2 Chronicles 6
6
Solomon Blesses the People
1 # For ver. 1-39, see 1 Kgs. 8:12-50; [Ex. 20:21; Heb. 12:18] Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 2But I have built you #[Ps. 135:21]an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 3Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 4And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 5‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; 6#ch. 12:13; Ps. 78:68 but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, #1 Chr. 28:4; See 1 Sam. 16:11-13and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 7#2 Sam. 7:2; 1 Chr. 17:1; 28:2Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas #[See ver. 7 above]it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11And there I have set the ark, #[ch. 5:10]in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13#[2 Kgs. 11:14; 23:3] Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits#6:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. #[1 Kgs. 8:54]Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, #See Ex. 15:11 there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, #See Deut. 7:9keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 15#1 Chr. 22:9, 10who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 16Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, #ch. 7:18; See 1 Kgs. 2:4 ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, #Ps. 132:12if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’ 17Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.
18“But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, #See ch. 2:6heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20#[ver. 40]that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, #[Dan. 9:19]and when you hear, forgive.
22“If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 23then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
24“If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 25#[See ver. 21 above]then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers.
26 # ch. 7:13; [1 Kgs. 17:1] “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict#6:26 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew answer them, 27#[See ver. 21 above]then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way#6:27 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 1 Kings 8:36); Hebrew toward the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
28 # [ch. 20:9] “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 29whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, 30#[See ver. 21 above] then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, #See 1 Sam. 16:7for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, 31that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.
32“Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33hear from heaven 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 #ch. 7:14; [James 2:7]that I have built is called by your name.
34“If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 35then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
36“If they sin against you—#Eccles. 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40Now, O my God, #Neh. 1:6, 11; [ver. 20; ch. 7:15] let your eyes be open #Ps. 130:2and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
41“And now arise, O Lord God, and go to your #Ps. 132:8, 9; [1 Chr. 28:2] resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests, O Lord God, be #[Isa. 61:10] clothed with salvation,
and let your saints #[ch. 7:10; Neh. 9:25]rejoice in your goodness.
42O Lord God, #Ps. 132:10 do not turn away the face of your anointed one!
# [Ps. 132:1] Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”
Currently Selected:
2 Chronicles 6: ESV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV:
2 Chronicles 6
6
Solomon Speaks to the People
1Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in the dark cloud. 2Lord, I have built a wonderful Temple for you—a place for you to live forever.”
3While all the Israelites were standing there, King Solomon turned to them and blessed them. 4Then he said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what he promised to my father David. The Lord said, 5‘Since the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel where a temple will be built for me. I did not choose a man to lead my people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place I am to be worshiped, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’
7“My father David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 8But the Lord said to my father David, ‘It was good that you wanted to build a temple for me. 9But you are not the one to build it. Your son, who comes from your own body, is the one who will build my temple.’
10“Now the Lord has kept his promise. I am the king now in place of David my father. Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised, and I have built the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 11There I have put the Ark, in which is the Agreement the Lord made with the Israelites.”
Solomon’s Prayer
12Then Solomon stood facing the Lord’s altar, and all the Israelites were standing behind him. He spread out his hands. 13He had made a bronze platform seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and seven and one-half feet high, and he had placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on the platform. Then he kneeled in front of all the people of Israel gathered there, and he spread out his hands toward the sky. 14He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your agreement of love with your servants who truly follow you. 15You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You spoke it with your own mouth and finished it with your hands today.
16“Now, Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You said, ‘If your sons are careful to obey my teachings as you have obeyed, there will always be someone from your family ruling Israel.’ 17Now, Lord, God of Israel, please continue to keep that promise you made to your servant.
18“But, God, can you really live here on the earth with people? The sky and the highest place in heaven cannot contain you. Surely this house which I have built cannot contain you. 19But please listen to my prayer and my request, because I am your servant. Lord my God, hear this prayer your servant prays to you. 20Day and night please watch over this Temple where you have said you would be worshiped. Hear the prayer I pray facing this Temple. 21Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people Israel when we pray facing this place. Hear from your home in heaven, and when you hear, forgive us.
22“If someone wrongs another person, he will be brought to the altar in this Temple. If he swears an oath that he is not guilty, 23then hear in heaven. Judge the case, punish the guilty, but declare that the innocent person is not guilty.
24“When your people, the Israelites, sin against you, their enemies will defeat them. But if they come back to you and praise you and pray to you in this Temple, 25then listen from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
26“When they sin against you, you will stop the rain from falling on their land. Then they will pray, facing this place and praising you; they will stop sinning when you make them suffer. 27When this happens, hear their prayer in heaven, and forgive the sins of your servants, the Israelites. Teach them to do what is right. Then please send rain to this land you have given particularly to them.
28“At times the land will get so dry that no food will grow, or a great sickness will spread among the people. Sometimes the crops will be destroyed by locusts or grasshoppers. Your people will be attacked in their cities by their enemies, or will become sick. 29When any of these things happens, the people will become truly sorry. If your people spread their hands in prayer toward this Temple, 30then hear their prayers from your home in heaven. Forgive and treat each person as he should be treated because you know what is in a person’s heart. Only you know what is in people’s hearts. 31Then the people will respect and obey you as long as they live in this land you gave our ancestors.
32“People who are not Israelites, foreigners from other lands, will hear about your greatness and power. They will come from far away to pray at this Temple. 33Then hear from your home in heaven, and do whatever they ask you. Then people everywhere will know you and respect you, just as your people Israel do. Then everyone will know that I built this Temple as a place to worship you.
34“When your people go out to fight their enemies along some road on which you send them, your people will pray to you, facing this city which you have chosen and the Temple I have built for you. 35Then hear in heaven their prayers, and do what is right.
36“Everyone sins, so your people will also sin against you. You will become angry with them and will hand them over to their enemies. Their enemies will capture them and take them away to a country far or near. 37Your people will be sorry for their sins when they are held as prisoners in another country. They will be sorry and pray to you in the land where they are held as prisoners, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong and acted wickedly.’ 38They will truly turn back to you in the land where they are captives. They will pray, facing this land you gave their ancestors, this city you have chosen, and the Temple I have built for you. 39Then hear their prayers from your home in heaven and do what is right. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40“Now, my God, look at us. Listen to the prayers we pray in this place.
41Now, rise, Lord God, and come to your resting place.
Come with the Ark of the Agreement that shows your strength.
Let your priests receive your salvation, Lord God,
and may your holy people be happy because of your goodness.
42Lord God, do not reject your appointed one.
Remember your love for your servant David.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.