Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 6

This section also is in verbal agreement with the parallel account, with a few slight exceptions.

1. The thick darkness. — ‘Araphel, which is explained as caligo nubium, “gloom of clouds.” (Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 18:9. Compare to the Greek, ὅρφνη.) The Targum on 1 Kings 8:12 reads Jerusalem, but this is probably a gloss.

But I have built. — And I, on my part, have built. Kings, “I have built” (bânôh bânîthî); that is to say, as “You did indicate.” This seems original. So the Syriac here, mebnô b’nîth, but not the Septuagint and Vulgate.

Habitation. — Zĕbûl, a poetic word, occurring only five times. (Compare to Habakkuk 3:11.)

And a place. — And, added here, weakens the force of the poetic parallelism.

A place for thy dwelling. — (Exodus 15:17) another poetic expression.

For ever. — (Through) ages. So only in this account and Psalms 61:5.

And the king. —The verse is word for word as in Kings.

Turned. — Turned round (1 Chronicles 10:14).

Stood. —Was standing.

Who hath with his hands fulfilled ... David. —Literally, who spake (“promised,” 2 Chronicles 6:10), by his mouth with David my father, and by his hands fulfilled. (See 1 Chronicles 11:2; 1 Chronicles 17:4–14.) The only variant in this verse is hands for hand. The unpointed text of Kings might be read in either way. (Compare 2 Chronicles 6:15, below.)

My people out of the land of Egypt. — In Kings, My people Israel out of Egypt (Compare to 2 Chronicles 5:10). The Syriac and Arabic versions also have Israel here.

Neither chose I any man to be a ruler (nâgîd) over my people Israel. — Neither this sentence nor the following is found in the parallel passage, where the second half of 2 Chronicles 6:6 forms the last clause of the preceding verse (1 Kings 8:16). The Syriac and Arabic versions here follow Kings as often. There is nothing in the language against the supposition that the words originally formed part of the older text.

Neither chose I any man. — Saul was originally the people’s, not God’s, choice. Holy Scripture nowhere teaches that the vox populi is identical with the vox Dei (See 1 Samuel 8:5, and Bishop Wordsworth’s Note).