2 Chronicles 5:6 kjv
Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
2 Chronicles 5:6 nkjv
Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.
2 Chronicles 5:6 niv
and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
2 Chronicles 5:6 esv
And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
2 Chronicles 5:6 nlt
There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!
2 Chronicles 5 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 8:5 | So King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel…sacrificing sheep and oxen…multitude. | Parallel account of immense sacrifice. |
| 2 Chr 7:4-5 | The king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. King Solomon offered…22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. | Detailed numbers confirm scale. |
| 1 Chr 29:21 | On the next day they offered sacrifices…to the Lord: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs... | Large-scale sacrifices during David's reign. |
| Ezr 6:17 | For the dedication of this house of God they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs... | Dedication offerings of the Second Temple. |
| Num 7:88 | All the oxen for the burnt offering were 24; all the rams, 60; he-goats, 60; lambs a year old, 60. | Significant, though smaller, tribal offerings. |
| Lev 1:3-17 | Laws concerning burnt offerings of cattle, sheep, and goats. | Principles for acceptable animal sacrifices. |
| Lev 3:1-17 | Laws concerning fellowship offerings (peace offerings) from herd or flock. | Description of sacrifices for communion with God. |
| Ex 29:38-42 | Daily burnt offerings for atonement and presence. | Regular sacrifices mandated for the tabernacle. |
| 1 Ki 4:20-25 | Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea…Solomon had dominion... | Prosperity and abundance under Solomon's reign. |
| 1 Ki 10:23-27 | King Solomon excelled all the kings…had a fleet of ships…made silver as common... | Solomon's immense wealth and glory. |
| 2 Chr 1:12-15 | Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches and wealth and honor... | God's fulfillment of blessing upon Solomon. |
| Deut 16:16 | Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord…at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, of Weeks, and of Booths. | Requirement for the entire congregation to gather. |
| Ps 122:1-4 | I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”…to which the tribes go up. | Joy and unity in going to Jerusalem for worship. |
| Acts 2:42-47 | They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship... | Early church displaying unity and devotion. |
| Heb 12:22-24 | You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...to the general assembly. | The grand spiritual assembly of believers. |
| Ps 66:13-15 | I will go into Your house with burnt offerings…I will offer bulls with goats. | Individual pledges of offering to the Lord. |
| Ps 116:17-19 | I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving…in the courts of the Lord’s house. | Thanksgiving offerings in God's presence. |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. | New Testament spiritual offering. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice... | Offering of financial support as a spiritual sacrifice. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | Blessings for obedience: fields, flocks, fullness. | Promise of abundance based on covenant obedience. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…pour out for you a blessing. | Abundance linked to bringing full offerings to God. |
| Heb 10:1-14 | For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices…make perfect. | Christ's perfect, once-for-all sacrifice fulfilling all others. |
| Jn 1:29 | Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! | Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of sacrifice. |
| Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. | Christ's self-sacrifice as a fragrant offering. |
2 Chronicles 5 verses
2 Chronicles 5 6 Meaning
The verse describes the immense scale of animal sacrifices made by King Solomon and the assembled congregation of Israel during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. These sacrifices, comprising an unquantifiable multitude of sheep and oxen, highlight a moment of profound national unity, prosperity, and devotion to the Lord God, signifying the peak of Israel's material and spiritual dedication at the completion of God's dwelling place among His people.
2 Chronicles 5 6 Context
2 Chronicles chapter 5 details the climax of Solomon's monumental work: the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the newly constructed Temple and its dedication. This verse specifically describes the extensive sacrificial preparation for this sacred act, immediately preceding the priests bringing the Ark into the Most Holy Place. Historically, this event represents the zenith of the united Israelite monarchy under Solomon, marking the fulfillment of David's longing to build a permanent dwelling for the Lord (2 Sam 7, 1 Chr 22). The magnitude of the offerings underscores the nation's reverence for God and their gratitude for His blessings and promises. It was a national assembly, signaling deep theological importance that God was taking up residence in the midst of His people, emphasizing their corporate identity as the people of God.
