2 Chronicles 6:6

But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

But I have chosen {H977} Jerusalem {H3389}, that my name {H8034} might be there; and have chosen {H977} David {H1732} to be over my people {H5971} Israel {H3478}.

But now I have chosen Yerushalayim, so that my name can be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Isra'el.'

But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 6:6 is a pivotal declaration within King Solomon's prayer of dedication for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. This verse underscores God's sovereign choices, revealing His divine plan for both a specific place and a chosen leader.

Context

This verse is part of Solomon's extended prayer, delivered after the completion of the magnificent Temple. The prayer, found in 2 Chronicles 6 (and its parallel in 1 Kings 8), recounts God's faithfulness to His covenant with David and expresses profound gratitude for the fulfillment of the promise that David's son would build a house for God's name. Solomon is acknowledging God's past actions as a foundation for the future.

Key Themes

  • Divine Election and Sovereignty: The phrase "But I have chosen" highlights God's absolute authority and deliberate selection. He chose Jerusalem as the spiritual center and David as the dynastic ruler over Israel. This choice was not arbitrary but part of His overarching plan for His people.
  • The Dwelling of God's Name: God chose Jerusalem "that my name might be there." The "name" of God (Hebrew: shem) signifies His presence, character, authority, and reputation. It means that Jerusalem, and specifically the Temple within it, would be the designated place where God's presence would be uniquely manifested and His glory acknowledged among His people. This concept is deeply rooted in earlier commands, such as God promising to choose a place for His name to dwell.
  • The Davidic Covenant: The declaration "and have chosen David to be over my people Israel" reaffirms the foundational covenant God made with David. This covenant promised an enduring dynasty and a king from David's lineage who would rule over God's people (see 2 Samuel 7:16). David's choice was not merely for his lifetime but established a lineage that would ultimately lead to the Messiah.
  • Centrality of Jerusalem: This verse solidifies Jerusalem's unique status not just as a political capital but as the divinely chosen spiritual heart of Israel, the place where God's presence would reside.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "chosen," bachar (Χ‘ΦΈΦΌΧ—Φ·Χ¨), implies a careful, deliberate selection, not a casual preference. When God "chooses," it signifies a purposeful act of divine grace and sovereignty. The phrase "my name might be there" (Hebrew: shem) is crucial; it does not mean God's physical body would be confined to the Temple, but rather His essence, authority, and covenant presence would be uniquely associated with that place, making it the focal point for worship and interaction with Him.

Reflection and Application

This verse reminds us of God's purposeful involvement in human history. Just as God sovereignly chose Jerusalem and David for His specific purposes, He continues to work out His divine plan in the world. For believers today, the concept of God's "name" dwelling among His people finds its ultimate fulfillment not in a physical temple, but in the person of Jesus Christ, who is God dwelling among us, and in the Church, which is the spiritual temple where the Holy Spirit resides (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). We are called to live in recognition of His sovereignty and to be places where His name is honored and His presence is manifested in our lives.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 28:4

    Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel:

  • 2 Chronicles 12:13

    ΒΆ So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam [was] one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess.

  • Psalms 132:13

    For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired [it] for his habitation.

  • Psalms 48:1

    ΒΆ A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.

  • Psalms 89:19

    ΒΆ Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.

  • Psalms 89:20

    I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

  • Psalms 78:68

    But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
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