2 Chronicles 1:7
in 2 Chronicles 1That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
KJV
In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
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This verse in 2 Chronicles 1
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The verbal differences between this passage and the corresponding one of Kings 1Ki 3:5-14 are very considerable, and indicate the general truth that the object of the sacred historians is to give a true account of the real bearing of what was said: not ordinarily to furnish us with all or the exact words that were uttered.
This site's exposition
Ask what I shall give thee
on 2 Chronicles 1:7-10
The night vision and Solomon's answer run parallel to 1 Ki 3:5-15, already carried in full there, and Chronicles compresses the exchange while keeping its shape: God's mercy to David, Solomon's own inexperience, and the plea for wisdom to judge so great a people. Chronicles' own wording at verse 9, a people like the dust of the earth in multitude, is not the phrase Kings uses, and it recalls the promise made to Abraham and Jacob that their seed would be as the dust of the earth. Solomon asks for wisdom to govern the very multitude the old promise foretold.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Do thou also therefore ask nothing worldly, but all things spiritual, and thou wilt surely receive. For so Solomon, because he asked what he ought, behold how quickly he received. Two things now, you see, should be in him that prays, asking earnestly, and asking what he ought: "since ye too," saith He, "though ye be fathers, wait for your sons to ask: and if they should ask of you anything inexpedient, ye refuse the gifts; just as, if it be expedient, ye consent and bestow it." Do thou too, considering these things, not withdraw until thou receive; until thou have found, retire not; relax not thy diligence, until the door be opened. For if thou approach with this mind, and say, "Except I receive, I depart not;" thou wilt surely receive, provided thou ask such things, as are both suitable for Him of whom thou askest to give, and expedient for thee the petitioner. But what are these? To seek the things spiritual, all of them; to forgive them that have trespassed, and so to draw nigh asking forgiveness; "to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting." If we thus ask, we shall receive. As it is, surely our asking is a mockery, and the act of drunken rather than of sober men. "What then," saith one, "if I ask even spiritual things, and do not receive?" Thou didst not surely knock with earnestness; or thou madest thyself unworthy to receive; or didst quickly leave off. "And wherefore," it may be inquired, "did He not say, what things we ought to ask"? Nay verily, He hath mentioned them all in what precedes, and hath signified for what things we ought to draw nigh. Say not then, "I drew nigh, and did not receive." For in no case is it owing to God that we receive not, God who loves us so much as to surpass even fathers, to surpass them as far as goodness doth this evil nature.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
In that night did God appear unto Solomon,.... From hence to the end of 2Ch 1:12 it is the same with 1Ki 3:5. See Gill on 1Ki 3:5, 1Ki 3:6, 1Ki 3:7, 1Ki 3:8, 1Ki 3:9, 1Ki 3:10, 1Ki 3:11, 1Ki 3:12, 1Ki 3:13, 1Ki 3:14, 1Ki 3:15.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
In that night - The night following the sacrifice. On Solomon’s choice, see the notes on 1Ki 3:5-15 (note).
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בַּלַּ֣יְלָה | balaylah | in the night | H3915 → | 233 times |
| הַה֔וּא | hahu' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נִרְאָ֥ה | nirah | he appeared | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֱלֹהִ֖ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה | lishlomoh | to Solomon | H8010 → | 291 times |
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| ל֔וֹ | lo | to him | ||
| שְׁאַ֖ל | sheal | ask | H7592 → | 171 times |
| מָ֥ה | mah | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| אֶתֶּן־ | ʾeten- | will I give | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לָֽךְ׃ | lakh | to you |
בַּלַּ֣יְלָהin the night
balaylahH3915 →233 times
הַה֔וּא<the> that
hahu'H1931 →1879 times
נִרְאָ֥הhe appeared
nirahH7200 →1300 times
אֱלֹהִ֖יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑הto Solomon
lishlomohH8010 →291 times
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
ל֔וֹto him
lo
שְׁאַ֖לask
shealH7592 →171 times
מָ֥הwhat?
mahH4100 →752 times
אֶתֶּן־will I give
ʾeten-H5414 →2011 times
לָֽךְ׃to you
lakh
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 16:23In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
it leads to
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- John 14:13–14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
- Isaiah 65:24
Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- 1 John 5:14–16
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- John 15:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew 23; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Keil, The Books of the Chronicles.