2 Chronicles 7:2-12

2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.
3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, 1for his steadfast love endures forever."

The Dedication of the Temple

4 2Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD.
5 King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6 The priests stood at their posts; 3the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the LORD that King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD--4for his steadfast love endures forever--whenever David offered praises by their ministry;[a]5opposite them the priests sounded trumpets, and all Israel stood.
7 6And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat.
8 At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from 7Lebo-hamath to the 8Brook of Egypt.
9 And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days.
10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the LORD had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people.

If My People Pray

11 9Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own house he successfully accomplished.
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your prayer 10and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 7

In this chapter is an account of the Lord's acceptance of the sacrifices offered at the dedication of the temple by fire, to the great surprise and encouragement of the people, 2Ch 7:1-7, and of the feast kept on that account, and the feast of tabernacles, 2Ch 7:8-12, and of the Lord's appearance to Solomon, giving an answer to his prayer, 2Ch 7:13-22.

Cross References 10

  • 1. See 2 Chronicles 5:13
  • 2. 1 Kings 8:62, 63
  • 3. [1 Chronicles 15:16]
  • 4. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 5. 2 Chronicles 5:12
  • 6. For ver. 7-10, see 1 Kings 8:64-66
  • 7. See Numbers 34:8
  • 8. See Numbers 34:5
  • 9. For ver. 11-22, see 1 Kings 9:1-9
  • 10. See Deuteronomy 12:5

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.