2 Chronicles 2:1 - Exposition

In the Hebrew text this verse stands as the last of 2 Chronicles 1:1-17 . Determined . The Hebrew word is the ordinary word for "said;" as, e.g; in the expression of such frequent occurrence, "The Lord said." Its natural equivalent here might be, he gave the word, or issued the command, for the building of a house. For the Name of the Lord ; better, to the Name of the Lord ( 1 Kings 5:3 ; or in Hebrew text, 1 Kings 5:18 ; 1 Chronicles 22:7 ). The expression," the Name of the Lord," is of very early date ( Genesis 4:26 ). A name named upon a person at the first purported as far as possible to mark his nature, either its tout ensemble or some striking attribute of it. Hence the changed name, sometimes of Divine interposition ( Genesis 17:5 , Genesis 17:15 ; Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 35:10 ); and much more noticeably the alterations of the Divine Name, to serve and to mark the progressive development of the revelation of God to man ( Genesis 17:1 ; Exodus 3:14 ; Exodus 6:3 ; Exodus 34:14 ). So the Name of the Lord stands ever—monogram most sacred—for himself. A house for his kingdom; i.e. a royal residence for Solomon himself. This is mere clearly expressed as, "in his own house" ( 2 Chronicles 7:11 ; 2 Chronicles 8:1 ; 1 Kings 9:10 , 1 Kings 9:15 ). The description of this house for himself is given in 1 Kings 7:1-13 . But no parallel account exists in Chronicles.