Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 7:1-11
Here is, I. The gracious answer which God immediately made to Solomon's prayer: The fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, Ch2 7:1. In this way God testified his acceptance of Moses (Lev 9:24), of Gideon (Jdg 6:21), of David (Ch1 21:26), of Elijah (Kg1 18:38); and, in general, to accept the burnt-sacrifice is, in the Hebrew phrase, to turn it to ashes, Psa 20:3. The fire came down here, not upon the killing of the sacrifices, but the praying of the prayer.
1. This fire intimated that God was, (1.) Glorious in himself; for our God is a consuming fire, terrible even in his holy places. This fire, breaking forth (as it is probable) out of the thick darkness, made it the more ter…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 7:2
the priests could not enter--Both from awe of the miraculous fire that was burning on the altar and from the dense cloud that enveloped the sanctuary, they were unable for some time to perform their usual functions (see on Kg1 8:10). But afterwards, their courage and confidence being revived, they approached the altar and busied themselves in the offering of an immense number of sacrifices.
Adam Clarke on 2 Chronicles 7:1
The fire came down - The cloud had come down before, now the fire consumes the sacrifice, showing that both the house and the sacrifices were accepted by the Lord.
John Gill on 2 Chronicles 7:2
And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord,.... They went in to carry the ark thither, but not being able to stand to minister, they came out, and could not reenter:
because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house; both the holy place, and the holy of holies, see 1 Kings 8:10.
Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Chronicles 7:1–end
The divine confirmation of the dedication of the temple. - Ch2 7:1-10. The consecration of the sacrificial service by fire from heaven (Ch2 7:1-3), and the sacrifices and festival of the people (Ch2 7:4-10).
Ch2 7:1-3
At the conclusion of Solomon's prayer there fell fire from heaven, which devoured the burnt-offering and the thank-offering, and the glory of the Lord filled the house, so that the priests could not enter the house of Jahve. The assembled congregation, when they saw the fire and the glory of the Lord descend, bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped God to praise. Now since this narrative is not found in Kg1 8:54., and there a speech o…
