2 Chronicles 6
The Message
Solomon’s Dedication and Prayer
6 1-2 Then Solomon said,
God said he would dwell in a cloud,
But I’ve built a temple most splendid,
A place for you to live in forever.
3 The king then turned to face the congregation that had come together and blessed them:
4-6 “Blessed be God, the God of Israel, who spoke personally to my father David. Now he has done what he promised when he said, ‘From the day I brought my people Israel up from Egypt, I haven’t set apart one city among the tribes of Israel in which to build a temple to honor my Name, or chosen one person to be the leader. But now I have chosen both a city and a person: Jerusalem for honoring my Name and David to lead my people Israel.’
7-9 “My father David very much wanted to build a temple honoring the Name of God, the God of Israel, but God told him, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple in my honor—most commendable! But you are not the one to do it. Your son, who will carry on your dynasty, will build it for my Name.’
10-11 “And now you see the promise completed. God has done what he said he would do; I have succeeded David my father and now rule Israel; and I have built a temple to honor God, the God of Israel, and have secured a place for the Chest that holds the Covenant of God, the covenant he made with the people of Israel.”
12-16 Before the entire congregation of Israel, Solomon took his position at the Altar of God and stretched out his hands. Solomon had made a bronze dais seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high and placed it inside the court; that’s where he now stood. Then he knelt in full view of the whole congregation, stretched his hands to heaven, and prayed:
God, O God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below, who unswervingly keeps covenant with his servants and unfailingly loves them while they sincerely live in obedience to your way. You kept your word to David my father, your promise. You did exactly what you promised—every detail. The proof is before us today!
Keep it up, God, O God of Israel! Continue to keep the promises you made to David my father when you said, “You’ll always have a descendant to represent my rule on Israel’s throne, on the one condition that your sons are as careful to live obediently in my presence as you have.”
17 O God, God of Israel, let this all happen—
confirm and establish it!
18-21 Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn’t large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I’ve built. Even so, I’m bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple day and night, this place you promised to dignify with your Name. And listen to the prayers that I pray in this place. And listen to your people Israel when they pray at this place.
Listen from your home in heaven
and when you hear, forgive.
22 When someone hurts a neighbor and promises to make things right, and then comes and repeats the promise before your Altar in this Temple,
23 Listen from heaven and act;
judge your servants, making the offender pay for the offense
And set the offended free,
dismissing all charges.
24-25 When your people Israel are beaten by an enemy because they’ve sinned against you, but then turn to you and acknowledge your rule in prayers desperate and devout in this Temple,
Listen from your home in heaven;
forgive the sin of your people Israel,
return them to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
26-27 When the skies shrivel up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, but then they pray at this place, acknowledging your rule and quit their sins because you have scourged them,
Listen from your home in heaven,
forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.
Then start over with them;
train them to live right and well;
Send rain on the land
you gave as inheritance to your people.
28-31 When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that’s prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, their hearts penetrated by disaster, hands and arms thrown out for help to this Temple,
Listen from your home in heaven, forgive and reward us:
reward each life and circumstance,
For you know each life from the inside,
(you’re the only one with such inside knowledge!),
So they’ll live before you in lifelong reverence and believing
obedience on this land you gave our ancestors.
32 And don’t forget the foreigner who is not a member of your people Israel but has come from a far country because of your reputation—people are going to be attracted here by your great reputation, your wonderworking power—and who come to pray to this Temple.
33 Listen from your home in heaven
and honor the prayers of the foreigner,
So that people all over the world
will know who you are and what you’re like,
And live in reverent obedience before you,
just as your own people Israel do,
So they’ll know that you personally
make this Temple that I’ve built what it is.
34-35 When your people go to war against their enemies at the time and place you send them and they pray to God toward the city you chose and The Temple I’ve built to honor your Name,
Listen from heaven to what they pray and ask for
and do what is right for them.
36-39 When they sin against you—and they certainly will; there’s no one without sin!—and in anger you turn them over to the enemy and they are taken captive to the enemy’s land, whether far or near, but repent in the country of their captivity and pray with changed hearts in their exile, “We’ve sinned; we’ve done wrong; we’ve been most wicked,” and turn back to you heart and soul in the land of the enemy who conquered them, and pray to you toward their homeland, the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you chose, and this Temple I have built to the honor of your Name,
Listen from your home in heaven
to their prayers desperate and devout;
Do what is best for them.
Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 And now, dear God, be alert and attentive to prayer, all prayer, offered in this place.
41-42 Up, God, enjoy your new place of quiet repose,
you and your mighty covenant Chest;
Dress your priests up in salvation clothes,
let your holy people celebrate goodness.
And don’t, God, back out on your anointed ones,
keep in mind the love promised to David your servant.
2 Chronicles 6
New English Translation
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness. 2 O Lord,[a] I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.” 3 Then the king turned around[b] and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.[c] 4 He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled[d] what he promised[e] my father David. 5 He told David,[f] ‘Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live.[g] Nor did I choose a man as leader of my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place to live,[h] and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’ 7 Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.[i] 8 The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.[j] 9 But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’[k] 10 The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the Lord God of Israel 11 and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites.”
12 He stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a bronze platform and had placed it in the middle of the enclosure. It was 7½[l] long, 7½[m] wide, and 4½ feet[n] high. He stood on it and then got down on his knees in front of the entire assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward the sky, 14 and prayed:[o] “O Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty[p] to your servants who obey you with sincerity.[q] 15 You have kept your word to your servant, my father David;[r] this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.[s] 16 Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel,[t] provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.’[u] 17 Now, O Lord God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.[v]
18 “God does not really live with humankind on the earth![w] Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! 19 But respond favorably to[x] your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer[y] the desperate prayer[z] your servant is presenting to you.[aa] 20 Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live.[ab] May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place.[ac] 21 Respond to the requests of your servant and your people Israel for this place.[ad] Hear from your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably and forgive.[ae]
22 “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple,[af] 23 listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.[ag]
24 “If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy[ah] because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you,[ai] and pray for your help[aj] before you in this temple, 25 then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.[ak]
26 “The time will come when[al] the skies[am] are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people[an] sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you,[ao] and turn away from their sin because you punish[ap] them, 27 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly[aq] you will then teach them the right way to live[ar] and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.[as]
28 “The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight, and disease, or a locust[at] invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land,[au] or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. 29 When all your people Israel pray and ask for help,[av] as they acknowledge their intense pain[aw] and spread out their hands toward this temple, 30 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin,[ax] and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of their motives.[ay] (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)[az] 31 Then they will honor[ba] you by obeying you[bb] throughout their lifetimes as[bc] they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.
32 “Foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will come from a distant land because of your great reputation[bd] and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds;[be] they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. 33 Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners.[bf] Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation,[bg] obey[bh] you as your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.[bi]
34 “When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies,[bj] and they direct their prayers to you toward this chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,[bk] 35 then listen from heaven to their prayers for help[bl] and vindicate them.[bm]
36 “The time will come when your people[bn] will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry at them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their land, whether far away or close by. 37 When your people[bo] come to their senses[bp] in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, ‘We have sinned and gone astray,[bq] we have done evil!’ 38 When they return to you with all their heart and being[br] in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,[bs] 39 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help,[bt] vindicate them,[bu] and forgive your sinful people.
40 “Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.[bv] 41 Now ascend, O Lord God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! May your priests, O Lord God, experience your deliverance.[bw] May your loyal followers rejoice in the prosperity you give.[bx] 42 O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones![by] Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 6:2 tn The words “O Lord” do not appear in the Hebrew text, but they are supplied in the translation for clarification; Solomon addresses the Lord in prayer at this point.
- 2 Chronicles 6:3 tn Heb “turned his face.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:3 tn Heb “and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:4 tn The Hebrew text reads, “fulfilled by his hand,” but the phrase “by his hand” is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- 2 Chronicles 6:4 tn The Hebrew text reads, “promised by his mouth,” but the phrase “by his mouth” is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- 2 Chronicles 6:5 tn Heb “saying.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:5 tn Heb “to build a house for my name to be there.” Here “name” is used by metonymy for the Lord himself, and thus the expression “to be there” refers to his taking up residence there (hence the translation, “a temple in which to live”). In this case the temple is referred to as a “house” where the Lord himself can reside.
- 2 Chronicles 6:6 tn Heb “for my name to be there.” See also the note on the word “live” in v. 5.
- 2 Chronicles 6:7 tn Heb “and it was with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.”sn On the significance of the Lord’s “name,” see the note on the word “live” in v. 5.
