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2 Chronicles 6

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 NASB  NKJV  NRSV  TEV   NJB
(LXX versing)
Solomon's Dedication Solomon's Address to the People and His Prayer of Dedication Solomon's Address to the People
6:1-2
 (1-2)		 Solomon's Speech Upon Completion of the Work 6:1-2 6:1-2
 (1-2)		 Solomon Addresses the People
6:3-11 6:3-11 6:3-11 6:3-6 6:3-11
6:7-9
6:10-11
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication Solomon's Prayer of Dedication Solomon's Prayer Solomon's Prayer for Himself
6:12-17 6:12-17 6:12-17 6:12-17 6:12-20
6:18-21 6:18-21 6:18-21 6:18-21
6:21
Solomon's Prayer for the People
6:22-23 6:22-23 6:22-23 6:22-23 6:22-23
6:24-25 6:24-25 6:24-25 6:24-25 6:24-25
6:26-27 6:26-27 6:26-27 6:26-27 6:26-27
6:28-31 6:28-31 6:28-31 6:28-31 6:28-31
6:32-33 6:32-33 6:32-33 6:32-33 6:32-33
6:34-35 6:34-35 6:34-35 6:34-35 6:34-35
6:36-39 6:36-40 6:36-42 6:36-39 6:36-39
Conclusion of the Prayer
6:40 6:40-42 6:40-42
6:41 6:41
 (41)
 (41)
 (41)
6:42 6:42
 (42)
 (42)
 (42)

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

  1. This is Solomon's great prayer of dedication, also recorded in 1 Kgs. 8:12-50.
    1. 2 Chr. 6:1-11, Solomon addresses Israel
    2. 2 Chr. 6:12-42, Solomon addresses Israel's God

  2. Solomon records YHWH's great acts and promises.
    1. promises to David ‒ 2 Chr. 6:4,15 (i.e., 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17)
    2. promises to Abraham ‒ 2 Chr. 6:5 (i.e., Gen. 15:12-21)
    3. the choice of Jerusalem for the temple, 2 Chr. 6:6 (i.e., 1 Chr. 21:18-30; 2 Chr. 3:1)
    4. YHWH will "build a house for David," i.e., a dynasty, 2 Chr. 6:9-10,16 (i.e., 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17)

  3. There are several kinds of sins mentioned that YHWH is asked to forgive.
    1. 2 Chr. 6:22-23, sin against a covenant partner (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:31, i.e., taking an oath of innocence which involved a curse if false, cf. Exod. 22:10-11; Lev. 6:3-5)
    2. 2 Chr. 6:24-25, a military defeat because of Israel's sin (i.e., Lev. 26:17,23; Deut. 28:25,36-37,48-54,64)
    3. 2 Chr. 6:26-27, loss of agricultural abundance because of sin (i.e., Lev. 26:19; Deut. 28:18,22-24)
    4. 2 Chr. 6:28-31, several judgments (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:37)
      1. famine (BDB 944)
      2. pestilence (BDB 184)
      3. blight (BDB 995)
      4. mildew (BDB 439)
      5. locusts, grasshoppers (BDB 916; BDB 340)
      6. besieged cities (BDB 33, KB 38, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE)
      7. plague (BDB 619)
      8. sickness (BDB 318)

      All of these are part of "the curses" (cf. Lev. 26:16,20,25-26; Deut. 28:20-22,27-28,35,42)

    5. 2 Chr. 6:32-33, aliens who seek YHWH (cf. Isa. 55:1-5; 56:3-5,6-8)
    6. 2 Chr. 6:34-35, warfare with Israel's enemies at YHWH's word (i.e., Lev. 26:7-8; Deut. 28:6-7)
    7. 2 Chr. 6:36-39, exile (i.e., Lev. 26:33,44-45; Deut. 28:49-52)

  4. Here is what Israel should do in light of YHWH's judgment on sin.
    1. repent/return to, 2 Chr. 6:24,26,37,38
    2. confess, 2 Chr. 6:24,26,37
    3. pray, 2 Chr. 6:24,26,32,34,38
    4. make supplication at YHWH's temple, 2 Chr. 6:24,29,37

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:1-2
  1Then Solomon said,
  "The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
  2"I have built You a lofty house,
  And a place for Your dwelling forever."

