Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
6. is able ] Lit. retaineth strength; 1Ch 29:14. Cp. 2Ch 6:2; 2Ch 6:18.
to burn sacrifice ] R.V. to burn incense.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Save only to burn sacrifice before him – Solomon seems to mean that to build the temple can only be justified on the human – not on the divine – side. God dwelleth not in temples made with hands; He cannot be confined to them; He does in no sort need them. The sole reason for building a temple lies in the needs of man: his worship must he local; the sacrifices commanded in the Law had of necessity to be offered somewhere.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens] “For the lower heavens, the middle heavens, and the upper heavens cannot contain him, seeing he sustains all things by the arm of his power. Heaven is the throne of his glory, the earth his footstool; the deep, and the whole world, are sustained by the spirit of his WORD, [ beruach meymereih.] Who am I, then, that I should build him a house?” – Targum.
Save only to burn sacrifice] It is not under the hope that the house shall be able to contain him, but merely for the purpose of burning incense to him, and offering him sacrifice, that I have erected it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The heaven of heavens cannot contain him: when I speak of building a great house for our great God, let none be so foolish to think that I mean to include or comprehend God within it, for he is infinite.
To burn sacrifice before him, i.e. to worship him there where he is graciously present.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But who is able to build him an house,…. Suitable to the greatness of his majesty, especially as he dwells not in temples made with hands:
seeing the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain him? see 1Ki 8:27,
who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? since God was an immense and infinite Being, be would have Hiram to understand that he had no thought of building an house, in which he could be circumscribed and contained, only a place in which he might be worshipped, and sacrifices offered to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) But who is able.Literally, who could keep strength? (See 1Ch. 29:14.)
The heaven . . . cannot contain him.This high thought occurs in Solomons prayer (1Ki. 8:27; 2Ch. 6:18).
Who am I then . . . before him?That is, I am not so ignorant of the infinite nature of Deity, as to think of localising it within an earthly dwelling. I build not for His residence, but for His worship and service. (Comp. Isa. 40:22.)
To burn sacrifice.Literally, to burn incense. Here, as in 2Ch. 2:4, used in a general sense.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
Ver. 6. Seeing the heavens and heaven of heavens. ] He is incomprehensible, incircumscriptible: good without quality, great without quantity, everlasting without time, present everywhere without place, containing all things without extent: he filleth all places without compression or straitening of another, or the contraction, extension, condensation, or rarefaction of himself: he is within all things, and contained of nothing: without all things, and sustained of nothing.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
who is able . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
heaven and heaven of heavens. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But who: 2Ch 6:18, 1Ki 8:27, Isa 66:1, Act 7:48, Act 7:49
is able: Heb. hath returned, or obtained strength
who am I then: 2Ch 1:10, Exo 3:11, 2Sa 7:18, 1Ch 29:14, 2Co 2:16, Eph 3:8
save only: Deu 12:5, Deu 12:6, Deu 12:11, Deu 12:14, Deu 12:26
Reciprocal: 1Ch 17:5 – dwelt Ezr 6:3 – the place Ezr 7:15 – whose habitation Psa 68:29 – Because Psa 76:1 – his Psa 132:5 – an habitation Jer 17:12 – General Jer 23:24 – Do Dan 4:30 – that Act 17:24 – dwelleth Rev 21:22 – I saw
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 2:6. But who is able to build him a house No house, be it ever so great, can be a habitation for him. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him Nor does he, like the gods of the nations, dwell in temples made with hands. When, therefore, I speak of building a great house for the great God, let none be so foolish as to imagine that I mean to include or comprehend God within it, for he is infinite. Who am I, then, that I should build him a house He looked upon himself, though a mighty prince, as utterly unworthy of the honour of being employed in this great work. Save only to burn sacrifice before him As if he had said, We have not such low notions of our God as to suppose we can build a house that will contain him: we only intend it for the convenience of his priests and worshippers, that they may have a suitable place wherein to assemble and offer sacrifices and prayers, and perform other religious duties to him. Thus Solomon guards Hiram against any misapprehension concerning God, which his speaking of building him a house might otherwise have occasioned. And it is one part of the wisdom wherein we ought to walk toward them that are without, in a similar manner carefully to guard against all misapprehension which anything we may say or do may occasion concerning any truth or duty of religion.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn {b} sacrifice before him?
(b) That is, to do the service which he has commanded, signifying that no one is able to honour and serve God in the perfection his majesty deserves.