2 Chronicles 7:5 kjv
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
2 Chronicles 7:5 nkjv
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
2 Chronicles 7:5 niv
And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God.
2 Chronicles 7:5 esv
King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
2 Chronicles 7:5 nlt
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God.
2 Chronicles 7 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 8:62-63 | Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord… | Parallel account of Solomon's grand sacrifice |
| 2 Chron 7:1-3 | ...fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering... | Immediate context; God's acceptance by fire |
| Exod 24:5 | ...sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. | Communal sacrifice with feasting |
| Lev 1:1-17 | Instructions for burnt offerings, totally consumed. | Type of sacrifice to atone |
| Lev 3:1-17 | Instructions for peace offerings, shared communion. | Basis for communal feasting, fellowship |
| Deut 12:5-7 | ...to the place the Lord your God will choose... there you shall eat... | Command for centralized worship and feasting |
| Psa 50:9-10 | "I have no need of a bull from your stall... every beast of the forest..." | God's ownership of all animals, not needing them |
| Psa 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart... | Emphasis on spiritual sacrifice over mere animals |
| 1 Chron 22:9-10 | "Solomon... he shall build a house for my name." | God's promise about Solomon building the Temple |
| 1 Ki 4:22-23 | Solomon’s daily provisions were enormous... | Reflects Solomon's general abundance and wealth |
| 1 Ki 10:23 | King Solomon excelled all the kings... in riches and wisdom. | Proof of God's blessing and prosperity |
| Exod 40:33-35 | ...Moses finished the work... the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. | Precedent of God filling a consecrated dwelling |
| Ezra 6:16-17 | Then the people of Israel... dedicated this house of God with joy... | Post-exilic Temple dedication, also with sacrifice |
| Isa 60:6-7 | ...sheep from Kedar will be gathered... offered on my altar with acceptance. | Prophetic promise of future large-scale offerings |
| Joel 1:9 | The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off... | Contrast showing vital importance of Temple sacrifice |
| Heb 9:22 | ...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Principle of blood atonement behind sacrifices |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Animal sacrifices were temporary, pointing to Christ |
| Heb 10:11-14 | And every priest stands daily at his service, offering... one sacrifice... | Christ's perfect, ultimate, and eternal sacrifice |
| Rom 12:1 | ...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. | New Testament call to spiritual, living sacrifice |
| Php 4:18 | ...a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | New Testament application of "sacrifice" in giving |
| Psa 116:17 | I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving... | Sacrifices as expressions of gratitude |
| Lev 9:24 | ...fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering... | Earlier divine acceptance of priestly sacrifice |
2 Chronicles 7 verses
2 Chronicles 7 5 Meaning
2 Chronicles 7:5 describes the immense scale of the animal sacrifices offered by King Solomon during the dedication of the newly completed Temple. This staggering quantity of twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep signified an unparalleled act of national worship, profound devotion, and exuberant thanksgiving to God. It underscored the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel, highlighting God's immense blessings and the kingdom's commitment to Him. The scale also allowed for a grand, inclusive celebration and feasting, establishing the Temple as the central place of God's presence and communion with His people.
2 Chronicles 7 5 Context
This verse is embedded in the magnificent account of the dedication of Solomon's Temple. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of 2 Chronicles collectively narrate this pivotal event, marking the formal establishment of God's dwelling place among His people. Immediately preceding verse 5, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 describes a miraculous manifestation of God's presence: fire descends from heaven to consume the offerings, and the glory of the Lord fills the Temple, prompting the people to fall on their faces in worship. Verse 4 details that both King Solomon and the people were offering sacrifices, leading directly into the precise quantities in verse 5. This massive offering was part of a grand fourteen-day festival (2 Chron 7:9), symbolizing national unity, joyous worship, and the sealing of the covenant. The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic audience, emphasizes these large-scale acts of worship to highlight the past glory of Israel under a righteous king, reinforcing the importance of the Temple, priestly service, and faithfulness to God as foundational for their identity and future prosperity.
2 Chronicles 7 5 Word analysis
- And King Solomon: "King" (מֶ֫לֶךְ, melekh) denotes his supreme royal authority, emphasizing that this was a national act led by the sovereign chosen by God. "Solomon" (שְׁלֹמֹה, Shlomo) means "peaceful" or "peaceable," underscoring the era of peace and prosperity that allowed for such a grand undertaking and celebration.
- offered a sacrifice: The verb "offered" (וַיִּזְבְּח֥וּ, vayyizbeḥū) comes from the root זָבַח (zabach), meaning "to slaughter for sacrifice." The noun "sacrifice" (זֶ֣בַח, zevach) refers primarily to a communal offering or peace offering, implying that portions were offered to God, to the priests, and also eaten by the worshipers, indicating a covenant meal and joyful fellowship.
- of twenty-two thousand oxen: "Oxen" (בָּקָ֛ר, bāqār) refers to cattle or bovines. This immense number signifies overwhelming abundance and national wealth, pointing to the generosity and profound devotion of the king and the people. These were highly valued animals, representing significant economic and material commitment.
- and one hundred twenty thousand sheep: "Sheep" (צֹ֔אן, tzōʾn) encompasses both sheep and goats. This even larger quantity further magnifies the scale of the offering, highlighting an unparalleled act of worship. The precise numbers convey not just extravagance, but a deliberate and massive allocation of resources towards the dedication and God's glory.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And King Solomon offered a sacrifice": This phrase highlights the royal initiative in leading national worship, establishing the Temple as the central place of pilgrimage and atonement, and affirming Solomon's role as a pious leader obedient to divine commands regarding the sanctuary. It also sets the stage for God's reciprocal act of blessing.
- "of twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep": The pairing and immense numbers of "oxen" and "sheep" underscore the totality and grandeur of the consecration. This magnitude not only demonstrated the physical and financial might of Solomon's kingdom but also reflected a deep national piety and communal rejoicing in God's presence. Such quantities implied a well-organized Levitical service for processing the offerings, and a feast distributed across a vast population, cementing the nation's identity around God's Temple.
2 Chronicles 7 5 Bonus section
- This immense sacrificial offering, spanning fourteen days of dedication (2 Chron 7:9-10), represents arguably the largest animal sacrifice in biblical history.
- The sacrifice of such vast numbers of animals provided the meat for the feasting during the festival, symbolizing covenant fellowship where God, priests, and the people shared in the communal meal.
- While an incredible feat, such a mass sacrifice, in its very magnitude and repetition over the centuries, served as a foundational backdrop in the Old Testament pointing towards the single, ultimate, and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which eternally satisfied God's requirements for sin (Heb 9:12, 10:14). The sheer number underscores the temporal and insufficient nature of animal blood for true purification.
2 Chronicles 7 5 Commentary
2 Chronicles 7:5 provides a striking numerical account of the unprecedented animal sacrifices that accompanied the dedication of Solomon's Temple. This act was far more than a mere religious ritual; it was a comprehensive demonstration of the nation's profound devotion, gratitude, and communal joy in God's presence. The staggering number of animals symbolized the abundant blessings Yahweh had bestowed upon Solomon and Israel, while simultaneously reflecting the king's unreserved commitment to the Lord. As communal peace offerings, these sacrifices also enabled the entire populace to partake in sacred feasts, fostering a sense of shared communion with God and unity within the nation. The scale was not just about quantitative worship but the qualitative essence of an entire kingdom pouring out its resources in zealous thanksgiving, marking the Temple as the physical locus where God met with His people and His glory was made manifest.