2 Chronicles 7
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
Ch. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (not in 1 Kings). The Sacrifices consumed by Fire from Heaven

1. the fire came down from heaven] Cp. 1 Chronicles 21:26, note.

consumed the burnt offering] Cp. Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38.

And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
2. the priests could not enter] Cp. 2 Chronicles 5:14.

And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
3. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down] R.V. And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down.

praised the Lord] R.V. gave thanks unto the LORD; cp. 2 Chronicles 5:13.

Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
4–10 (= 1 Kings 8:62-66). The Great Feast of Dedication

5. twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep] These high numbers appear also in 1 Kings.

And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
6. the priests waited on their offices] R.V. the priests stood, according to their offices. This ver. does not appear in 1 Kings.

instruments of musick of the Lord] R.V. mg., instruments for the song of the LORD. Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:5; Amos 6:5.

the priests sounded trumpets] Cp. 2 Chronicles 5:12.

Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
7. the fat] Specially mentioned as the choice part of the sacrificial victim, a part never to be eaten but always to be burnt. Leviticus 3:16-17.

peace offerings] See note on 1 Chronicles 16:1.

the brasen altar which Solomon had made] Cp. 2 Chronicles 4:1; 1 Kings 9:25.

the meat offerings] R.V. the meal offering. Cp. Leviticus 2:1-7.

Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
8. Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast] R.V. So Solomon held the feast at that time.

from the entering in of Hamath] See note on 1 Chronicles 13:5.

the river of Egypt] R.V. the book of Egypt, i.e. not the Nile, but the stream called Shihor of Egypt in 1 Chronicles 13:5 (see note).

And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
9. a solemn assembly] R.V. mg., a closing festival. Cp. Numbers 29:35; Deuteronomy 16:8.

seven days, and … seven days] Cp. 1 Kings 8:65.

And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
10. into their tents] R.V. unto their tents (as 1 Kings 8:66). The Hebrew word (ohel) here approaches in meaning the corresponding Arabic word (ahl), which denotes household or one’s own people, e.g. in the phrase ahlu ’linjil, “the household of the Gospel,” i.e. “the Christians” a phrase found in the Koran. Cp. 2 Chronicles 10:16; 2 Chronicles 25:22.

glad and merry in heart] R.V. joyful and glad of heart (as in 1 Kings 8:66).

Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
11–22 (= 1 Kings 9:1-9). The Night vision in answer to Solomon’s Prayer

12. appeared … by night] Cp. 2 Chronicles 1:7.

a house of sacrifice] Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:6.

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
13. to devour the land] LXX. to devour the trees; cp. Exodus 10:15; Joel 1:6-7.

13–15. These vv. have no parallel in 1 Kings.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
15. Now … in this place] Cp. 2 Chronicles 6:40.

For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
16. sanctified] R.V. hallowed (as 1 Kings 9:3). for ever] Cp. 2 Chronicles 30:8.

And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
17. shalt observe] R.V. wilt keep (as 1 Kings 9:4).

Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
20. sanctified] R.V. hallowed (cf. 2 Chronicles 7:16).

And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
21. which is high] Reader, which was high. The past tense is used by a kind of anticipation, as though the Speaker spoke from a later standpoint than the age of Solomon.

And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
22. it shall be answered] Render, men shall say.

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