2 Chronicles 6

his church; and, secondly, of the abrogation of the Lcvitical worship. It is a most sweet promise of our Saviour, Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there present in the midst of them. Thus when the Levites here sung his praises, the house of God was filled with a cloud, which was the token of his presence: and when tho auditors of the apostles prayed, (Acts iv. 31.) the whole house where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: but the Levitical priests being unable to discharge their office, after the majesty of the Lord filled the house; it was a plain signification that their ministry and way of worship should cease, when the Messiah came, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. Vcr. 1. JL HEN said Solotnon, The Lord hath said that he woulddwellin the thick darkness.,] When Solomon saw that token of the Divine presence, he made this speech to the priests. See 1 Kings viii. 12. and the following verses; for there is little in this chapter but what is there explained: the sense, and commonly the very words, being the same. The paraphrase of the Targum upon these words is very remarkable, which is this: “The Lord would have his Schechinah, or glorious presence, to reside in his city Jerusalem/in his sanctuary, w r hich I have built to the name of his Word; and, behold, a thick cloud covereth it.” This notion of God’s dwelling in darkness was among the heathen (who hence learned it), for Justin Martyr observes, that Orpheus, and anothcr’ancient writer, call God Ilayfcpv^oV, altogether hidden. And the Lacedemonians, who pretend to be of kin to the Jews, had a temple dedicated to Zvc 2fcor«voc, Jupiter the dark, as Strabo relates out of Pausanias. (See Meurs. Miscell. Lacon. lib. i. cap. 1.) chi upon the last words, " Thou art rather the place of this world, and eomprehendest all things, than the -world the place of thee, which cannot comprehend thee. Wherefore then have I built this temple? it w r as.only that thy gracious presence might dwell there, hearing the prayers which shall be made in this place/’ Sdthe next words import.’ <■ •. ’ ■ r?; X*

2 Chronicles 6:2

But I have built a house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever. See there, 1 Kings viii. 13.

2 Chronicles 6:3

And the king hirned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel (and all the congregation of Israel stood). Who were in the great court before the house. (See there, ver. 14.)

2 Chronicles 6:4

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. The same with what is there said, ver. 15.

2 Chronicles 6:5

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 a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel.] The last words of this verse are very different from those 1 Kings viii. 16. where it is said, but I chose David to be over my people Israel. Till whose time there was no settled succession of a ruler, that he and his posterity should reign over them; but God raised up judges out of what tribe* and family he pleased: and when he made Saul king, did not continue that dignity in his family, as he did to David.

2 Chronicles 6:6

But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. But now he declared both the city wherein he would dwell, and also the person and family whom he would have to govern Israel.

2 Chronicles 6:7

Now, it was in the teart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel…

2 Chronicles 6:8

But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as ittvas in thine heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart.

2 Chronicles 6:9

Notwithstaudhig 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.

2 Chronicles 6:10

The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken; for lam risen vp iu 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.] All these four verses are in the same words, 1 Kings viii. 17 — 20. (See there.) I shallonly therefore observe here, how the Targum translates the last words of this verse; built a house to the name of the Word of the Lord God of Israel. In which he makes the Word a distinct person from the Lord God of Israel, but Lord God also; else he would not have built a house for his name, that he might be there worshipped and served.

2 Chronicles 6:11

And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel. There is no difference between these words and those 1 Kings viii. 21. but that there he saith, I have set there the place of the ark; which is tho same in effect with these words, which signify he had put the ark in the most holy place.

2 Chronicles 6:12

And he stood before the altar of the Lord, in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands. See upon 1 Kings viii. 22.

2 Chronicles 6:13

For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven.] This verse is added to what we read in the book of the Kings: and, as Solomon Jarchi observes, hath relation to what goes before, in the presence of all Israel. For he was advanced higher than they, that he might be seen and heard of all.

2 Chronicles 6:14

And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts.] See 1 Kings viii. 23. where there are the same words.

2 Chronicles 6:15

Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

2 Chronicles 6:16

Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.] These two verses, with very little difference, are in 1 Kings viii. 24, 25.

2 Chronicles 6:17

Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken mito thy servant David.

2 Chronicles 6:18

( But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!). Sec there, ver. 2G, 27. I shall only add the gloss of Kim-

2 Chronicles 6:19

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeih before thee. See tL^re, ver. 28.