- 2 Chronicles 6:8 tn Heb “Because it was with your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was with your heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:9 tn Heb “your son, the one who came out of your body, he will build the temple for my name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “5 cubits.” Assuming a cubit of 18 inches (45 cm), the length would have been 7.5 feet (2.25 m).
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “5 cubits.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “3 cubits.” Assuming a cubit of 18 inches (45 cm), the height would have been 4.5 feet (1.35 m).
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “said.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “one who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “who walk before you with all their heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:15 tn Heb “[you] who kept to your servant David my father that which you spoke to him.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:15 tn Heb “you spoke by your mouth and by your hand you fulfilled, as this day.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:16 tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from before me sitting on the throne of Israel.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:16 tn Heb “guard their way by walking in my law as you have walked before me.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:17 tn Or “prove to be reliable.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:18 tn Heb “Indeed, can God really live with mankind on the earth?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course not,” the force of which is reflected in the translation “God does not really live with mankind on the earth.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “turn to.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “by listening to.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “the loud cry and the prayer.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “praying before you.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:20 tn Heb “so your eyes might be open toward this house night and day, toward the place about which you promised to place your name there.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:20 tn Heb “by listening to the prayer which your servant is praying concerning this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:21 tn Heb “listen to the requests of your servant and your people Israel which they are praying concerning this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:21 tn Heb “hear and forgive.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:22 tn Heb “and if the man who sins against his neighbor when one takes up against him a curse to curse him and the curse comes before your altar in this house.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:23 tn Heb “and you, hear [from] heaven and act and judge your servants by repaying the guilty, to give his way on his head, and to declare the innocent to be innocent, to give to him according to his innocence.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Or “are struck down before an enemy.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Heb “and they pray and ask for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:25 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 31, 38).
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text vv. 26-27a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Or “heavens” (also in v. 12). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “they.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn The Hebrew text reads “because you answer them,” as if the verb is from עָנָה (ʿanah, “answer”). However, this reference to a divine answer is premature, since the next verse asks for God to intervene in mercy. It is better to revocalize the consonantal text as תְעַנֵּם (teʿannem, “you afflict them”), a Piel verb form from the homonym עָנָה (“afflict”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn The present translation understands כִּי (ki) in an emphatic or asseverative sense (“Certainly”). Other translations have “indeed” (NASB), “when” (NRSV), “so” (NEB), or leave the word untranslated (NIV).
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn Heb “the good way in which they should walk.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn Or “for an inheritance.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:28 tn Actually two Hebrew words appear here, both of which are usually (but not always) taken as referring to locusts. Perhaps different stages of growth or different varieties are in view, but this is uncertain. NEB has “locusts new-sloughed or fully grown”; NASB has “locust or grasshopper”; NIV has “locusts or grasshoppers”; NRSV has “locust, or caterpillar.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:28 tn Heb “in the land, his gates.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:29 tn Heb “every prayer, every request for help which will be to all the people, to all your people Israel.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:29 tn Heb “which they know, each his pain and his affliction.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn The words “their sin” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for clarification.
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn Heb “and give to each one according to all his ways because you know his heart.” In the Hebrew text vv. 28-30a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided up for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn Heb “Indeed you know, you alone, the heart of the sons of mankind.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “fear.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “by walking in your ways.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “all the days [in] which.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:32 tn Heb “your great name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “your great reputation”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:32 tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “and do all which the foreigner calls to [i.e., “requests of”] you.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “name.” See the note on “reputation” in v. 32.
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “fear.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “that your name is called over this house which I built.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.
- 2 Chronicles 6:34 tn Heb “When your people go out for battle against their enemies in the way which you send them.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:34 tn Heb “toward this city which you have chosen and the house which I built for your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:35 tn Heb “their prayer and their request for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:35 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:36 tn Heb “they”; the referent (God’s people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Heb “they”; the referent (God’s people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Or “stop and reflect”; Heb “bring back to their heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Or “done wrong.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:38 tn Or “soul.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:38 tn Heb “your name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “your honor”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:39 tn Heb “their prayer and their requests for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:39 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:40 tn Heb “May your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 tn Heb “be clothed with deliverance.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 tn Heb “and may your loyal ones rejoice in good.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:42 tc Heb “do not turn away the face of your anointed ones.” Many medieval Hebrew mss, as well as the ancient versions, read the singular, “your anointed,” which would probably refer to Solomon specifically, rather than the people.
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