2 Chronicles 7:7

7 Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the Lord's temple because that was where he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings^[a] since the bronze altar that Solomon had made^[b] could not accommodate the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat [of the fellowship offerings].

2 Chronicles 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 7-10. Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court
From hence, to the end of ( 2 Chronicles 7:10 ) is the same with ( 1 Kings 8:64-66 ) . (See Gill on 1 Kings 8:64), (See Gill on 1 Kings 8:65), (See Gill on 1 Kings 8:66), only mention is made in ( 2 Chronicles 7:9 ) of the dedication of the altar, as if distinct from the dedication of the house, and hallowing the middle of the court, see ( Numbers 7:10 ) in imitation of which the Heathens dedicated their altars, in which they used ashes and water, as Pausanias ^F25 relates, and had also feasts, as here, at the dedication of their temples ^F26, in which they have been imitated by Christians; and many of our country feasts, as they are called, were first kept at the dedication of churches to such and such a saint.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Eliac, 1. sive, l. 5. p. 312.
F26 Plin. Ep. l. 4. ep. 1.

2 Chronicles 7:7 In-Context

5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. In this manner the king and all the people dedicated God's temple.

6 The priests were standing at their stations, as were the Levites with the musical instruments of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the Lord-"for His faithful love endures forever"-when David offered praise with them. Across from them, the priests were blowing trumpets, and all the people were standing.

7 Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the Lord's temple because that was where he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings since the bronze altar that Solomon had made could not accommodate the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat [of the fellowship offerings].

8 So Solomon and all Israel with him-a very great assembly, from the entrance to Hamath to the Brook of Egypt-observed the festival at that time for seven days.

9 On the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for the dedication of the altar lasted seven days and the festival seven days.

Footnotes

• [a] Lv 7:30-31
• [b] 2 Ch 4:1