3 And when all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 saw H7200 how the fire H784 came down, H3381 and the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 upon the house, H1004 they bowed H3766 themselves with their faces H639 to the ground H776 upon the pavement, H7531 and worshipped, H7812 and praised H3034 the LORD, H3068 saying, For he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters H2690 H2690 and singers H7891 were as one, H259 to make one H259 sound H6963 to be heard H8085 in praising H1984 and thanking H3034 the LORD; H3068 and when they lifted up H7311 their voice H6963 with the trumpets H2689 and cymbals H4700 and instruments H3627 of musick, H7892 and praised H1984 the LORD, H3068 saying, For he is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 that then the house H1004 was filled H4390 with a cloud, H6051 even the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068
And when he had consulted H3289 with the people, H5971 he appointed H5975 singers H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 and that should praise H1984 the beauty H1927 of holiness, H6944 as they went out H3318 before H6440 the army, H2502 and to say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD; H3068 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
But G1161 this man, because G1223 he G846 continueth G3306 ever, G1519 G165 hath G2192 an unchangeable G531 priesthood. G2420 Wherefore G3606 he is able G1410 also G2532 to save them G4982 to G1519 the uttermost G3838 that come G4334 unto God G2316 by G1223 him, G846 seeing he ever G3842 liveth G2198 to G1519 make intercession G1793 for G5228 them. G846
And G2532 his G846 mercy G1656 is on them that fear G5399 him G846 from G1519 generation G1074 to generation. G1074
The voice H6963 of joy, H8342 and the voice H6963 of gladness, H8057 the voice H6963 of the bridegroom, H2860 and the voice H6963 of the bride, H3618 the voice H6963 of them that shall say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 for the LORD H3068 is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 and of them that shall bring H935 the sacrifice of praise H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 For I will cause to return H7725 the captivity H7622 of the land, H776 as at the first, H7223 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
I will mention H2142 the lovingkindnesses H2617 of the LORD, H3068 and the praises H8416 of the LORD, H3068 according to all that the LORD H3068 hath bestowed H1580 on us, and the great H7227 goodness H2898 toward the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 which he hath bestowed H1580 on them according to his mercies, H7356 and according to the multitude H7230 of his lovingkindnesses. H2617
O give thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 for he is good: H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 O give thanks H3034 unto the God H430 of gods: H430 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 O give thanks H3034 to the Lord H113 of lords: H113 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him who alone doeth H6213 great H1419 wonders: H6381 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him that by wisdom H8394 made H6213 the heavens: H8064 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him that stretched out H7554 the earth H776 above the waters: H4325 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him that made H6213 great H1419 lights: H216 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 The sun H8121 to rule H4475 by day: H3117 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 The moon H3394 and stars H3556 to rule H4475 by night: H3915 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him that smote H5221 Egypt H4714 in their firstborn: H1060 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And brought out H3318 Israel H3478 from among H8432 them: for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 With a strong H2389 hand, H3027 and with a stretched out H5186 arm: H2220 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him which divided H1504 the Red H5488 sea H3220 into parts: H1506 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And made Israel H3478 to pass through H5674 the midst H8432 of it: for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 But overthrew H5287 Pharaoh H6547 and his host H2428 in the Red H5488 sea: H3220 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him which led H3212 his people H5971 through the wilderness: H4057 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 To him which smote H5221 great H1419 kings: H4428 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And slew H2026 famous H117 kings: H4428 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites: H567 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And Og H5747 the king H4428 of Bashan: H1316 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And gave H5414 their land H776 for an heritage: H5159 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 Even an heritage H5159 unto Israel H3478 his servant: H5650 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 Who remembered H2142 us in our low estate: H8216 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 And hath redeemed H6561 us from our enemies: H6862 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 Who giveth H5414 food H3899 to all flesh: H1320 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 O give thanks H3034 unto the God H410 of heaven: H8064 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
And the people H5971 believed: H539 and when they heard H8085 that the LORD H3068 had visited H6485 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and that he had looked H7200 upon their affliction, H6040 then they bowed their heads H6915 and worshipped. H7812
And they sang together by course H6030 in praising H1984 and giving thanks H3034 unto the LORD; H3068 because he is good, H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever H5769 toward Israel. H3478 And all the people H5971 shouted H7321 with a great H1419 shout, H8643 when they praised H1984 the LORD, H3068 because the foundation H3245 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 was laid. H3245
And David H1732 said H559 to all the congregation, H6951 Now bless H1288 the LORD H3068 your God. H430 And all the congregation H6951 blessed H1288 the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 and bowed down their heads, H6915 and worshipped H7812 the LORD, H3068 and the king. H4428
And with them Heman H1968 and Jeduthun, H3038 and the rest H7605 that were chosen, H1305 who were expressed H5344 by name, H8034 to give thanks H3034 to the LORD, H3068 because his mercy H2617 endureth for ever; H5769
Then Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 fell H5307 on their faces H6440 before H6440 all the assembly H6951 of the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 7
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 7 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 7
In this chapter is an account of the Lord's acceptance of the sacrifices offered at the dedication of the temple by fire, to the great surprise and encouragement of the people, 2 Chronicles 7:1, and of the feast kept on that account, and the feast of tabernacles, 2 Chronicles 7:8, and of the Lord's appearance to Solomon, giving an answer to his prayer, 2 Chronicles 7:13.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,.... The prayer recorded in the preceding chapter:
the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; which was the token God gave of his acceptance of them, of which there had been several instances before, Leviticus 9:24, 1 Kings 18:38,
and the glory of the Lord filled the house; the glory of the Shechinah of the Lord, as the Targum, see 1 Kings 8:11.
