(10) And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month.--Beginning with the evening of the twenty-second.

For the goodness.--Some MSS., Syriac, and Arabic, "for all the goodness," as in 1Kings 8:66.

David, and to Solomon.--Kings, "David his servant." The mention of Solomon was added by the chronicler. (Comp. 2Chronicles 6:4; 2Chronicles 6:8; 2Chronicles 6:15-17; 2Chronicles 6:42, where all Solomon's success is connected with the premise to David.)

7:1-22 God's answer to Solomon's prayer. - God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress all who receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people worshipped and praised God. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful. And whoever beholds with true faith, the Saviour agonizing and dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more watchful, and his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, and walk in his commandments.Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court,.... From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 7:10 is the same with 1 Kings 8:64. See Gill on 1 Kings 8:64, 1 Kings 8:65, 1 Kings 8:66, only mention is made in 2 Chronicles 7:9 of the dedication of the altar, as if distinct from the dedication of the house, and hallowing the middle of the court, see Numbers 7:10 in imitation of which the Heathens dedicated their altars, in which they used ashes and water, as Pausanias (y) relates, and had also feasts, as here, at the dedication of their temples (z), in which they have been imitated by Christians; and many of our country feasts, as they are called, were first kept at the dedication of churches to such and such a saint.

(y) Eliac, 1. sive, l. 5. p. 312. (z) Plin. Ep. l. 4. Ephesians 1.