2 Chronicles 7

2 Chronicles 7:1

IV OW,when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burntoffering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.~. See I Kings viii. 11. This is added to what is recorded in that book, to shew God’s gracious acceptance of Solomon’s prayer and sacrifices; to give him assurance he would be present in this place, and grant all their petitions. Of which he gave two demonstrations: one by fire sent down from heaven to consume the sacrifices; the other *by the glorious cloud filling the whole house. By the former of these, the first sacrifice that we read of in Scripture (that of Abel), it is generally thought was declared to be acceptable unto God,(Gen.iv. 4.) And when the tabernacle was erected, and Aaron consecrated, there was the same testimony given of God’s presence there, as here at the consecration of the temple, Lev. ix. 24. (See what I have there noted, and in other places.) I shall only farther add, that the like miraculous token of God’s acceptance was shewn, when Elijah contested with the priests of Baal, (1 Kings xviii.) and when David offered sacrifice in the thrashing-floor of Araunah, (1 Chron. xxi. 26.) which had relation to what was now done: for David sacrificed in the very place where the temple was built; and therefore by both these miracles God declared he would be worshipped in this place. * They differ only in this, that by the first God admonished David where the temple should be built: and by this he approved and consecrated it when it was built. Dr. Jackson most judiciously adds, that thus was the conitized by Microsoft ® secration of the Son of God to his eternal priesthood confirmed by the apparition of the Holy Ghost in a flame of fire; which was the accomplishment of tho appearanccof Aaron’s consecration, and of this at the consecration of the temple.

2 Chronicles 7:2

*And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. See Exod. xl. 35. 1 Kings viii. 11. But another great man (Dr. Alix) thinks it pertinent here to observe, that there was no such thing in the second temple: though the Lord Christ was to appear in it, and make the glory of the last house greater than the first. For the appearance of the flames of fire on the day of Pentecost was notin’the temple, but in Jerusalem: when the Messiah was exalted to his heavenly sanctuary, and the temple devoted to destruction by the Romans.

2 Chronicles 7:3

And when all the children of Israel saw how tJie fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house. Hero was a great assurance that God would be present in this place, in that the glory of the Lord not only filled the house, but appeared upon the house: so that all the people might see it, and not only have the word of the priests for it. By this they were satisfied that it was God’s house, where he would accept their sacrifices, hear their prayers, and bestow his blessing upon them. There is no mention here made of the cloud, as in the book of the Kings; but that is comprehended, as Abarbinel observes, in the glory and the fire, which were in the cloud. It came down at the first like a cloud, and then broke out in such a light and splendour, as they were not able to. behold: and a flame came out upon the altar, and consumed the sacrifices that lay upon it.. *. ( TJiey bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and’ worshipped.] They bowed down to the middle of their body, and fell prostrate upon the floor, which was the most profound adoration. These were two distinct acts of worship (bowing and falling flat on the face), but here are joined together upon this great occasion. As Dr. Hyde observes in his Relig. Vet. Persarum, cap. 1. where he notes out of Maimonides, that the pavement was kept very clean: it being unlawful for any one to come into the court with their shoes on their feet, or so much as to spit there. And praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for Ms mercy eudurethfor ever.] They praised and gave thanks to God (as they had great reason to do, the fire from heaven and the cloud of glory being manifest tokens of God’s presence among them) in the same words which the priests had used, who sung the eighty-sixth psalm. (See ver. 13.)

2 Chronicles 7:4

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. They had offered sacrifices before; but now they renew them, and offer more in acknowledgment of this new assurance of God’s love unto them,

2 Chronicles 7:5

And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and tivo thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. See 1 Kings viii. G3. where it is said, be offered only twenty thousand oxen; which was a. vast number, but not incredible: nor are these two places inconsistent, as I have there shewn. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.] Thus the dedication of the temple ended. Ver. G.’ And the priests waited on their offices; the Levites CHAP, VII.] THE SECOND BOOK. OF THE CHRONICLES. also ivith instruments of music of the Lord.] They are called musical instruments of the Lord, because David had made them, as it here follows, to praise the Lord withal, because his mercy endurethfor ever. (See 1 Chron. xv. 16.) When David praised by their ministry.] For they sung the psalm of praise which he composed 1 Chron. xvi. 7, &c. In the Hebrew the words are behallil Dabid bejatham, with the hallel (that is, the hymn of praise) which David had put into their hands for that purpose. And the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.] For that was the common posture of worship, whether in prayer’ or praises.

2 Chronicles 7:7

Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar tohich Solomon had made teas not able to receive the burnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat.

2 Chronicles 7:8

Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel ivith him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 7:9

Andin the eighth day they made a solemn assembly / for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. These verses, and the next, are explained in 1 Kings viii. 64 — 66.

2 Chronicles 7:10

And on the three-andtwentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.] The Targum thus glosses upon the last words df this verse, which express the joy of the people: For the goodness of the Lord, shewn unto David in the opening of the doors of the sanctuary; and unto Solomon, whose prayer God had accepted, and vouchsafed his glorious presence, in the house he had built; and unto his people Israel, in his gracious acceptance of their sacrifices, and sending down fire from heaven to consume them.

2 Chronicles 7:11

Thus Solomon finished the house’ of the Lord, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s Jteart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.] See 1 Kings ix. 1.

2 Chronicles 7:12

And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night. See 1 Kings ix. 2. And said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place, to myself for a house of sacrifice.] As appeared by the fire which came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice at the consecration of this house.

2 Chronicles 7:13

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people. Famine and pestilence were two sore punishments, wherewith God afflicted them for’ their sins: and the former of them was caused sometimes by want of rain, and sometimes by locusts, who ate up what the earth produced for their sustenance.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.] He had petitioned for the Divine favour and clemency upon no other condition.

2 Chronicles 7:15

Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine cars attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. Some take vol. IK these phrases to signify, that he will always discern, whether they were such as they ought to be; but they rather have the same sense with the next verse,’that he would have a gracious respect to them, and testify it by hearing their prayers, as he desired, chap. vi. 40.

2 Chronicles 7:16

For now’have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. See this explained 1 Kings ix. 3.

2 Chronicles 7:17

And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I havecommanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments. See there, ver. 4.

2 Chronicles 7:18

Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, Tltere shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

2 Chronicles 7:19

But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

2 Chronicles 7:20

Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb arid a by-word among all nations. Ver. 21: And this house, whichis high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it;j>o that he shall say, Wliy hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

2 Chronicles 7:22

And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord. God of their fathers, tohich brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and ivorshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.] This and the foregoing verses are the same with those 1 Kings ix. 6 — 9. and there have been explained.