6:1 "He would dwell in the thick cloud" This refers to the cloud that symbolized YHWH's presence (cf. Exod. 13:21; 14:19-20,24; 19:9,16; 20:21; 24:15-16; Deut. 5:22; 1 Kgs. 8:12).

6:2 "Your dwelling forever" YHWH symbolically dwelt above the wings of the cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant (i.e., Exod. 25:22). YHWH's personal presence with His people was the goal and blessing of creation! This is Garden of Eden imagery.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:3-11
  3Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 4He said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands, saying, 5'Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel; 6but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.' 7Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.' 10Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11There I have set the ark in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with the sons of Israel."

6:3 "the king faced about" This is an eyewitness detail. This was to "bless" the assembled crowd (2 Chr. 6:4). This is usually reserved for priests.

6:4 "His mouth" There are several anthropomorphic phrases in this chapter.

  1. His mouth, 2 Chr. 6:4,15
  2. Your eyes, 2 Chr. 6:20.40
  3. Your mighty hand, 2 Chr. 6:32
  4. Your outstretched arm, 2 Chr. 6:32
  5. Your ears, 2 Chr. 6:40
  6. Your resting place, 2 Chr. 6:41

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE DEITY

"to my father" This refers to YHWH's special promises to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17.

6:5 The exodus was YHWH's

  1. fulfilled promise ‒ Gen. 15:12-21
  2. great act of deliverance

"choose" YHWH did not choose a particular city (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26; many other places).

But in 2 Chronicles He does (cf. 2 Chr. 6:6,34,38; 12:13; 33:7).

This VERB (BDB 103, KB 119, Qal PERFECT) is often used of YHWH's choice

  1. of Israel ‒ Deut. 4:37; 7:6,7,8; 10:15; 14:2; 33:3
  2. of a king ‒ Deut. 17:15
  3. of the tribe of Levi as priests ‒ Deut. 18:5; 21:5; 2 Chr. 29:11
  4. of Jerusalem as the place for His temple ‒ 2 Chr. 6:6,34,38; 17:12; 33:7

He is the sovereign One!

6:6 "Jerusalem" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM.

"My name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH.

"I have chosen David to be over My people Israel" YHWH chose David as King through Samuel (i.e., found in 1 Samuel 16).

6:7-11 This refers to 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; 2 Chr. 28:1-3. It is often called "the Davidic covenant." It confirms the tribe and family the Messiah will come from.

6:7 "house" There is a word play on "house" (BDB 108) meaning

  1. temple
  2. dynasty

6:11 "the ark" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:12-17
  12Then he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14He said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; 15who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.' 17Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David."

6:12 "the altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE.

"spread out his hands" The Israelites prayed with

  1. their eyes open
  2. their heads lifted
  3. their hands spread upward

This symbolized prayer as a conversation with God (cf. Ps. 134:2; 141:2; 143:6; Lam. 2:19).

6:13 Solomon had made a raised platform (BDB 468, probably round) so that he could be seen and heard. This platform is not mentioned in 1 Kings.

"cubit" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT.

"knelt on his knees" Kneeling was an unusual, but not unheard of, position of prayer (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:54; Ps. 95:6; Ezra 9:5; Dan. 6:10). It apparently was a symbol of intensity or humility (cf. Isa. 45:23).

6:14-17 "there is no god like You" This is an idiom of uniqueness and monotheism (cf. 1 Chr. 17:20; 2 Chr. 2:5).

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

Notice how YHWH is characterized.

  1. keeping covenant (cf. Deut. 7:9)
  2. showing lovinkindness
  3. to those who
    1. walk before You (i.e., lifestyle obedience)
    2. with all their hearts (i.e., total commitment)
  4. had kept what He promises to David, 2 Chr. 6:15
    1. v. 15 ‒ Qal PERFECT, BDB 1036, KB 1581
    2. v. 16 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE, BDB 1036, KB 1581 (prayer request)
  5. let Your word be confirmed ‒ BDB 52, KB 63, Niphal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS

6:14 "Your servants" This terminology is used regularly of national Israel (cf. Lev. 25:42,55; 1 Kgs. 8:23, 32,36; 2 Chr. 6:14,23,27; Neh. 1:6,10,11; Ps. 136:22). Often in the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah, Israel is referred to as "My servant" (cf. Isa. 41:8,9; 42:1,19; 43:10; 44:1,2,21,26; 45:4; 49:3,5,6,7). Israel was chosen as YHWH's special people in order for them to reveal YHWH's reality and character to an estranged, fallen, rebellious world.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

6:15 "Your servant David" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT.

