2 Chronicles 2:4

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.)

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 he numbered seventy thousand of men bearing (burdens) in shoulders, and fourscore thousand that should cut, or hew, stones in hills; and the sovereigns of them were three thousand and six hundred. (And he called up seventy thousand men who would carry burdens on their shoulders, and eighty thousand who would cut stones in the hills; and they had three thousand and six hundred rulers, or overseers.)

3 And Solomon sent to Hiram , the king of Tyre, and said, As thou didest with my father David, and sentest him trees of cedar, that he should build to him an house, in which also he dwelled; so do thou with me, (And Solomon sent word to Hiram, the king of Tyre, and said, As thou didest with my father David, and sentest cedar wood to him, so that he could build a house for himself, in which he would live, so do thou also with me;)

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?)