What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:5?

And King Solomon offered a sacrifice

Picture the king standing before the brand-new temple, leading the nation in worship. Scripture records that Solomon himself initiates the offering, underscoring personal responsibility in honoring the LORD (2 Chronicles 5:6; 1 Kings 8:62). The text is clear and literal: the king truly offered sacrifices, not merely presided over a ritual.

Key takeaways:

• Leadership starts with worship. Solomon does what Deuteronomy 17:18-19 commanded every king—put the LORD first.

• Genuine worship flows from obedience. The sacrifices were performed exactly as God had prescribed (Leviticus 1–7).

• Public faith has private roots. Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6 shows his heart before his hands begin the offerings.

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of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep

These staggering numbers are not symbolic exaggerations; they literally describe the offerings. They spotlight:

• God’s unmatched worth. A lavish gift befits a great King (Psalm 96:7-8).

• National gratitude. After years of construction, the people respond with abundance (1 Chronicles 29:21-22).

• Covenant fullness. Early tabernacle dedications involved far fewer animals (Numbers 7); the temple, as a permanent dwelling, draws an exponentially greater response.

Cross references: 1 Kings 8:63 repeats the totals; Hebrews 9:22 reminds us “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness,” pointing ahead to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.

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So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God

The dedication joins king and people in unity:

• Shared commitment. Worship is never spectator sport; everyone participates (2 Chronicles 7:4).

• Divine affirmation. Immediately afterward, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3), God’s visible “Amen” to their devotion.

• Lasting purpose. The word “dedicated” means set apart permanently. From this moment, the temple belongs wholly to God, foreshadowing believers who are now His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

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summary

Solomon personally offers sacrifices, the nation responds with extraordinary numbers, and together they consecrate the temple to the LORD. The literal events reveal timeless truths: leaders must model worship, God deserves our best, and dedication involves the whole community under divine approval.