 2 Chronicles 6:23).

2 Chronicles 6:26

26. when thou dost afflict them] Render (with R.V. mg. and Peshitta), because thou answerest them. Israel “confesses God’s name” because God answers the prayer of penitence.

2 Chronicles 6:28

28. dearth] R.V. famine (as in 1 Kings). caterpillars] Rather some kind of locust; see Driver on Joe 1:4. in the cities of their land] R.V. in the land of their cities (Heb. gates). The text is probably corrupt: read either, in any one of their cities (cp. LXX.), or, by making a breach in his gates (Heb. biphìrôç for b’ereç). whatsoever sore] R.V. whatsoever plague. “Plague” is used here in the general sense of calamity, as in the phrase. The Ten Plagues of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 6:29

29. his man sore and his own grief] R.V. his own plague and his own sorrow. Cp. last note. in this house] R.V. toward this house.

2 Chronicles 6:30

30. thou only] R.V. thou, even thou only.

2 Chronicles 6:32

32. but is come] R.V. when he shall come. if they come] R.V. when they shall come. in this house] R.V. toward this house; cp. 2 Chronicles 6:29.

2 Chronicles 6:33

33. all people] R.V. all the peoples. For this change see R.V. Preface, p. vi

2 Chronicles 6:35

35. maintain their cause] Render with R.V. mg., maintain their right.

2 Chronicles 6:36

36. there is no man which sinneth not] Cp. Ecclesiastes 7:20. deliver them over before their enemies] R.V. deliver them to the enemy (as 1 Kings).

2 Chronicles 6:37

37. turn and pray] R.V. turn again, and make supplication (cp. 1 Kings). done amiss] R.V. done perversely (as 1 Kings). The stronger word represents tie Heb. word the better.

2 Chronicles 6:38

38. If they return] Cp. Leviticus 26:39-41; Deuteronomy 30:1-2 (passages anticipating captivity and also repentance in captivity).

2 Chronicles 6:39

39. their cause] Render with R.V. mg. their right (as in 2 Chronicles 6:35).

2 Chronicles 6:40-42

40–42. (No parallel in 1 Kings). The Invocation The end of the prayer in 1 Kings 8:51-53 is quite different.

2 Chronicles 6:41

41. Now therefore arise] This whole ver. corresponds (with some variation of reading) with 2 Chronicles 6:8-9 of Psalms 132. the ark of thy strength] This appellation of the ark perhaps refers to its use in war; cp. 1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 4:6-7. with salvation] i.e. with victory. In Psalms 132:9, with righteousness. The thought in Chron. and in Psalms 132. is the same, for through victory the human victor receives salvation (i.e. deliverance from the enemy), and the Divine Giver of victory asserts His righteousness (i.e. by giving victory to the right). thy saints] i.e. thy people Israel; cp. Psalms 79:2; Psalms 149:5. So in the N.T. the Christians as a body are spoken of as “saints” and “sanctified.” rejoice in goodness] Render (with R.V. mg.) rejoice in good, i.e. in prosperity. In Psalms 132. shout for joy.

2 Chronicles 6:42

42. turn not away] Cp. Psalms 132:10. remember the mercies of David] i.e. either shew David’s son the mercies thou didst shew to David himself (Isaiah 55:3), or (better), remember the good deeds (“mercies”; cp. 2 Chronicles 32:32) which David did, and reward his son.