2 Chronicles 6
DortSalomon seeing the token of Gods presence in the Temple, praiseth and thanketh God, that he had fulifilled his promise made to David his Father, 4. Maketh an excellent prayer, wherein he sheweth the right use of the Temple, 12.
1. Then said Salomon, the LORD hath said, that he would dwell in the darkness. [See the exposition of this and the following verses, 1 Kings 8.on verse 12, etc.]
2. And I have built thee an house for a dwelling-place, and a sure place for thine everlasting habitation. [That is, as long as the law should continue. See Gen.13.on v.15. Heb. For thy dwelling (in) eternities.]
3. Then the King turned his face about, [To wit, toward the people] and blessed all the congregation of Israel: [Otherwise, praised (God) with all the congregation] And all the congregation of Israel stood. [to wit, in the great court to hear the Kings speech and prayer. See below ver.13. and the annotate.]
4. And the he said, praised be the Lord God Of Israel, who spake with his mouth to David my Father, and hath fulfilled it with his hands, [That is, hath actually performed, as he hath spoken and promised. So below v.15.] saying;
5. From that day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose [See 1 Kings 8.on v.16.] no city out of all the tribes of Israel, to build an house that my name should be there: [see 1 Kings 8.on v.16.] Neither chose (I) any man to be a leader over my people Israel. [indeed the Lord did in time past provide Princes, Judge and Levites for his people, but not like David, in whose posterity the sovereignty of Government was to continue till the coming of the Messiah, of whose everlasting Kingdom he was a type.]
6. But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name should be there: And I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
7. It was also in the heart of David my Father, [That is, he found it good, and purposed. So in the sequel. Item 1 Sam.14.7. 2 Sam.7.3. 1 Chron.17.2. Heb. it was also with the heart, etc.] to build an house for the name of the LORD the God of Israel. [that is, for the LORD himself: so in the sequel. See 1 Kings 5.on v.3.]
8. But the LORD said unto David my Father: Forasmuch as that was in thine heart, to build an house for my name; thou hast done well, (in) that it was in thine heart.
9. Not with standing thou shalt not build that house; but thy son, which shall come forth out of thy loines, [That is, that shall be born of thy flesh and blood. See Genes.35.on vers.3.] he shall build the house unto my name.
10. The Lord then hath confirmed his word, which he had spoken: For I am risen up in the room of David my Father, and I sit on the Throne of Israel, according as the LORD hath spoken, and I have built an house for the name of the LORD the God of Israel.
11. And I have placed the ark there, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with the children of Israel, [Meaning the two tables of stone, wherein the ten commandments are written, as being the laws of the covenant, which God had made with the Israelites. See 1 Kings 8.on v.21.]
12. And he stood before the altar of the LORD, over against all the congregation of Israel: And he spread forth his hands:
13. (For Salomon had made a copper scaffold, [Understand such a scaffold as is here in this verse described by the matter of it, the greatness of it, and the place where it stood, appointed for it this end and purpose, that the king from thence might pray unto God, and speak unto the people. See hereof also, 2 Kings 11.on v.14.] and had set it in the midst of the Court, [That is, of the peoples court, called otherwise the great Court, 1 Kings 7:9, 12. See also above chap.4.on v.9.] being five ells in the length thereof, and five ells in the breadth thereof, and three ells in the height thereof, and he stood upon it, and he kneeled on his knees [this ceremony was used in prayer, as a token of the humility of the heart, wherein men are convinced, that we are not able to subsist before the Majesty of God, Psa.130.3. See of this ceremony, Ezra 9:4. Luke 22:14. Acts 20:36. Eph.3.14.] before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven.) [see of this ceremony which the ancients used in prayer, 1 Kings 8.on v.22.]
14. And he said; LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor on the earth: Keeping covenant and mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thy face with all their heart.
15. Which hast kept unto thy servant David my Father, that which thou hast spoken unto him: For thou hast spoken with thy mouth, and fulfilled with thine hand, as it is this day. [Heb. according to this day; that is, as it appeareth this day, or as this day testifieth]
16. And now LORD God of Israel; keep unto thy servant David my Father, that which thou hast spoken unto him, saying; (there) shall not be cut off unto thee a man, to sit upon the throne of Israel: [See 1 Kings 8.on v.25.] only if thy sons keep their way, [see 1.Kings 2.on v.4.] to walk in my law, [that is, to believe and live with all uprightness, according to the revealed word of god. So Psa.26.3. and 119.1. Compare 1 Kings 8:25. where this is called walking before the face of the LORD, and 11.33. walking in the way of the LORD. See the annotate. There] according as thou hast walked before my face.
17. Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant, unto David.
18. But truly, will God dwell with men on Earth? Behold, the heavens, yet the heavens of heavens cannot contein thee; how much less this house which I have built.
19. Turn thy self then yet to the prayer of thy servant, [That is, to my prayer, who am thy servant: so in the sequel] and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken to the cry, and to the prayer, which thy servant prayer before thy face.
20. let thine eyes be open day and night upon this house, upon the place whereof thou hast said, that thou wouldest put thy name there, [That is cause his word to be taught there, his name to be called upon, his service to be performed, and his people to be assembled together for the practicing of holy duties, and his spirit to be likewise powerfully and effectually there. Compare 1 Kings 8. The annotate. On v.16.] to hearken unto the prayer, which thy servant shall pray in this place.
21. Hearken then unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, who shall pray in this place: [Oth. Which they shall pray, etc.] and hear thou from the place of thy dwelling, from heaven; yea hear, and forgive.
22. When any man shall have sinned against his neighbor, and he shall have laid upon him an oath of the curse, to curse himself, and the oath of the curse shall come into this house before thine altar.
