2 Chronicles

Covers Solomon's reign and the kingdom of Judah's history, emphasizing faithfulness to God.

Chapter 7

1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

*After Solomon finished praying, fire fell from the sky, burning the offerings and sacrifices. The great presence of God filled the building.

2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house.

*The priests couldn't go inside God's place because God's great presence made the whole area full.

3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

*When all the Israel children saw fire and God's glory on the house, they bent down, touched the ground, and praised God, saying, He is good because his kindness lasts forever.

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

*Then, the king and everyone bowed down and gave offerings to God.

5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

*King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cows and 120,000 sheep. He and the people then dedicated the house to God.

6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

*The priests and Levites performed their duties. They used musical instruments to worship God, as King David had created them for this purpose. This was done because God's love lasts forever. When David praised, the Levites helped through their services, and the priests played trumpets. Then, all of Israel stood in respect.

7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

*Additionally, Solomon set apart the center area in front of God's house for special rituals. He offered burned sacrifices and parts of peace offerings there because the bronze altar he made couldn't hold all the offerings.

8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

*At the same time, Solomon celebrated a seven-day festival, and all Israel joined him. A huge number of people were there, from Hamath's entrance to the River Egypt.

9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

*On the eighth day, they had a special gathering. They celebrated the altar's dedication for seven days and also enjoyed a feast for seven days.

10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

*On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he made the people leave and go back to their homes. They were very happy because the Lord had been kind to David, Solomon, and all the people of Israel.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

*So, Solomon completed the Lord's temple and his own palace. He did everything that was in his mind to create in both places, and he successfully achieved it all.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

*God appeared to Solomon at night and told him, "I've heard your prayer. I'll make this place special where people offer sacrifices to me."

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

*If I stop the rain from coming, order bugs to eat the land, or send sickness among my people.

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

*If my followers ask for help and pray to me, turning away from bad actions, I will listen from heaven, forgive their mistakes, and heal their country.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

*Now, my eyes will see, and my ears will listen carefully to the prayers being said here.

16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

*I have picked and made holy this place, so my name stays here forever. My eyes and heart will always be here.

17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;

*If you follow me like David, your father, and do everything I tell you to do and obey my rules and decisions, then things will go well for you.

18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

*Then I will firmly establish your kingdom's throne, just as I promised your father David, by assuring that there will always be someone to rule over Israel.

19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

*But if you stop following my rules and commands, and instead serve other gods and worship them,

20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

*Then I will remove them from my land and uproot them, and the special house I made for my name will no longer be in my sight. It will become a well-known saying and example for people everywhere.

21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

*This tall house will shock everyone who passes it, making them ask why the Lord did this to the land and the house.

22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

*If they left the Lord God who saved them from Egypt and followed other gods, He punished them with these troubles.

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