2 Chronicles 6:20

That thine 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 pray eth towards this place*] Those words, that thine eyes may be open, the Targum expounds, By his Divine providence and protection/in thisplaee of the residence of his gracious presence, as the words there are. Ver. 21; Hearken therefore unto the supplications ofithy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they 1 shall make towards this place: hear thou from thy dwelling-plac$ even from heaven; and wlien thou hear est, forgive.] Seel Kings viii. 30.’. ■’ *\ *! I /-: Ver; 22. If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house.] See there, ver. 31. Whereby it appears, that a man who was to purge himself of any trespass, whereof he was accused against his neighbour, by an oath, was to do it at the temple, before thetaltarrif God, from whom he expected remission of sin.

2 Chronicles 6:23

Tlien hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way uponhis own head; and by justifying the righteous y by giving him according to his righteousness.] See there, 1 Kings viii. 32. * »» - %‘I’

2 Chronicles 6:24

And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before tlte enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make sup* plication before thee in this house:

2 Chronicles 6:25

Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them, and to their fathers. These two verses are, in a manner, the very same with those 1 Kings viii. 33, 34..- Ver. 2G. When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray towards thisplaee, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them.] This and all the rest to ver. 32. are the same, in a manner, with 1 Kings viii. 35^ 36, &c. And therefore see the explication of them there: and in ver. 29. he desires, that all prayers, whether for private or public concerns that were made here, might be heard.

2 Chronicles 6:27

Tlien hear thou from heaven, and forgive tlie sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them’ the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy peo* pie for an inlieritance.

2 Chronicles 6:28

Iftliere be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if (heir enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore, or whatsoever sickness there be:

2 Chronicles 6:29

Then what prayer, or wliat supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when.every one shall know his own sore, and his own grief and shall spread forth his hands in this house: * -.

2 Chronicles 6:30

Tlien hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men);

2 Chronicles 6:31

Tliat they may fear thee, to walk.inthy ways so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. \ *•;. * • • r

2 Chronicles 6:32

Moreover, concerning (lie stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from afar country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretchedout arm; if they come and pray in this house:

2 Chronicles 6:33

Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house, which I have built, is called by thy name.] These two verses are there also explained, in ver. 41 — 43. Unto which I shall here add this pious reflection which Dr. Jackson makes upon them: " Solomon knew the goodness of God to be so great, that it could not be a whit lessened towards Israel, how far soever it was extended towards other people. Happy had it been for that nation, if their charity had been like this of their heavenly Father. But it was their seeking -to engross God’s promised blessings to mankind, which brought that grievous curse upon them, tinder which they groan at this day." t,,

2 Chronicles 6:34

If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee towards this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built forthy name:

2 Chronicles 6:35

Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

2 Chronicles 6:36

If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

2 Chronicles 6:37

Yet if they bethink themselves in the land tvhither they are carried captives’, and turn and pray unto thee in’ the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, wehave done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;. Ver. 38* If they return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray towards their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and towards the city which thou hast chosen, and towards the house which I have built for thy name:

2 Chronicles 6:39

Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. All these verses are, with some small variation in a few words, and a large addition to the last verses, in 1 Kings viii. 44 — 50. Ver/40. Now, my God, let (I beseech thee) thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attentunto the prayer that is made in thisplaee.] He sums up all these words, beseeching him, that the prayer which was presented to him here, for any blessing, of what sort soever it was, might be graciously accepted by him. i ■ Ver; 41. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resttized by Microsoft ® A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. VII. ing-place,thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.] These words are part of Psal. cxxxii. 8, 9. with a little alteration. Wherein he beseeches God to take up his habitation here, together with his ark (whereby such wonders and miracles had been wrought), and stir from hence no more. And, then, that he would defend his priests, who ministered to him hero; that they might obtain his blessings for others: so that all the people might rejoice in his great bounty to them. The Targum here translates the first words after a remarkable manner: Now therefore, before the Lord God, rest in thy glory, thou, and the ark of thy strength. Upon which words an unanswerable question is made by Beckius to the Jews; Who is this thou, who, according to their paraphrase, rests before Jehovah? Their mouths are stopped, unless they acknowledge another Jehovah, that is, the Word of God (as he is commonly called in the Targum), the second person in the ever-blessed Trinity. *

2 Chronicles 6:42

O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed. Since he had appointed Solomon to be king of his people, he hoped God would have a regard to his bumble petition. For as to look upon one, or lift up the countenance upon him, is to have a kind respect to him; so to turn away the face, is to reject and refuse him. Remember the mercies of David thy servant.] This is another argument for hope, that his prayer would be granted: because God had such a great kindness for David, that he had made very large and most gracious promises unto him, and his seed after him.