2 Chronicles 2:4

4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of 1incense of sweet spices before him, and for 2the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for 3burnt offerings morning and evening, 4on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel.

2 Chronicles 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 2:4

Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God
Am about to do it, and determined upon it, see ( 2 Chronicles 2:1 ) ,

to dedicate it to him;
to set it apart for sacred service to him:

and to burn before him sweet incense;
on the altar of incense:

and for the continual shewbread;
the loaves of shewbread, which were continually on the shewbread table; which, and the altar of incense, both were set in the holy place in the tabernacle, and so to be in the temple:

and for the burnt offerings morning and evening; the daily sacrifice:
on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the
Lord our God:
at which seasons, besides the daily sacrifice, additional burnt offerings were offered, and all on the brasen altar in the court: this is an ordinance

for ever unto Israel:
to offer the above sacrifices, even for a long time to come, until the Messiah comes; and therefore Solomon suggests, as Jarchi and Kimchi think, that a good strong house ought to be built.

2 Chronicles 2:4 In-Context

2 And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them.
3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: "As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.
4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel.
5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?

Cross References 4

  • 1. See Exodus 30:7
  • 2. See Leviticus 24:5-8
  • 3. See Numbers 28:3-8
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 8:13; Num. 28:9, 11, 19, 26
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.