VIII. The exceedingly minute and graphic character of the narrative of the consecration of the Temple, the almost exact verbal coincidence with it of the account given in the Second Book of Chronicles, and the occurrence in 1 Kings 8:8 of the phrase, “There they are unto this day,” which could not... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELDERS. — If in this description — found also in 2 Chronicles 5:2, and taken, no doubt, from the original document — “the elders of Israel,” are to be distinguished from the “heads of the tribes,” and not (as in the LXX.) identified with them, the former expression probably refers to the chiefs... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MONTH ETHANIM (called after the Captivity Tisri), corresponded with the end of September and beginning of October. The name is supposed (by Thenius) to be properly, as in the LXX., _Athanim_, and to signify the “month of gifts,” so called as bringing with it the gathering in of the vintage, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTS TOOK UP THE ARK. — To bear the ark on its journeys was properly the duty of the Levites of the family of Kohath (Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:5); but to bring it out of the Holy of Holies (or, as here, from whatever corresponded thereto in the tent erected for the ark on Mount Zion), and to r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION (see 1 Chronicles 16:39; 2 Chronicles 1:3) was still at Gibeon; and the priests and Levites had hitherto been divided between it and the lesser tabernacle over the ark on Mount Zion. Probably each section of the priests and Levites now brought up in solemn processi... [ Continue Reading ]
SACRIFICING. — This inaugural sacrifice corresponded on a grand scale to the ceremonial of the day, when David brought up the ark to Zion. “When they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings,” “seven bullocks and seven rams” (2 Samuel 6:13; 1 Chronicles 15:26... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-8) AND THE PRIESTS BROUGHT IN THE ARK. — It is clear from this description that the ark was placed lengthways between the cherubim, so that the staves by which it was borne, when drawn out (though still partly attached to the ark) were seen — probably by projections visible through the veil — in... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS NOTHING. — The emphasis of this (repeated in 2 Chronicles 5:10) is remarkable, and seems intended to make it clear that the various things laid up “before the testimony” — the pot of manna (Exodus 16:33), the rod of Aaron (Numbers 17:10), the copy of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:24) — were not... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CLOUD. — The bright Shechinah of the Divine Presence, at once cloud and fire — which had been the sign of the presence of God on Sinai (Exodus 24:15), and had hallowed the consecration of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) — now similarly descended on the Temple, as a sign of its acceptance with God.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTS COULD NOT STAND TO MINISTER. — So in Exodus 40:35, “Moses was not able to enter into the Tabernacle; for the cloud rested thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” They shrank from the glory of the Lord, whom none could see and live; just as Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5) felt “und... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID... — The words of Solomon, though — as is natural in a moment of mingled awe and thankfulness — somewhat broken and abrupt, are clear enough in their general meaning and connection. He refers to the frequent declarations made in old time that the cloud is the symbol of God’s indwelling... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING. — We are told in the book of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 6:13) that the king stood on a “brasen scaffold” three cubits high, in the midst of the court before the altar of sacrifice, so that he could alternately turn towards the Temple and towards the people in the outer court.... [ Continue Reading ]
(15-21) His address to the people — apparently preceded by a silent blessing with the usual uplifting of the hands — is the counterpart and expansion of the few abrupt words which he had just uttered before God — calling them to bless God with him for the fulfilment of one part of His promise to Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHOSE NO CITY. — In this verse, as in some other cases, for coherence of idea, it seems necessary to correct from the fuller version in 2 Chronicles 6:5, by an addition after the word “therein.” It should run: “Neither chose I any man to be ruler over my people, but I have chosen Jerusalem, that m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN IS THE COVENANT OF THE LORD — the Tables, that is, containing the “words of the covenant” (Exodus 34:28). This remarkable application of the word “covenant” illustrates strikingly the characteristics of the Divine covenants with man. Such covenants are not (like most human covenants) underta... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO GOD LIKE THEE. — These words, often used in the Psalms (Psalms 71:19; Psalms 86:8; Psalms 89:6), and especially found in the thanksgiving of David after the great promise (2 Samuel 7:22), are evidently suggested by more ancient utterances of devotion; as for example, in the first recorde... [ Continue Reading ]
