2 Chronicles 7:13

KJV

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;

KJV (with Strong's)

If {H2005} I shut up {H6113} heaven {H8064} that there be no rain {H4306}, or if I command {H6680} the locusts {H2284} to devour {H398} the land {H776}, or if I send {H7971} pestilence {H1698} among my people {H5971};

Complete Jewish Bible

If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people;

Berean Standard Bible

If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people,

American Standard Version

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 7:13 is a solemn declaration from God to King Solomon, delivered immediately following the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It outlines specific forms of divine judgment—drought, locust plagues, and pestilence—that God might send upon the nation of Israel if they turned away from Him in disobedience. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the conditional nature of God's covenant with His people, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty over creation and His commitment to holiness and justice, thereby setting the stage for the profound promise of restoration and forgiveness in the subsequent verse.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of God's direct, nocturnal response to King Solomon, recorded in [2 Chronicles 7](/2_chronicles/7 "2 Chronicles 7 - God's Response to Solomon"). It immediately follows Solomon's magnificent prayer of dedication for the newly built Temple ([2 Chronicles 6](/2_chronicles/6 "2 Chronicles 6 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication")) and the dramatic manifestation of God's glory that consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices ([2 Chronicles 7:1](/2_chronicles/7-1 "2 Chronicles 7:1 - Fire from Heaven Consumes Offerings")). While God has just affirmed His acceptance of the Temple and His presence among His people, 2 Chronicles 7:13 introduces the crucial conditionality of the covenant. It is a warning, preceding the well-known promise of healing and forgiveness found in [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing and Forgiveness"), establishing the severity of the consequences of sin before offering the path to restoration.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was primarily an agrarian society, profoundly dependent on consistent rainfall for its sustenance. Drought was not merely an inconvenience but a life-threatening catastrophe, leading to famine and widespread suffering. Similarly, locust swarms were a dreaded and historically documented plague, capable of devouring all vegetation in a short period, as vividly described in [Exodus 10](/exodus/10 "Exodus 10 - The Plague of Locusts"). Pestilence, or widespread disease, was also a common and devastating threat in ancient times, often decimating populations. These specific judgments were not arbitrary but were deeply rooted in the warnings and curses outlined in the [Mosaic covenant](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses of the Covenant"), particularly in [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience"). The people would have immediately recognized these threats as direct consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, underscoring God's ultimate control over the natural world and human well-being.

* **Key Themes:** 2 Chronicles 7:13 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Chronicles and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Control**, demonstrating God's absolute authority over all aspects of creation—the heavens, the creatures, and the forces of disease. These are not random occurrences but instruments in His hands. Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Disobedience**, making it clear that calamities like drought, famine, and plague are direct results of God's people turning away from Him. They serve as a form of divine discipline, intended to bring about repentance. Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the **Conditional Nature of the Covenant** with Israel. While God's love and faithfulness are steadfast, His blessings are inextricably linked to the nation's obedience and fidelity to His commands. Finally, it serves as a **Preparation for Repentance and Restoration**, by first establishing the gravity of sin and its consequences, it lays the necessary groundwork for the profound promise of grace and healing that follows in [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing and Forgiveness"), illustrating that God's judgment is ultimately redemptive in purpose.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shut up (Hebrew, _ʿāṣar_):** This verb implies an active, deliberate act of withholding or restraining. It's not merely that rain fails to come, but that God actively "shuts up" or "closes off" the heavens, preventing the life-giving rain. This emphasizes God's direct agency and control over natural phenomena, turning a natural blessing into a divine judgment.
* **Command (Hebrew, _ṣāwāh_):** This term highlights God's authoritative decree. He doesn't merely allow locusts; He "commands" them, indicating His absolute sovereignty even over destructive forces of nature. The locusts become instruments of His will, executing His judgment with precision and devastating effect.
* **Pestilence (Hebrew, _deḇer_):** This word refers to a severe, widespread plague or epidemic, often associated with divine wrath and judgment in the Old Testament. It denotes a rapid and deadly spread of disease that decimates populations, representing a direct assault on the health and vitality of the people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain":** This clause describes a severe drought, a catastrophic event in an agrarian society like ancient Israel. God asserts His direct control over the heavens and the natural water cycle, indicating that a lack of rain is not merely a natural occurrence but a deliberate act of divine judgment. This judgment directly impacts the land's fertility and the people's sustenance.
* **"or if I command the locusts to devour the land":** Here, God declares His authority over the insect world, specifically locusts, which were a well-known and terrifying plague in the ancient Near East. To "command" them signifies God's active deployment of these destructive creatures as instruments of His will, leading to widespread famine and desolation by consuming all vegetation.
* **"or if I send pestilence among my people":** This final clause refers to the outbreak of widespread disease or epidemic. God explicitly states His agency in "sending" pestilence, demonstrating His power over life and death and His use of disease as a form of divine discipline. This judgment directly affects the health and lives of the people, signifying a severe consequence for their unfaithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
2 Chronicles 7:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The primary structure is a **Conditional Clause** ("If I..."), which establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the people's potential disobedience (implied, as this is a warning) and God's resultant disciplinary actions. This "if-then" framework underscores the covenantal nature of God's relationship with Israel. The repetition of "If I" across the three distinct judgments creates a form of **Parallelism**, specifically an **anaphoric repetition** that emphasizes God's singular, active agency in each calamity. This also serves as a comprehensive list of the most feared natural and biological disasters, highlighting the severity and scope of potential divine discipline. Furthermore, the verse uses **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human actions like "shutting up," "commanding," and "sending" to God. This device makes God's direct involvement and control over these events more tangible and understandable to the human audience, emphasizing His personal and active role in judgment. The cumulative effect of these three devastating judgments—drought, famine, and plague—also functions as a form of **Intensification**, conveying the profound and comprehensive nature of the consequences for turning away from God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 7:13 is a profound statement about God's character and His covenantal relationship with His people. It reveals a God who is not only loving and gracious but also holy, just, and utterly sovereign over all creation. The judgments described—drought, locusts, and pestilence—are not arbitrary acts of wrath but consistent forms of divine discipline outlined throughout the Old Testament, designed to call His people back to faithfulness. They underscore that sin has real, tangible consequences, and that God holds His people accountable to the terms of their covenant with Him. This verse serves as a stark reminder that while God's promises are sure, His blessings are often contingent upon obedience, and His discipline is a demonstration of His unwavering commitment to His own holiness and to the ultimate good of His people, even if it involves severe measures to prompt repentance.

