2 Chronicles 3
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Chronicles chapter 3, the account continues the story of the kings of Judah and temple-centered worship. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where {the LORD} appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. {where...: or, which was seen of David his father} {Ornan: also called, Araunah}
2 Chronicles 3:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And he began to build in the second {day} of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
2 Chronicles 3:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Now these {are the things wherein} Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure {was} threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. {instructed: Heb. founded}
2 Chronicles 3:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And the porch that {was} in the front {of the house}, the length {of it was} according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height {was} an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
2 Chronicles 3:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
2 Chronicles 3:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold {was} gold of Parvaim. {garnished: Heb. covered}
2 Chronicles 3:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.
2 Chronicles 3:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And he made the most holy house, the length whereof {was} according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, {amounting} to six hundred talents.
2 Chronicles 3:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And the weight of the nails {was} fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
2 Chronicles 3:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. {image...: or, (as some think) of moveable work}
2 Chronicles 3:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And the wings of the cherubims {were} twenty cubits long: one wing {of the one cherub was} five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing {was likewise} five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
2 Chronicles 3:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And {one} wing of the other cherub {was} five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing {was} five cubits {also}, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13
The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces {were} inward. {inward: or, toward the house}
2 Chronicles 3:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And he made the vail {of} blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon. {wrought: Heb. caused to ascend}
2 Chronicles 3:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that {was} on the top of each of them {was} five cubits. {high: Heb. long}
2 Chronicles 3:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And he made chains, {as} in the oracle, and put {them} on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put {them} on the chains.
2 Chronicles 3:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. {Jachin: that is, He shall establish} {Boaz: that is, In it is strength}
2 Chronicles 3:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.