2 Chronicles 7:12

¶ 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.

And the LORD {H3068} appeared {H7200} to Solomon {H8010} by night {H3915}, and said {H559} unto him, I have heard {H8085} thy prayer {H8605}, and have chosen {H977} this place {H4725} to myself for an house {H1004} of sacrifice {H2077}.

ADONAI appeared to Shlomo by night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

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

2 Chronicles 7:12 records God's direct response to King Solomon following the magnificent dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. This pivotal verse signals divine approval and establishes the Temple's sacred purpose.

Context

This verse immediately follows the awe-inspiring events of the Temple dedication, where fire descended from heaven to consume the burnt offering and the glory of the LORD filled the newly built Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Solomon had just concluded a lengthy and fervent prayer (2 Chronicles 6), asking God to hear the prayers offered from this sacred place and to forgive His people when they turned to Him. God's appearance to Solomon by night is a direct, personal confirmation of His acceptance and commitment to His covenant with Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Affirmation and Presence: The phrase "the LORD appeared to Solomon by night" signifies a profound divine revelation, confirming God's personal engagement with Solomon and His acceptance of the Temple. This appearance reinforces the tangible presence of God among His people.
  • Answered Prayer: God's explicit declaration, "I have heard thy prayer," is a powerful affirmation of His attentiveness to His people's petitions. It underscores the biblical principle that God listens and responds, setting the stage for the conditional promises that follow in 2 Chronicles 7:14 regarding repentance and restoration.
  • God's Chosen Place: By stating, "I have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice," God confirms His sovereign choice of Jerusalem as the unique location for His dwelling among Israel. This designation highlights the Temple's central role as the nexus of worship, atonement, and communion under the Old Covenant. It was designed to be the primary site where the Israelites could approach God through prescribed rituals and offerings.

Linguistic Insights

The term "house of sacrifice" (Hebrew: bêṯ zevaḥ) literally means "house of slaughter" or "house of offering." This emphasizes the Temple's primary function in the Old Testament sacrificial system. It was the designated place where animals were offered to God as burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings, which were crucial for the atonement of sins and the maintenance of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This concept points forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who became the final atonement for sin.

Practical Application

This verse reminds believers that God is a God who hears prayer. Just as He listened to Solomon's heartfelt dedication, He listens to the prayers of His people today (1 John 5:14). While we no longer offer animal sacrifices in a physical temple, recognizing Christ as the ultimate sacrifice (John 1:29), we are called to be living temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), offering spiritual sacrifices of praise, service, and devotion (Hebrews 13:15). The divine acceptance of the Temple signifies God's desire for fellowship with humanity, a fellowship now fully realized through faith in Jesus.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:7

    In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

  • Genesis 17:1

    ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

  • 1 Kings 9:2

    That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:16

    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.

  • 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:

  • 1 John 5:14

    ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

  • 1 John 5:15

    And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

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