* [Deuteronomy 28:23-24](/deuteronomy/28-23 "Deuteronomy 28:23-24 - Curses of Drought and Famine")
* [Amos 4:6-9](/amos/4-6 "Amos 4:6-9 - God's Discipline through Famine, Drought, and Plague")
* [Revelation 6:7-8](/revelation/6-7 "Revelation 6:7-8 - The Fourth Seal: Death and Famine")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While 2 Chronicles 7:13 speaks specifically to the Mosaic covenant with ancient Israel, its underlying principles resonate deeply with believers today. It reminds us that God is holy and just, and that sin is a serious matter with consequences. Though we live under the New Covenant, where Christ has fulfilled the law's demands, the truth of God's sovereignty over all things—including natural events and global challenges—remains. This verse calls us to a posture of humility and self-examination, both individually and corporately. It prompts us to consider if there are areas in our lives or in our communities where we have strayed from God's will, and to recognize that God's discipline, when it comes, is often an invitation to repentance and a deeper reliance on Him. Rather than fostering fear, this verse should cultivate a healthy reverence for God's holiness and an urgent desire to live in faithful obedience, knowing that His ultimate desire is always for our restoration and flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does 2 Chronicles 7:13 challenge our understanding of God's character, particularly His justice and holiness?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or communities, be "shutting up heaven" through disobedience, and what might God be calling us to repent of?**
* **How does this verse, despite its severity, ultimately point us towards the necessity of humility and seeking God's face?**

### FAQ

**Is God still "sending" natural disasters today as punishment?**

Answer: 2 Chronicles 7:13 describes a direct, covenantal relationship between God and ancient Israel, where specific acts of disobedience would result in specific, divinely orchestrated judgments like drought, locusts, and pestilence. While God remains sovereign over all creation and natural events, and can certainly use them to accomplish His purposes, the direct "if...then" punitive structure described here is specific to the Mosaic covenant. In the New Covenant, believers are under grace, and God's discipline of His children takes a different form, often aimed at spiritual growth and correction, as described in [Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God's Discipline for His Children"). However, natural disasters can still serve as general calls to repentance for humanity, reminding us of the brokenness of a fallen world and God's ultimate authority, prompting us to seek Him. It's crucial to avoid simplistic cause-and-effect explanations for individual suffering or specific disasters, as God's ways are complex and often beyond our full comprehension ([Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom")).

**How does this verse relate to 2 Chronicles 7:14?**

Answer: 2 Chronicles 7:13 is the crucial backdrop and prerequisite for understanding the profound promise of [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing and Forgiveness"). Verse 13 establishes the severe consequences of disobedience, highlighting the dire situation that would necessitate divine intervention and healing. It paints a picture of a people facing drought, famine, and disease due to their unfaithfulness. This sets up the urgent need for the conditions outlined in verse 14—humility, prayer, seeking God's face, and turning from wicked ways—as the only path to God's forgiveness and the "healing" of their land. Without the gravity of verse 13, the grace and restorative power of verse 14 would lose much of its impact. Together, they form a complete picture of God's justice and mercy: He is holy and will judge sin, but He is also gracious and provides a way for repentance and restoration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Chronicles 7:13, with its stark warnings of divine judgment through natural calamity and disease, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The curses outlined in this verse, echoing the broader Mosaic covenant, represent the just consequences of humanity's rebellion against a holy God. However, the New Testament reveals that Christ became the ultimate fulfillment of these curses. As [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law") declares, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." He bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment against sin on the cross, including the spiritual "drought," "locusts," and "pestilence" of separation from God. Furthermore, the "healing" promised in [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing and Forgiveness") is ultimately realized in the spiritual healing and reconciliation that Christ offers. Through His atoning sacrifice, we are restored to a right relationship with God, receiving forgiveness for our sins and deliverance from the ultimate consequences of disobedience ([2 Corinthians 5:18-19](/2_corinthians/5-18 "2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - God Reconciled Us Through Christ")). Jesus, the [Lord of creation](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ, Creator and Sustainer of All Things"), demonstrated His sovereignty over nature by calming storms and healing diseases, showing that He is the true authority over the very elements God used for judgment in the Old Testament. The call to repentance in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 finds its ultimate and most profound answer in the New Testament's call to believe in Jesus, for in Him alone is the power to turn from sin and receive eternal life ([Acts 2:38](/acts/2-38 "Acts 2:38 - Repent and Be Baptized")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 6:26

When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; [yet] if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

2 Chronicles 6:28

If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness [there be]:

Deuteronomy 11:17

And [then] the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and [lest] ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

Revelation 11:6

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Revelation 3:7

¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

2 Samuel 24:13

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

2 Samuel 24:15

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.