2 Chronicles 7:7

7 Solomon designated the courtyard in front of the LORD's temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the bronze altar that he had made and that was in front of the LORD was not able to hold all of them.

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 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to the LORD. So the king and all the people dedicated God's temple.

6 The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had the LORD's musical instruments which King David made for praising the LORD with "his mercy endures forever" and which he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing [there].

7 Solomon designated the courtyard in front of the LORD's temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the bronze altar that he had made and that was in front of the LORD was not able to hold all of them.

8 At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival [of Booths]. A very large crowd had come from [the territory between] the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt.

9 On the eighth day there was an assembly. They had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for [another] seven days.