2 Chronicles 7

1 cumque conplesset Salomon fundens preces ignis descendit de caelo et devoravit holocausta et victimas et maiestas Domini implevit domum

2 nec poterant sacerdotes ingredi templum Domini eo quod implesset maiestas Domini templum Domini

3 sed et omnes filii Israhel videbant descendentem ignem et gloriam Domini super domum et corruentes proni in terram super pavimentum stratum lapide adoraverunt et laudaverunt Dominum quoniam bonus quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius

4 rex autem et omnis populus immolabant victimas coram Domino

5 mactavit igitur rex Salomon hostias boum viginti duo milia arietum centum viginti milia et dedicavit domum Dei rex et universus populus

6 sacerdotes autem stabant in officiis suis et Levitae in organis carminum Domini quae fecit David rex ad laudandum Dominum quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius hymnos David canentes per manus suas porro sacerdotes canebant tubis ante eos cunctusque Israhel stabat

7 sanctificavit quoque Salomon medium atrii ante templum Domini obtulerat enim ibi holocausta et adipes pacificorum quia altare aeneum quod fecerat non poterat sustinere holocausta et sacrificia et adipes

8 fecit ergo Salomon sollemnitatem in tempore illo septem diebus et omnis Israhel cum eo ecclesia magna valde ab introitu Emath usque ad torrentem Aegypti

9 fecitque die octavo collectam eo quod dedicasset altare septem diebus et sollemnitatem celebrasset diebus septem

10 igitur in die vicesimo tertio mensis septimi dimisit populos ad tabernacula sua laetantes atque gaudentes super bono quod fecerat Dominus David et Salomoni et Israhel populo suo

11 conplevitque Salomon domum Domini et domum regis et omnia quae disposuerat in corde suo ut faceret in domo Domini et in domo sua et prosperatus est

12 apparuit autem ei Dominus nocte et ait audivi orationem tuam et elegi locum istum mihi in domum sacrificii

13 si clausero caelum et pluvia non fluxerit et mandavero et praecepero lucustae ut devoret terram et misero pestilentiam in populum meum

14 conversus autem populus meus super quos invocatum est nomen meum deprecatus me fuerit et exquisierit faciem meam et egerit paenitentiam a viis suis pessimis et ego exaudiam de caelo et propitius ero peccatis eorum et sanabo terram eorum

15 oculi quoque mei erunt aperti et aures meae erectae ad orationem eius qui in loco isto oraverit

16 elegi enim et sanctificavi locum istum ut sit nomen meum ibi in sempiternum et permaneant oculi mei et cor meum ibi cunctis diebus

17 tu quoque si ambulaveris coram me sicut ambulavit David pater tuus et feceris iuxta omnia quae praecepi tibi et iustitias meas iudiciaque servaveris

18 suscitabo thronum regni tui sicut pollicitus sum David patri tuo dicens non auferetur de stirpe tua vir qui sit princeps in Israhel

19 si autem aversi fueritis et dereliqueritis iustitias meas et praecepta mea quae proposui vobis et abeuntes servieritis diis alienis et adoraveritis eos

20 evellam vos de terra mea quam dedi vobis et domum hanc quam sanctificavi nomini meo proiciam a facie mea et tradam eam in parabolam et in exemplum cunctis populis

21 et domus ista erit in proverbium universis transeuntibus et dicent stupentes quare fecit Dominus sic terrae huic et domui huic

22 respondebuntque quia dereliquerunt Dominum Deum patrum suorum qui eduxit eos de terra Aegypti et adprehenderunt deos alienos et adoraverunt eos atque coluerunt idcirco venerunt super eos universa haec mala

2 Chronicles 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

God's answer to Solomon's prayer.

- God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress all who receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people worshipped and praised God. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful. And whoever beholds with true faith, the Saviour agonizing and dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more watchful, and his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, and walk in his commandments.

Chapter Summary

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, 2Ch 7:1-7, and of the feast kept on that account, and the feast of tabernacles, 2Ch 7:8-12, and of the Lord's appearance to Solomon, giving an answer to his prayer, 2Ch 7:13-22.