The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 62

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER VI. Ver. 3.-Reading l>otween the lines, this verse shows us that the face of Solomon had The first thirty-nine verses of this chapter been turned to the symbol of God's presence (less the thirteenth) correspond very closely while he addressed to him the words of ou; with the thirty-eight verses of the parallel second verse, since he now faces round to that run l Kings viii. 12-50. For once the assembly of the congregation. What words Solomon used in; thus blessing the also the two places are in closer accord in whole oongregation are not given either the original than might be augured from here or in the parallel. The impression one our English Version. Our thirteenth verse takes is that the blessing was, in fact, wra.pt is not found in the parallel, and this fact, up tacitly in all that Solomon recounts, with the phenomenon of its presence here, wheu he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, eto. (ver. 4). However, it is not im- will be considered under the verse when we possible that, with the variation of the tense reach it. The cliapter consists of: first, in ver. 59, the verses of l Kings viii. 55- Solomon's remarks addressed to his people 61 may cont.a.in the substance of it, if not (vers. 1-11); and secondly, the prayer and itself. intercession he offers to God (vers. 14-42). Ver. 4.-(See 2 Sam. vii. 4-17; 1 Chron. xi. 2; :xvii. 4-H.) With his hands, . . . Ver. 1.-In the thick darkneBS; Hebrew, with his month. Expressions like this, ',il'.1P.~- The Lord had said this in so many antithesis and all, remind how language words, and also by not a few practical formed itself in the concrete mould at first, examples (Lev. xvi. 2 ; Exod. :ri.x. 9 ; :u:iv. from that, ever becoming more abstract ae 16; x:xv. 22; xl. 34, 35). This thing which time grew. The ampler language of later he said, and did. even while really instruct- date would be, Who hath indeed fulfilled ing, after the manner of special revelation, that whioh he spake. a specialized people, is essentially what he Ver. 5.-I chose no city, . . . neither ever has said and ever is doing in all time, chose I a.ny man. The tabernacle and all in eJ.I the world, and in all na.ture and pro- it contained had but travelled from place to vidence. It is a fact and it is necessary place, and rested at temporary halting- that his glory be for the present veiled in places; and from Moses' time all the leaders "clouds and darkness" (Pa. :xcvii. 2; :xviii. of the people Israel had been men in whom 11). vested no permanent and no intrinsic au- Ver. 2.-Solomon's words now address thority (1 Sam. xvi. 1-13; 2 Sam. x:xiv. themselves to God. :For ever. These words 18-25). refer rather to the permanence and station- Ver. 6.-(See ago.in references of preced- ariness of the temple a.a the dwelling-place ing verse, and 2 Sam. vii. 8; Ps. l:x:xviii. 70.) of the ark, end the mercy-seat and cherubim, Vera. 7-9.-(So 2 Sam. vii. 2, 10-16; and all that symbolized and invit.ed the 1 Chron. x:xii. 9, 10; x:xviii. 2-7.) Divine presence, than design any prophecy Vere. 10, 11.-The moment that might of length of time. They cont~ with t~e have witnessed the utmost inflation of wandering people, and wandenng worship spiritual pride, the acme of ambition, the and sacrifices, and wandering tent and highest point of even moral kind of gran- tabernacle with all their sacred contents deur, being touched, is saved from the peril. (Ps. lxvili. 16; cmii. H; l Chron. :u:ii. To the "performing of the Lord" the glory iij 10; :x:xviii, 6-8; 2 Sam. vii. 5-16). e.11 given (Luke i. 54, 55, 68-72). Probably 011. vr. 1-42.J 'l'IIE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 63