2 Chronicles 6:5

Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

Since the day {H3117} that I brought forth {H3318} my people {H5971} out of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714} I chose {H977} no city {H5892} among all the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478} to build {H1129} an house {H1004} in, that my name {H8034} might be there; neither chose {H977} I any man {H376} to be a ruler {H5057} over my people {H5971} Israel {H3478}:

'Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I chose no city from any of the tribes of Isra'el to build a house, so that my name might be there; nor did I choose anyone to be the leader of my people Isra'el.

‘Since the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over My people Israel.

Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:

Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:5 (KJV) is part of King Solomon's powerful dedication prayer for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. In this verse, Solomon recounts God's historical dealings with Israel, emphasizing that for centuries, God had not chosen a specific city for a permanent dwelling place for His name, nor had He chosen a perpetual ruler over His people. This sets the stage for the profound significance of God's later choices of Jerusalem and the Davidic dynasty.

Context

This verse is uttered during the grand dedication ceremony of the Temple, a pivotal moment in Israelite history. Solomon stands before the altar of the Lord, addressing the assembled congregation, and recalling God's faithfulness from the time He brought His people out of the land of Egypt. For approximately 480 years (as referenced in 1 Kings 6:1), from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the period of the Judges, and the early monarchy under Saul, God's presence was primarily manifest in the portable Tabernacle. There was no fixed city designated for worship, and leadership shifted from Moses to Joshua, then to various judges, and finally to kings. This verse highlights the profound shift and divine appointment that the Temple and the Davidic kingship represented.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Timing: The verse underscores God's absolute control over His plans and His perfect timing. He patiently waited for the right season and the right person (David and Solomon) to establish a permanent dwelling place and a lasting dynasty. This demonstrates that God's purposes unfold according to His wisdom, not human timelines.
  • The Significance of God's Choice: By stating what God *did not* choose for centuries, the verse amplifies the importance of what He *did* eventually choose: Jerusalem as the city where His name would dwell in the Temple, and David and his lineage as the chosen royal line. These selections were not arbitrary but were part of God's unfolding covenant plan.
  • Transition from Tabernacle to Temple: The mention of "no city...to build an house in" subtly references the period of the Tabernacle, which was a mobile sanctuary. The Temple in Jerusalem marked a new era of settled worship and a permanent, central place for Israel's spiritual life.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "house" (Hebrew: bayith) is crucial here. It carries a dual meaning: a physical dwelling place (like the Temple) and a dynasty or family line. In the context of this verse, it refers to God's dwelling, but the subsequent mention of a "ruler" naturally connects to the concept of a royal "house" or lineage. The repetition of "chose" (Hebrew: bachar) emphasizes God's deliberate, sovereign election, highlighting that these were not human initiatives but divine appointments.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God operates on His own timeline and with His own sovereign will. We can learn to trust God's long-term plans, even when His purposes are not immediately clear or when we experience seasons of waiting. Just as God patiently guided Israel and eventually established His chosen city and king, He continues to work in our lives and in the world according to His perfect wisdom. Our role is to remain faithful, knowing that His ultimate choices are always for His glory and our good.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 9:19

    O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

  • 2 Samuel 7:6

    Whereas I have not dwelt in [any] house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

  • 2 Samuel 7:7

    In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

  • 2 Samuel 7:15

    But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

  • 2 Samuel 7:16

    And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

  • 1 Kings 8:16

    Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 12:11

    Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
← Back