And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord,.... They went in to carry the ark thither, but not being able to stand to minister, they came out, and could not reenter:
because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house; both the holy place, and the holy of holies, see 1 Kings 8:10.
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down,.... From heaven upon the sacrifice, and consumed it, which was all visible to the eye; or it may be this was a distinct fire from the former, since it seems to have come down upon the house, and so may denote a bright, shining, glorious light; the same with what follows:
and the glory of the Lord upon the house; for not only the house was filled with the glory, but there was a bright stream of light and glory over it, very dazzling and surprising:
they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement; of the great court, where they were assembled:
and worshipped and praised the Lord: worshipped him by praising him:
saying, for he is good; in his nature, promises, and blessings; is good, and does good:
for his mercy endureth for ever; this was the close of their song of praise.
Then the king and all the people,.... Of these two verses; see Gill on 1 Kings 8:62; see Gill on 1 Kings 8:63.
And the priests waited on their offices,.... Performed them, some in offering sacrifices, others in blowing trumpets, as it may be explained from the latter part of the verse:
the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord; under a divine direction, on which the Levites played to the songs of praise offered to the Lord, and by which they made music sacred to him:
because his mercy endureth for ever; which, as it was the close of their songs of praise, was the cause of them:
when David praised by their ministry; the songs sung being composed by him, and the instruments they played upon being of his invention, and used by his order:
and the priests sounded trumpets before them; or rather over against them, that is, over against the Levites, as they were singing and playing on the instruments of music:
and all Israel stood; while this sacred and delightful service was performing, they both stood up, and stood by the priests and Levites, and joined with them in praising the Lord.
Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court,.... From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 7:10 is the same with 1 Kings 8:64. See Gill on 1 Kings 8:64, 1 Kings 8:65, 1 Kings 8:66, only mention is made in 2 Chronicles 7:9 of the dedication of the altar, as if distinct from the dedication of the house, and hallowing the middle of the court, see Numbers 7:10 in imitation of which the Heathens dedicated their altars, in which they used ashes and water, as PausaniasF25Eliac, 1. sive, l. 5. p. 312. relates, and had also feasts, as here, at the dedication of their templesF26Plin. Ep. l. 4. ep. 1. , in which they have been imitated by Christians; and many of our country feasts, as they are called, were first kept at the dedication of churches to such and such a saint.
Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord,.... With which begins 1 Kings 11:1; see Gill on 1 Kings 11:1.
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night,.... From hence, to the end of the chapter, much the same things are related as in 1 Kings 9:2. See Gill on 1 Kings 9:2, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Kings 9:4, 1 Kings 9:5, 1 Kings 9:6, 1 Kings 9:7, 1 Kings 9:8, 1 Kings 9:9, excepting 2 Chronicles 7:13 which contain an answer to the particular requests made by Solomon in case of a famine or pestilence, that when the people of Israel should humble themselves in prayer and supplication, the Lord would be attentive to them, and forgive them, 2 Chronicles 6:26 and which is given as a specimen, and as encouragement to expect the same treatment in all other cases mentioned in Solomon's prayer, they so behaving.