"as it is this day" See note at 2 Chr. 5:9.

6:16 This "promise" refers to the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17.

"if only your sons take heed to their way" Notice the conditional elements (cf. 2 Chr. 7:19-20; Lev. 26:14; Deut. 28:15).

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

YHWH had an overarching plan for David and his seed but each of David's descendants had to choose to follow YHWH's laws (i.e., 2 Chr. 7:17). If not, the terrible curses of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 came into force. Remember, David's descendants went into Assyrian and Babylonian exile!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:18-21
  18"But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 19Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You; 20that Your eye may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 21Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; hear and forgive."

6:18 This truth was mentioned earlier in 2 Chr. 2:6 and reflects the parallel of this account in 1 Kgs. 8:27. A similar phrase occurs in Isa. 66:1 and is quoted by Stephen in Acts 7:49.

"heaven and the highest heaven" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN (OT) and HEAVEN AND THE THIRD HEAVEN.

6:19 Notice all the words used for talking to YHWH.

  1. have regard to the prayer (BDB 815, KB 937, Qal PERFECT)
  2. supplication (BDB 337)
  3. listen to the cry ‒ (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT)
  4. prayer (BDB 813)
  5. prays (BDB 813, KB 933, Hithpael PARTICIPLE)

6:20 "toward this house day and night" This is a prayer for YHWH's constant attention to the prayers offered in His temple.

6:21 The purpose of the temple was

  1. to acknowledge YHWH's presence and choice of Israel
  2. to worship and praise YHWH
  3. to seek forgiveness (i.e., Exod. 34:6-7,9; Micah 7:18)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:22-23
  22"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 23then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness."

6:23 Notice Solomon's prayer for YHWH to hear and act.

  1. hear ‒ BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. 2 Chr. 6:21,23,25,27,30,33,35,39
  2. act ‒ BDB 793, KB 889, Qal PERFECT with waw
  3. judge ‒ BDB 1047, KB 1622, Qal PERFECT with waw
  4. punishing (lit. "returning") the wicked ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT
  5. bringing his way on his own head ‒ BDB 678, KB 733, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT
  6. justifying the righteous ‒ BDB 842, KB 1003, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT
  7. by giving him according to his righteousness ‒ BDB 678, KB 733, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT

YHWH directs His actions both to the wicked and the righteous!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:24-25
  24"If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, 25then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You have given to them and to their fathers."

6:25 This goes back to YHWH's promise of a land to the Patriarchs.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:26-27
  26"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them; 27then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance."

6:27 "the good way in which they should walk" YHWH's law was a clear path (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:36; Ps. 119:105). This same imagery is used in Ps. 16:11; 139:24. This path is

  1. straight
  2. level
  3. clear, unobstructed
  4. dry

It is easily known and easily traveled. The choice is the covenant partners'!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:28-31
  28"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, 29whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, 30then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, 31that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers."

6:30 "render to each according to all his ways" This is a recurrent theme (cf. Job 34:11 Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Pro. 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Per. 4:17; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12). Choices have consequences in time and eternity.

"You alone know the hearts of the sons of men" This is why YHWH is the only One who can judge. He knows the motives (cf. 1 Sam. 2:3; 16:7; 1 Kgs. 8:29; 1 Chr. 28:9; Pro. 16:2; 21:2; 24:12; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23).

It is amazing that YHWH fully knows us and still wants humans to be part of His family. The fall damaged "the image and likeness," but did not remove it. New Testament salvation restores the image of God and allows fellowship again!

6:31 "fear" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT).

"to walk in Your ways" Notice the conditional element. Remember Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28; Deut. 30:15,19. This decisive choice is known in the OT as "the two ways" (cf. Psalm 1).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:32-33
  32"Also concerning the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your great name's sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, 33then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name."