(23-53) The prayer of Solomon, uttered (see 1 Kings 8:54) on his knees with hands uplifted to heaven, long and detailed as it is, is yet of extreme simplicity of idea. It begins (_a_), in 1 Kings 8:23, with a thankful acknowledgment of the fulfilment of one part of the great promise to David, and a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE NOW. — The larger and grander part of the promise to David extends beyond Solomon’s quotation of it. For (see 2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 89:28) it expressly declares that, even if the seed of David fall away, they shall indeed be chastised, but they shall not be cast off. The prophet Jeremiah ... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL GOD INDEED DWELL. — The thought expressed here exemplifies a constant antithesis which run through the Old Testament. On the one hand, there is the most profound and unvarying conception of the Infinity, eternal, invisible, incomprehensible, of the Lord, as “the High and Holy One who inhabiteth... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN TRESPASS. — These verses deal with the simplest exemplification of the sacredness of the Temple in the case of the oath of expurgation of one accused of crime (see Exodus 22:7). Of these oaths, and the sophistical distinctions between the various forms of them, we have Our Lord’s notice i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THY PEOPLE. — From the individual, the prayer turns to those which touch the whole nation. It pictures various national calamities, and in each recognises not mere evils, but chastisements of God, who desires by them to teach, and is most ready to forgive. First it naturally dwells on disaster... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HEAVEN IS SHUT UP. — Next, Solomon dwells on the plague of famine, from rain withheld, by which, in the striking language of the Law (Leviticus 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:23), “the heaven should be as brass, and the earth as iron,” and all vegetation perish from the parched land of Palestine, as now... [ Continue Reading ]
(37-40) IF THERE BE PESTILENCE. — He then passes on to the various plagues threatened in the Law — famine, pestilence, blasting of the corn, mildew on the fruit, locust and caterpillar (see Leviticus 26:25; Deuteronomy 28:22; Deuteronomy 28:38), the distress of siege, so terribly depicted (Deuterono... [ Continue Reading ]
(41-43) MOREOVER, CONCERNING A STRANGER. — These verses in a striking digression (perhaps suggested by the general acknowledgment in the previous verse of God’s knowledge of every human heart), interpose in the series of references to Israel a prayer for the acceptance of the prayer of the “stranger... [ Continue Reading ]
(44-50) IF THY PEOPLE GO out. — The prayer here returns once more to invoke God’s aid against earthly enemies. It is characteristic of the foreboding tone of sadness, which runs through the whole prayer, that it touches but lightly on the first petition, for God’s blessing on the arms of Israel, so... [ Continue Reading ]
FORGIVE... AND GIVE THEM COMPASSION This prayer was singularly fulfilled at the captivity of Judah in Babylon, though we hear of no such thing in relation to the captivity of the “lost tribes” of Israel in Assyria. We see this in the exceptional favour of Nebuchadnezzar and of the Ahasuerus of the B... [ Continue Reading ]
(51-53) FOR THEY BE THY PEOPLE. — This pleading with God by His deliverance of the people from Egypt, and by His promise to Moses to make them His inheritance (see Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 9:26; Deuteronomy 9:29; Deuteronomy 14:2), although especially suggested by the last petition for deliverance f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS SO. — At this point occurs in 2 Chronicles 7:1 a striking passage, describing the kindling of the sacrifice by fire from heaven, and, apparently, a second manifestation of the cloud of glory. (See Note on the passage.)... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — To bless the congregation was the special duty and privilege of the priests (see Numbers 6:23); but throughout the whole of this narrative the king, and the king alone, is conspicuous. It is, however, to be noted that Solomon’s words here are not strictly of ble... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HATH GIVEN REST. — Now for the first time the frequent promise of rest (Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:10, &c.) — partially fulfilled after the conquest of the days of Joshua (Joshua 21:44; Joshua 23:1; Joshua 23:14), and after the establishment of the kingdom of David (2 Samuel 7:1) — was perfec... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY INCLINE... — Comparing this verse with the exhortation of 1 Kings 8:61, we find exemplified the faith which pervades all Holy Scripture and underlies the whole idea of covenant with God. It is a faith in the true, though mysterious, co-operation of the “preventing grace” of God, which mu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOLOMON OFFERED. — The idea that the king on this occasion, and on others, performed the priest’s ministerial office is manifestly improbable. At all times he who brought the sacrifice was said to “offer” it. (See, for example, Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 3:7, &c.) The priest accepte... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOLOMON OFFERED. — The number here given, enormous as it is, can hardly be supposed due to any error in the text; for it is exactly reproduced in the Chronicles and by Josephus. Much explanation of it has been wasted through misunderstanding of the real difficulty involved. It is comparatively e... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENTERING IN OF HAMATH, is the significant name given to the great valley between Lebanon and Anti - Lebanon, which the Greeks called _Cœle- Syria_; for it was the main entrance to Palestine from the north, down which the hosts of Assyria and Babylon so constantly poured. Evidently it extended at... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN DAYS, EVEN FOURTEEN DAYS. ON THE EIGHTH DAY.... — The origin of this curious phrase is singularly illustrated by the account in 2 Chronicles 7:9, for it tells us that the people were dismissed on “the three and twentieth day” of the month, which was the day after the close of th... [ Continue Reading ]