The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 83

EXPOSITION. does with the language of the last verses ot CHAPTER VII. eh. v. This chapter is occupied with three sub- Ver. 3.-For he is good (so eh. v. 13; jects. First, the description of Heaven's 1 Chron. xvi. 34). acceptance of the dedicated temple by fire Vera. 4, 5.-These two verses bring us a.gain into company with the parallel in its (vers. 1-3). Secondly, the sacrifices and vers. 62, 63. Let it be noticed that in both glad fee.sting of Solomon and all Isre.el for these verses the compiler of Chronicles several days (vers. 4-11). Thirdly, the avoids the words, "all Israel," and "all the articulate a.newer of God to the offering a.nd children of Ierael," in favour of all the the prayer of Solomon (vers. 12-22). people. The parallel tells us that the se.cri- :6.ces in pa.rt were peace offeri11gs, ea.table, Ver. 1.-When Solomon had me.de e.n end therefore, by priests and people. Large as of praying. See the parallel, I Kings viii. the numbers of the oxen e.nd sheep sacrificed, 54., which verse, however, in e. sense, dis- yet indications in the no.native round a.bout appoints us; for, beginning with these so.me do something to sustain them, os e.g. the words, it does not go on e.t e.11 to tell of this number of people who bad come together; second occurrence of the fire e.nd the cloud the fact th11,t all the people are said to offer e.nd the glory. The fire oame ... and oon- sacrifices; the fact that Solomon, because of sumed the burnt offering and the saori:fi.ces. the press for room (ver. 7), hallowed the So Lev. ix. 24, when the te.berne.cle was con- middle of the oourt, i.e. probably the court secrated. The closing verses of our eh. v., com- itself, in order to find place for the "burnt pa.red with the first verse of eh. vi., a.nd in offerings, mee.t offerings, and fat" ('rnr. 7); particular the first word of that verse," then," further, the number of mouths of people leave it quite open to conjecture that the the.t eerie.inly would need filling, not only demonstration of the fire and the glory of on one day, but on days more than one, the Lord had not ceased, but was continued while o:i the third day (Lev. :rix. 6) any during the pre.yer of Solomon, though at its part of e. peace offering still left was to be close they may have been marked with destroyed by fire. Nevertheless, the thought added brightness, and then wrought their of the scene of butchery is, to our modern sacriflce-conHumingwork. Such supposition imagination, amazing to the last degree. An may bring us nearest to some tenable exple.- e.ssembla 00e of people in Jerusalem, 11,ll nation of wha.t otherwise seems the very making ~!so for its temple, of a hundred una.ccounte.ble omission in the po.rnllel. The and twenty thousand people, and l\ minimum language of our ver. 2 adds something to of another twrnty-two thousand people, is countenance this theory, coinciding as it startling; bnt add to them a. sheep ,lpiece  THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [on. vu. 1-22.