23. Then hear thou from heaven, and do, [To wit, according as thy justice in respect of his oath, and the cause it self shall require. See 1 Kings 8. On v.22. and in the same chapter the exposition of some things here following] and judge thy servants, rewarding the wicked, rendering his way upon his (own) head; and justifying the righteous, rendering to him according to his righteousness. [understand, according to the righteousness of his curse in his dealing with men, not according to the righteousness of his person, which no man so hath, as that he is able to stand or abide before God, Psa.130.3. and 143.2.]
24. When also thy people Israel shall be smitten before the face of the Enemy, because they have sinned against thee: And shall return, and confess thy Name, and pray, and make supplication before thy face in his house.
25. Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sins of thy people Israel, and bring them again into the land, which thou gavest to them, and to their Fathers.
26. When the heaven shall he be shut up, that there is no rain, [Understand the lowermost heaven that is, the air, wherein the clouds are, from which the rain proceedeth Compare Gen.2.on v.6. and 1 Kings 18:45.] because they have sinned against thee, and they shall pray in this place, and confess thy name, (and) turn from their sins, when thou shalt have plagued them: [Oth. Because thou shalt have testified against them. See 1 Kings 8.on ver.35.]
27. Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou shalt have taught them the good way wherein they should walk; and give rain upon thy land, which thou gavest to thy people for an inheritance.
28. When there shall be famine in the land, when there shall be pestilence, when there shall be blasting, or mildew locusts, and caterpillars, when any of his Enemies shall besiege him in the land of his gates, [See 1 Kings 8.on v.37.] (or) any plague, or any sickness shall be.
29. Every prayer, every application that shall be made by any man, or by all the people Israel: when they acknowledge every one his (own) plague, and his (own) grief, and every one shall spread forth his hand in this house: [Or toward this house. See 1 Kings 8.on 44. And below v.34. and 38.]
30. Hear thou then from heaven, the sure place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, as thou knowest his heart: For thou only knowest the heart of the children of men. [Understand this in general of all men: For the word all is added hereunto, 1 Kings 8:39.]
31. That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, [See 1 Kings 11,on v.33.] all the days, that they shall live in the land, which thou hast given to our Fathers.
32. Even also concerning the stranger, that shall not be of thy people Israel; but shall come from a far country, for thy great names sake, and thy strong hand, and thy stretched arm, [See Exod.6.on v.5. and 1 Kings 8:42.] when they shall come and pray in this house.
33. Hear thou then from heaven, from the sure place of thy dwelling, and do according to all, that stranger shall call unto thee for; that all the nations of the Earth may know thy name, as well to fear thee, [Observe here, how that from the true knowledge of God, ariseth the true power of God; as from the fear of God is the walking in his ways, above vers.31.] as thy people Israel, [to wit, acknowledgeth thy name, and feareth thee] as to know, that thy name is named upon this house, [see 1 Kings 8.on v.43.] which I have built.
34. When thy people shall go forth to war against their Enemies by the way which thou shalt send them, and shall pray toward the way of this city, which thou hast chosen, and toward this house, which I have built for thy name.
35. Then hear thou from heaven their prayer, and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36. When they shall have sinned against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not) and thou shalt be angry with them, and shalt deliver them over before the face of the Enemy, that those that have taken them captive, carry them captive away into a land that is far or near at hand.
37. And they shall bring again to their heart in the land, whither they are carried away captive, that they convert themselves, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying; we have sinned, done perversely, and dealt wickedly.
38. And they convert themselves to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they [To wit, their Enemies, 1 Kin.8.48.] have carried them away captive, and shall pray [namely, to thee, O Lord, 1 Kings 8:48.] toward the way their land, which thou gavest unto their Fathers, and toward this city, which thou hast chosen, and toward this house, which I have built to thy name.
39. Then hear thou from heaven, from the sure place of thy dwelling, their prayers and their supplication, and maintain their cause: and forgive thy people that they shall have sinned against thee. [Oth. What they have sinned against thee]
40. Now my God, let I pray thine eyes be open, and thine ears attentive [Spoken of God after the manner of men, to shew that God takes notice of the affliction and prayers of his people] unto the prayer of this place. [To wit, which shall be made in this place, or in this temple, or those that shall make it in this place, so below, chap.7.15.]
41. And now, LORD God, get the up to thy rest, [That is, to the place wherein thou hast purposed to rest, and to be quiet, and to be no more removed with the Tabernacle from one place to another, as happened in the wilderness, when the Israelites changed their camping places. This is spoken of God after the manner of men, in respect of the ark, upon which God revealed himself. See 2 Sam.7.6. Psal.132.8.] thou, and the ark of thy strength; [so Psa.132.8. By which thou usually givest thine answer concerning thy grace and help which thou powerfully shewest unto thy people] let thy Priests, LORD God be cloathed with salvation, [that is, be preserved and adorned with thy favour, blessing, and mercy, as with a garment. So Psa.132.16. The contrary is, to be cloathed with shame: In the same place v.18.] and let thy favourites [or, godly ones, the Hebrew word is attributed to God and to men. Being ascribed to God; it signifieth the favourable, gracious, and merciful one, as Psa.145.17. Jerem.3.12. it’s ascribed to godly and religious persons, because they either do good, or good is done to them by God. According to the first sence it may be translated, holy, gracious, merciful, godly, according to the second, favourites, as here] rejoice in the good. [to wit, which thou shewest to them.]
42. O LORD God, turn not away. [That is, reject not, or refuse not. Compare 1 Kings 2.on v.20.] the face of thine anointed; [that is, my face, or my prayer, whom thou hast anointed to be king] remember the mercies of David thy servant. [that is, shewed to David, and in respect of him promised to his posterity.]