2 Chronicles 7:10

_AND ON THE THREE AND TWENTIETH 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._ On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month. This was the last day of the feast of tabernacles....

Verse 2 Chronicles 7:10. _ON THE THREE AND TWENTIETH DAY_] This was the _ninth_ day of the dedication of the temple; but in 1 Kings 8:66 it is called the _eighth_ day. "The meaning is this," says _Jarchi_: "he gave them liberty to return on the _eighth_ day, and many of them did then return: and he dismissed the remainder on the _ninth_, what is called here the _twenty-third_, reckoning the _fourteen_ days for the duration of the _two feasts_; in all, _twenty-three_." The _Targum_ paraphrases this verse thus: "The people departed with a glad heart, for all the good which God had done to David his servant, on whose account the doors of the sanctuary were open and for Solomon his son, because God had heard his prayer, and the maj

EXPOSITION This chapter is occupied with three subjects. _First, _the description of Heaven's acceptance of the dedicated temple by fire (2 Chronicles 7:1). _Secondly, _the_ _sacrifices and glad feasting of Solomon and all Israel for several days (2 Chronicles 7:4). Thirdly, the articulate answer of God to the offering and the prayer of Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:12). 2 CHRONICLES 7:1 WHEN SOLOMON HAD MADE AN END OF PRAYING. See the parallel, 1

2 Chronicles 7:7...

SEVENTH MONTH That is, October....

CHAPTER 7:1-10 THE ANSWER BY FIRE-THE SACRIFICES AND THE FEAST _ 1. The answer by fire (7:1-3)_ 2. The sacrifices (7:4-7) 3. The feast of tabernacles (7:8-10) A fuller manifestation of Jehovah's favor and presence followed the great prayer of the king. First the cloud had appeared and now the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. This is complementary to 1 Kings 8:63. Nothing is mentioned of this answer by fire upon the sacrifices in the book of Kings. And now all the children of Israel saw the fire and the glory of the Lord; and they bowed themselves and worshipped, praising the Lord and saying, as the Levites had said before, “He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.” So all Israel will see in a future day the glory of the Lord and the coming Lord in glory and worship Hi

2 Chronicles 5:2 to 2 Chronicles 7:10. THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE (see notes on 1 Kings 8). The chief points of difference between the Chronicler's account and 1 Kings 8 are: (_a_) that in 2 Chronicles 5:4 the Levites are the bearers of the Ark (_cf._ 1 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Chronicles 15:26 f.) instead of the priests as in 1 Kings 8:3; (_b_) that in...

_into their tents_ R.V. UNTO THEIR TENTS (as 1 Kings 8:66). The Hebrew word (_ohel_) here approaches in meaning the corresponding Arabic word (_ahl_), which denotes _household_or _one's own people_, e.g. in the phrase _ahlu "linjil_, "the household of the Gospel," i.e. "the Christians" a phrase found in the Koran. Cp. 2 Chronicles 10:16; 2 Chronicles 25:22. _glad and merry in heart_ R.V. JOYFUL AND GLAD OF HEART (as in 1 Kings 8:66)....

GLAD AND MERRY IN HEART FOR THE GOODNESS, &C.— That is, according to the Targum, _"for the goodness of the Lord shewn unto David,_ in opening the doors of the sanctuary; and _unto Solomon,_ whose prayer God had accepted, and had honoured him with his presence in the house that he had built; and _unto his people Israel,_ in his acceptance of their sacrifices, and sending down fire from heaven to consume them." REFLECTIONS.—1st, A glorious answer was given to Solomon's fervent prayer. Fire from heaven, either distinct from the former, or issuing from the cloud which had filled the house, consumed the sacrifices. Struck with the awful sight, the people reverentially bowed and worshipped, and, regarding it as a token of God's especial favour, adored his goodness and never-ending mercy. A vast multitude of sacrifices fed this sacred fire, which was maintained continually. The priests and Levi...

4. DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE (2 Chronicles 5:2 to 2 Chronicles 7:22) TEXT 2 Chronicles 5:2. Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God. 2. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers-' houses of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was in the sevent