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2 Chronicles 6 A Summary of King Solomon's Reign

1 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;

2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.

4 Then he said:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said,

5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel.

6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’

7 “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart.

9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’

10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

12 Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.

13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.

14 He said:
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.

15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

16 “Now Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’

17 And now, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

18 “But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

19 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.

20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

22 “When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple,

23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence.

24 “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and confess your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple,

25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them,

27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

28 “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come,

29 and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple—

30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men),

31 so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.

32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,

33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

34 “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,

35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near;

37 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’;

38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name;

39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

41 “Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
may your saints rejoice in your goodness.

42 O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember the great love promised to David your servant.”

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Analysis of 2 Chronicles Chapter 6

2 Chronicles Chapter 6 is a significant chapter in the Bible, marking the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, a centerpiece of Israelite worship and a physical manifestation of their covenant with God. Here, King Solomon delivers a profound prayer and dedicatory speech that reflects his devotion, wisdom, and understanding of Israel’s spiritual journey and relationship with God. Let us delve into this chapter, verse by verse, to uncover the rich insights and theological implications contained within.

Verses 1-2: Solomon Blesses the Assembly

Verse 1: “Then Solomon said, ‘The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;’

Verse 2: ‘I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.’

These opening verses set the tone for the entire chapter. Solomon begins by recalling God’s promise to dwell in a “dark cloud,” which can be understood as a divine mystery—a presence not fully revealed to human comprehension. Despite the magnificence of the Temple, Solomon acknowledges that God’s true dwelling place is beyond human understanding. His construction of the Temple is an act of obedience and devotion, a physical space intended to house God’s presence among His people.

Verses 3-11: Solomon’s Address to the Assembly

Verse 3: “While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.”

Verse 4: Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said,

Verse 5: ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel.

Verse 6: But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’”

Verse 7: “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.”

Verse 8: “But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name.

Verse 9: Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood — he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’”

Verse 10: “The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

Verse 11: There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

In these verses, Solomon addresses the assembly and recounts the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises to David. Solomon highlights the continuity of God’s covenant starting from the exodus from Egypt to the establishment of David’s dynasty. The decision to choose Jerusalem as the city for God’s Name and David’s dynasty was a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, leading to a centralized place of worship and governance.

The mention of David’s heart to build the Temple shows the generational vision and devotion to God’s will, emphasizing that divine plans often transcend individual lifetimes and are fulfilled through subsequent generations. This passage underscores the importance of legacy and faith in God’s perfect timing.

Verses 12-21: Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Verse 12: “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.”

Verse 13: Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.

Verse 14: He said: “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth — you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.

Verse 15: You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it — as it is today.

Verse 16: “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.’

Verse 17: And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.

Verse 18: “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

Verse 19: Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.

Verse 20: May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

Verse 21: Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

Solomon’s prayer in these verses is a powerful invocation that reveals deep theological truths and humbly acknowledges the grandeur of God. Amidst the celebration, Solomon makes a point to recognize that God, the creator of heaven and earth, cannot be confined to a physical building. This humility contrasts with the sometimes grandiose declarations of kings, reinforcing Solomon’s wisdom and understanding of God’s infinite nature.

Moreover, Solomon’s emphasis on God’s covenant of love and His faithfulness to David highlights the relational aspect of Israel’s religion. God’s interactions with Israel are based on steadfast love and promises. Solomon is not merely seeking to complete a construction project but to cultivate a sacred space where God’s presence would be accessible to His people, reflecting the intimate and relational nature of God’s character.

Verses 22-31: Prayer for Various Situations

Verse 22: “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple,

Verse 23: then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.”

Verse 24: “When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple,

Verse 25: then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.

Verse 26: “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them,

Verse 27: then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

Verse 28: “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come,

Verse 29: and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel — being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple —

Verse 30: then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),

Verse 31: so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.”

These verses reflect Solomon’s intercessory heart and his understanding of the myriad situations where the people of Israel would need divine intervention and forgiveness. Solomon foresees scenarios of wrongdoing, defeat in battle, drought, famine, and pestilence—all severe challenges that could befall the nation. His prayer encapsulates a broad spectrum of human experience and highlights the Temple’s role as a focal point for seeking God’s mercy and guidance.

The repeated plea for God to “hear from heaven” underscores the hope that God is attentive to the cries of His people, regardless of their circumstances. Solomon emphasizes the need for repentance and a genuine turning towards God, reflecting the biblical themes of confession, forgiveness, and restoration.

Verses 32-40: Prayer for Foreigners and Conclusion

Verse 32: “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm — when they come and pray toward this temple,

Verse 33: then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.

Verse 34: “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,

Verse 35: then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.

Verse 36: “When they sin against you — for there is no one who does not sin — and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near;

Verse 37: and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’;

Verse 38: and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name;

Verse 39: then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

Verse 40: “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”

In these final verses of his prayer, Solomon expands the scope of his intercession to include foreigners. This inclusion is crucial as it reflects the universal intention of God’s covenant. God’s concern is not limited to Israel but extends to all who acknowledge His greatness and seek Him. This anticipates New Testament theology where God’s grace is available to all nations.

Solomon’s prayer also foreshadows the exile, demonstrating a prophetic awareness that Israel can and will fall into sin and be exiled if they forsake their covenant with God. Yet, Solomon prays for a path to restoration, emphasizing repentance and a wholehearted return to God. This prepares a theological framework for understanding the compassionate and forgiving character of God, even when His people are in distant lands due to their transgressions.

By closing his prayer with a plea for God’s attentive presence, Solomon encapsulates the entire dedication. He petitions for the Temple to be a perpetual beacon of hope, a place where people can seek divine intervention, mercy, and forgiveness.

In conclusion, 2 Chronicles Chapter 6 serves as a profound and multifaceted composition reflecting on God’s covenant, the responsibilities of His people, and the Temple’s central role. Solomon’s dedication prayer encapsulates themes of divine transcendence and immanence, repentance and forgiveness, and the universal scope of God’s love and sovereignty. This chapter enriches our understanding of worship, intercession, and the dynamic relationship between God and humanity.