6:32 "Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm" This is imagery of YHWH's involvement in the exodus cf. Exod. 6:1,6; 13:9; Deut. 4:34; 5:15; 6:21; 7:19; 9:29; 26:8; 1 Kgs. 8:42; 2 Kgs. 17:36; Neh. 1:10; Ps. 136:12; Jer. 12:17,21). This imagery is also found in Egyptian royal records. When used of YHWH it is anthropomorphic.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN

6:33 "that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You" This is the universal purpose of Solomon's temple (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:43). YHWH desires that all humans, made in His image, will come to know Him (cf. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6; Josh. 4:24; 1 Sam. 17:46; 2 Kgs. 19:19; Isa. 37:20; 55:1-5). YHWH chose Israel to choose the world!

The NT surely reinforces this great truth (cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-17; 4:42; 20:30-31; Acts 1:8; Rom. 3:19-24; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:10,14). This is the unifying truth that holds the Testaments together.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:34-35
  34"When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 35then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause."

This is imagery of YHWH as both King and Divine Warrior!

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:36-39
  36"When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37if they take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly'; 38if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, 39then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You."

6:36 "(for there is no man who does not sin)" This is the terrible result of the fall of Genesis 3. This sad truth is expressed in both Testaments.

  1. OT
    1. Gen. 6:5,11-12; 8:21
    2. Job 14:1,4; 15:14; 25:4
    3. Ps. 14:1-3; 51:5; 58:3
    4. Isa. 48:8; 53:6
  2. NT
    1. Rom. 3:9-18,23; 5:12-21; 11:32
    2. Gal. 3:22

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL

"they take them away captive to a land far off or near" This is an allusion to exile (i.e., Lev. 26:33; Deut. 28:30-34, 36, 38-41, 49-50, 64-65; Ps. 106:27; Ezek. 12:15). YHWH removed the Canaanites from Canaan because of their sin (cf. Gen. 15:17-21) and when Israel sins He will remove them!

6:37 Notice the threefold confession.

  1. we have sinned ‒ BDB 306, KB 305, Qal PERFECT
  2. we have committed iniquity ‒ BDB 731, KB 796, Hiphil PERFECT
  3. we have acted wickedly ‒ BDB 957, KB 1294, Qal PERFECT

6:38 A whole-hearted, sincere repentance is required for Israel to return from exile (i.e., 1 Kgs. 8:48).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:40
  40"Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place."

6:40-42 These verses are not found in the parallel from 1 Kings 8 (i.e., vv. 50-53) but are similar to Ps. 132:8-10.

There are several emphatic prayer requests.

  1. let Your eyes be open, 2 Chr. 6:40 ‒ BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
  2. let Your ears be attentive, 2 Chr. 6:40 ‒ BDB 834, KB 986, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE used in a JUSSIVE sense, cf. Neh. 1:6,11; Ps. 130:2
  3. arise, 2 Chr. 6:41 ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE
  4. let Your priests be clothed with salvation, 2 Chr. 6:41 ‒ BDB 527, KB 519, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
  5. let Your godly ones rejoice, 2 Chr. 6:41 ‒ BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
  6. do not turn away the face, 2 Chr. 6:42 ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil JUSSIVE
  7. remember Your lovingkindness, 2 Chr. 6:42 ‒ BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERATIVE

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:41
  41"Now therefore arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might; let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in what is good."

6:41 "arise" This is an idiom for YHWH rising from His throne (i.e., 1 Chr. 13:6) to act on Israel's behalf (i.e., Num. 10:35; Ps. 12:5; 68:1; 132:8).

"Your resting place" This refers to the ark as YHWH's throne (cf. Ps. 132:8,14).

"be clothed with salvation" The OT word "salvation" (BDB 448) means "deliverance."

The priests are spoken of in 2 Chr. 6:41 (cf. Ps. 132:6) and the king in 2 Chr. 6:42.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT Term)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 6:42
  42"O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness to Your servant David."

6:42 "the face of Your anointed" This is a reference to the Davidic kings who were chosen and meant to be led by YHWH.

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE

"lovingkindness" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. What is "the thick cloud"?
  2. To what previous Scripture does 2 Chr. 6:7 refer?
  3. Does 2 Chr. 6:14 acknowledge the existence of other "gods"?
  4. To what does "the highest heaven" refer?
  5. In your opinion, what is the greatest theological purpose of the temple?
  6. How is this chapter related to Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28?
  7. Is YHWH's covenant with Israel conditional?
  8. Why is 2 Chr. 6:32-34 so theologically significant?
  9. Why does the Chronicler change the end of Solomon's prayer (i.e., 2 Chr. 6:40-41)?

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