2 Chronicles 6:1
ยถ Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Then said {H559} Solomon {H8010}, The LORD {H3068} hath said {H559} that he would dwell {H7931} in the thick darkness {H6205}.
Shlomo said, "ADONAI said he would live in thick darkness.
Then Solomon declared: โThe LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud;
Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Cross-References
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Psalms 18:8
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. -
Psalms 18:11
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies. -
Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy [place] within the vail before the mercy seat, which [is] upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. -
Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was]. -
Hebrews 12:18
ยถ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, -
1 Kings 8:12
ยถ Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. -
1 Kings 8:50
And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
Commentary
2 Chronicles 6:1 KJV
"ยถ Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness."
Commentary
This verse records Solomon's words spoken at the dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem, a momentous occasion for Israel. After the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Most Holy Place, a cloud filled the Temple, signifying the presence of the LORD (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).
Historical and Cultural Context: Solomon is recalling God's past manifestations. The idea of God dwelling in "thick darkness" is rooted in the experiences at Mount Sinai when God descended in a thick cloud and darkness (see Exodus 19:9, Exodus 20:21) and at the dedication of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35). This imagery emphasizes God's transcendence, power, and the awe-inspiring, sometimes unapproachable, nature of His presence.
Key Themes: The verse highlights the presence of God, particularly His dwelling among His people. It also underscores the mysterious and awe-inspiring nature of the divine presence, often associated with clouds and darkness in biblical accounts of theophany (divine manifestation). It connects the Temple's dedication to God's historical pattern of revealing Himself.
Linguistic Insights: The Hebrew word for "thick darkness" is 'araphel (ืขึฒืจึธืคึถื), which describes a dense cloud or deep gloom. It is often used in contexts of God's powerful, sometimes fearsome, appearance, signifying His glory and majesty that is beyond human comprehension or direct sight.
Cross-references: The parallel account is found in 1 Kings 8:12. The concept of God being in thick darkness appears earlier in Deuteronomy 4:11 and Psalm 97:2.
Practical Application: This verse reminds us that while God desires to be near us, His nature remains ultimately mysterious and beyond our full grasp. His presence, even when felt or seen in symbolic ways (like the cloud in the Temple), retains an element of divine otherness that inspires reverence and awe. It challenges us to approach God with humility, recognizing that we cannot fully comprehend His infinite being.
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