2 Chronicles 5 6 Word analysis
- King Solomon (מֶ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה -
melech Shlomoh): Signifies the leadership and authority behind this unprecedented act of worship. Solomon, blessed with immense wealth and wisdom by God, was instrumental in building the Temple and orchestrating its dedication, fulfilling God's promise through David (2 Sam 7:12-13). His personal devotion and God's enabling were paramount. - and all the congregation of Israel (וְכָל־ הָעֵדָה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל -
v'chol-ha'edah Yisra'el): Emphasizes national unity and corporate worship.'edah(עֵדָה) refers to the assembly, congregation, or community. This highlights that the immense offering was not solely Solomon's act but a collective, national expression of faith and worship, representing all twelve tribes. It points to a united people recognizing God's covenant presence. - that were assembled unto him (הַנּוֹעָדִ֥ים עָלָיו֙ -
hanōʻādîm ‘ālāyw): Underscores the central role of Solomon as God's anointed leader and the people's collective gathering to him for this sacred purpose. This implies a centralized form of worship at the Temple, as commanded by the Law (Deut 16:16). - offered (זָבַ֙ח וּמַלְכִ֔י -
zāvaḥ ûmalkî): The Hebrew verbzāvaḥ(זָבַח) refers to the act of slaughtering animals for sacrifice. It denotes a profound act of worship, consecration, and communal interaction with the divine. The action is immediate and tangible, reflecting genuine religious zeal. - sheep and oxen (צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ -
tzō'n u'vaqar): These are the most common domesticated animals used for sacrifices in the Old Testament, representing a substantial portion of a person's or a nation's wealth and livelihood. Their offering signifies giving from their prosperity and possessions back to God, for burnt offerings (Lev 1), peace offerings (Lev 3), or other oblations. - which could not be told nor numbered for multitude (אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפְר֥וּ וְלֹֽא־יִמָּנ֛וּ מֵרֹ֥ב -
asher lo-yissafru v'lo-yimmanu merōv): This is a rhetorical hyperbole. While 2 Chronicles 7:4-5 provides exact (still immense) numbers for the offerings over seven days, this phrase emphasizes the overwhelming abundance, illustrating the unprecedented scale of devotion and God's blessings.lo-yissafru(לא יספרו) meaning "could not be counted" andlo-yimmanu(לא ימנו) "could not be numbered," both reinforce the immeasurability, implying a blessing from God that provided such bounty and a devotion that poured it forth freely.
Words-group Analysis
- King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him: This phrase highlights the seamless unity between royal leadership and the people. It demonstrates a shared, national commitment to God. Solomon acted not just as a king but as the nation's spiritual representative, and the people fully participated, making the dedication a truly national event rather than a decree from the king alone. This corporate unity in worship was foundational for Israel's identity and its covenant relationship with YHWH.
- offered sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude: This signifies the lavishness and immense scale of their offering, reflecting profound reverence and overwhelming gratitude. The inability to count the animals emphasizes the abundance God had bestowed upon Israel, enabling such sacrifice, and the boundless generosity and devotion demonstrated by the king and the people. It showcases a pinnacle of prosperity and spiritual commitment, transforming their material blessings into an act of worship.
2 Chronicles 5 6 Bonus section
- The chronicler, writing to a post-exilic audience, frequently emphasizes the importance of unified worship, obedience, and the central role of the Temple. This verse powerfully illustrates that ideal, showing a harmonious cooperation between king and people in lavish devotion, aiming to inspire similar faithfulness in his readers.
- The rhetorical exaggeration "could not be told nor numbered" is a common biblical literary device to convey extreme magnitude or multitude (cf. Gen 15:5, Gen 22:17). It's not a factual impossibility but a vivid depiction of unprecedented abundance, which for the ancient reader, directly equated to immense divine blessing and favor upon the nation.
- The sacrifice of livestock, common throughout the ancient Near East, here takes on a distinct theological meaning rooted in the Mosaic Law. It signifies propitiation, fellowship, and thanksgiving. The sheer volume demonstrated that the people truly honored YHWH as the Giver of all life and abundance.
2 Chronicles 5 6 Commentary
2 Chronicles 5:6 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the joyous and lavish dedication of the First Temple. The vast, uncounted numbers of sheep and oxen offered by King Solomon and the entire congregation emphasize two critical points: God's immense blessing upon Israel, leading to such prosperity, and the nation's reciprocal, unparalleled devotion. This wasn't merely a kingly display of wealth, but a corporate act of worship, underscoring Israel's unity under YHWH. The Chronicler highlights this collective involvement to stress the nation's complete adherence to proper worship, showcasing an ideal state of affairs where all of Israel honored God through sacrifice in His appointed dwelling place. This lavish expenditure reflected their understanding of the worthiness of God and the significance of His dwelling among them, acknowledging His sovereignty and their complete dependence upon His provision. The sacrifice prefigured the ultimate sacrifice that would supersede all others, leading to a deeper communion between God and His people, found perfectly in Christ.