2 Chronicles 2:6

6 Who therefore may have might to build a worthy house to him? For if heaven and heavens of heavens may not take, or hold, him, how great am I, that I may build an house to him, but to this thing only, that incense be burnt there before him? (And so who is able to build a House worthy of him? For if heaven and the heavens of heavens cannot hold him, who am I, that I build him a House, but only for this, so that incense can be burned there before him?)

2 Chronicles 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 2:6

But who is able to build him an house
Suitable to the greatness of his majesty, especially as he dwells not in temples made with hands:

seeing the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain him?
see ( 1 Kings 8:27 ) ,

who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn
sacrifice before him?
since God was an immense and infinite Being, be would have Hiram to understand that he had no thought of building an house, in which he could be circumscribed and contained, only a place in which he might be worshipped, and sacrifices offered to him.

2 Chronicles 2:6 In-Context

4 that I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, and that I hallow it, to burn incense before him, and to make odour of sweet smelling spiceries, and to [the] everlasting setting forth of loaves, and to [the] burnt sacrifices in the morrowtide and eventide, and in [the] sabbaths, and (on) new moons, that is, (at) feasts in the beginnings of months, and in solemnities of the Lord our God into without end, which observances and hallowings be commanded to Israel. (so that I can build a House in honour of the name of the Lord my God, and I shall consecrate it, so that I can burn incense before him, to make the odour of sweet smelling spices, and for the everlasting setting forth of loaves, and for burnt sacrifices in the morning and in the evening, and on sabbaths, and on new moons, that is, at feasts at the beginning of the month, and at the solemn, or annual, Feasts of the Lord our God forevermore, which observances and consecrations be commanded to Israel.)
5 For the house which I covet to build is great; forsooth the Lord our God is great over all gods.
6 Who therefore may have might to build a worthy house to him? For if heaven and heavens of heavens may not take, or hold, him, how great am I, that I may build an house to him, but to this thing only, that incense be burnt there before him? (And so who is able to build a House worthy of him? For if heaven and the heavens of heavens cannot hold him, who am I, that I build him a House, but only for this, so that incense can be burned there before him?)
7 Therefore send thou to me a learned man, that can work in gold, and in silver, in brass, and iron, in purple, and in red silk, and in jacinth; and that can grave graving with these craftsmen, which I have with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, the which men David, my father, before made ready. (And so send thou to me a learned man, who knoweth how to work with gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and purple, and red silk, and jacinth; one who knoweth how to engrave engravings with these craftsmen who I have with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, which men my father David provided.)
8 But also send thou to me cedar trees, and pine trees, and thyine trees of the Lebanon; for I know, that thy servants can cut trees of the Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants, (And also send thou to me cedar, and pine, and algum timber from Lebanon; for I know, that thy servants know how to cut down the trees of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants,)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.