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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - 2 Chronicles 8:12 - 8:12
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The sacrificial service in the new temple. Cf. 1Ki 9:25, where it is merely briefly recorded that Solomon offered sacrifices three times a year on the altar built by him to the Lord. In our verses we have a detailed account of it. אָז, at that time, scil. when the temple building had been finished and the temple dedicated (cf. 2Ch 8:1), Solomon offered burnt-offerings upon the altar which he had built before the porch of the temple. He no longer now sacrifices upon the altar of the tabernacle at Gibeon, as in the beginning of his reign (2Ch 1:3.).
2Ch 8:13
“Even sacrificing at the daily rate, according to the direction of Moses.” These words give a supplementary and closer definition of the sacrificing in the form of an explanatory subordinate clause, which is interpolated in the principal sentence. For the following words וגו לַשַּׁבָּתֹות belong to the principal sentence (2Ch 8:12): he offered sacrifices ... on the sabbaths, the new moons, etc. The ו before בִּדְבַר is explicative, and that = viz.; and the infin. לְהַעֲלֹות, according to the later usage, instead of infin. absol.; cf. Ew. §280, d. The preposition בְּ (before דְּבַר) is the so-called b essentiae: consisting in the daily (rate) to sacrifice (this); cf. Ew. §299, b. The daily rate, i.e., that which was prescribed in the law of Moses for each day, cf. Lev 23:37. לַמֹּועֲדֹות is further explained by the succeeding clause: on the three chief festivals of the year.
2Ch 8:14
He ordered the temple service, also, entirely according to the arrangement introduced by David as to the service of the priests and Levites. He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, i.e., according to the ordinance established by David, the classes of the priests (see on 1 Chron 24) to that service, and the Levites to their stations (מִשְׁמָרֹות as in 2Ch 7:6), to praise (cf. 1 Chron 25), and to serve before the priests (1Ch 23:28.), according to that which was appointed for every day, and the doorkeepers according to their courses, etc. (see 1 Chron 27:1-19). With the last words cf. Neh 12:24.
2Ch 8:15-16
This arrangement was faithfully observed by the priests and Levites. The verb סוּר is here construed c. accus. in the signification to transgress a command (cf. Ew. §282, a), and it is therefore not necessary to alter מִצְוַת into מִמִּצְוַת. עַל־הַכֹּהֲנִים depends upon מִצְוַת: the king's command concerning the priests and the Levites, i.e., that which David commanded them. וגו לְכָל־דְּבַר, in regard to all things, and especially also in regard to the treasures; cf. 1Ch 26:20-28. - With 2Ch 8:16 the account of what Solomon did for the public worship is concluded: “Now all the work of Solomon was prepared until the (this) day, the foundation of the house of Jahve until its completion; the house of Jahve was finished.” מְלֶאכֶת is explained by מוּסַד. הַיֹּום is the day on which, after the consecration of the completed temple, the regular public worship was commenced in it, which doubtless was done immediately after the dedication of the temple. Only when the regular worship according to the law of Moses, and with the arrangements as to the service of the priests and Levites established by David, had been commenced, was Solomon's work in connection with the temple completed, and the house of God שָׁלֵם, integer, perfect in all its parts, as it should be. The last clause, בית י שָׁלֵם, is connected rhetorically with what precedes without the conjunction, and is not to be regarded as a subscription, “with which the historian concludes the whole narrative commencing with 2Ch 2:1” (Berth.); for שָׁלֵם does not signify “ended,” or to be at an end, but to be set thoroughly (perfectly) in order.