2 Chronicles 6


2 Chronicles 6 is the sixth chapter of the Second Book of Chronicles the Old Testament of the Christian Bible or of the second part of the Books of Chronicles in the Hebrew Bible. The book is compiled from older sources by an unknown person or group, designated by modern scholars as "the Chronicler", and had the final shape established in late fifth or fourth century BCE. This chapter belongs to the section focusing on the kingship of Solomon. The focus of this chapter is Solomon's prayer and speech at the consecration of the temple.

Text

This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and is divided into 42 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex and Codex Leningradensis, and Codex Alexandrinus.

Old Testament references

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Solomon blesses the LORD (6:1–11)

The first part of this chapter starts with a doxology, followed by Solomon's speech about God's choice of Jerusalem and David for the temple's construction, that Davidic promises regarding
them have been fulfilled.

Verse 1

  • Cross reference:
The Hebrew expression that God 'wished to dwell in darkness' links to God's manifestation on Mount Sinai.

Verse 11

The Chronicler sharpens the portrayal of David in relationship with Moses, most significantly in this verse where at three points the Chronicler eliminated or altered allusions to the exodus
themes found in Samuel-Kings :
1 Kings 8:212 Chronicles 6:11
ארוןמקום ל ואשם שם

אשר־שם ברית יהוה

אבתינו־אשר כרת עם

בהוציאו אתם מארץ מצרים		ארוןאת־ה ואשים שם

אשר־שם ברית יהוה

בני ישראל־אשר כרת עם

And I have set there a place for the ark,

wherein is the covenant of the Lord,

which he made with our fathers,

when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.		And in it have I put the ark,

wherein is the covenant of the Lord,

that he made with the children of Israel.


Solomon's prayer of dedication (6:12–42)

The second part of the chapter contains a prayer of dedication that consists of seven petitions concerning a variety of predicaments in which Israel may find, including defeat by enemies, drought, open pitched battles or exile, in each case of which Solomon asks God to be attentive to the prayers of His people from His heavenly dwelling.
Verses 32–33 concern with foreigners, whose significance to the people of Israel would be increased in the time between the writing of the books of Kings and that of the books of Chronicles. The theme of Babylonian Exile in 1 Kings 8 had developed into the theme of diaspora in the Chronicler's time, so the phrase 'and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them' in 1 Kings 8:50 is omitted in the Chronicles here, although interestingly it is taken up in the letter written by Hezekiah to the rest of the northern kingdom
. In contrast to 1 Kings 8 the Chronicler omits the reference to the Exodus and therefore to Moses in verse 40, but ends in a more positive tone by taking and changing Psalm 132:8–10 to enhance the importance of the ark and the anointed.

Verse 13

  • "Brasen scaffold": or "bronze platform" in NKJV, NIV, NASB, is only found here. The Hebrew word for "scaffold", כִּיּור, kîyôr, occurs 21 times in KJV and other than here is translated 18 times as "laver", once as "pan", and once as "hearth", thus in this verse it evidently means a sort of basin-shaped stand, like a “laver” turned upside down, and most likely hollow underneath.