_A.M. 3000. B.C. 1004._ God answers by fire, the people worship, 2 Chronicles 7:1. Solomon's sacrifices, 2 Chronicles 7:4. After keeping the feast he sends the people away, 2 Chronicles 7:8. God appears to him in a vision, 2 Chronicles 7:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt- offering_, &c. This circumstance is added to what is recorded in the first book of Kings. Hereby, and by the cloud filling the whole house, was shown God's gracious acceptance of Solomon's prayer and sacrifices; and an assurance was given that... [ Continue Reading ]
_The glory of the Lord upon the house_ The cloud first came down upon the house, and then entered into the house, and was seen both within it by the priests, and without it by the people; who by this evident token of the divine presence, and the sudden and miraculous descent of the fire, were fully... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices_ They had offered sacrifices before; but now they renewed them, and offered more, in acknowledgment of these new assurances of God's love to them. _Twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep _ It is probable that many of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Instruments of music of the Lord_ So called, because David had made them to praise the Lord withal. See 1 Chronicles 15:16. _When David praised by their ministry_ For David composed the psalms or hymns, and appointed them to be sung by the Levites, and instruments of music to be joined to their voi... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month, he sent the people away_ They kept the feast of the dedication of the altar seven days, from the second to the ninth; the tenth day was the day of atonement, when they were to afflict their souls for sin, and that was not unseasonable in the mids... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord appeared to Solomon, and said, I have heard thy prayer_ That God had accepted his prayer was shown by his sending fire from heaven. But a prayer may be accepted, and yet not answered in the letter of it. God therefore appeared to him in the night, as he had done once before, (1 Chronicles... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I command the locusts to devour the land_ That is, use my authority and power over them to cause them to do so. A metaphor elsewhere used in reference to irrational animals, as 1 Kings 17:4; Amos 9:3, which are not properly capable of receiving a command, or of paying obedience to it. Other nati... [ Continue Reading ]
_If my people shall humble themselves, and pray_, &c. Thus national repentance and reformation are required. God expects, that if his people, who are called by his name, have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, they should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must humble... [ Continue Reading ]
_My eyes shall be open, &c., unto the prayer that is made in this place_ Or, _that shall be made in_, or _toward, this place;_ for he speaks of the answers which he would give to the prayers which should afterward be made there. _For now have I chosen and sanctified this house_, &c. There will I mak... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou wilt walk before me_, &c. He promises to establish and perpetuate Solomon's kingdom, on condition that he persevered in his duty; assuring him, that if he hoped for the benefit of God's covenant with David, he must imitate the example of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if ye turn away_ Thou or thy seed, _and forsake my statutes_, &c. Thus God sets before him _death_ as well as _life_, the _curse_ as well as the _blessing._ He supposes it possible, that though they had this temple built to the honour of God, yet they might be drawn aside to worship other gods.... [ Continue Reading ]