2 Chronicles 6:28

6:28-31 Petition 4: Solomon showed a special sensitivity to human suffering by including both the private sorrow of those whose pain is hidden and the public distress of those whose pain is apparent. The prayer is personal, appealing to God’s knowledge of each individual motive. A further appeal pleads for God’s instruction so that the pain of failure might lead the individual to follow God’s ways in the future.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Hebrew, in the land of their gates.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(28) If their enemies besiege them.—If his enemies (Kings, “enemy”) besiege him. (So in 2Ch_6:34.)

In the cities of their land.—See margin, which correctly renders the Hebrew text. But the expression “in the land of his gates” is strange. LXX. has, “if the enemy afflict him before their cities;” Vulg., “et hostes, vastatis regionibus, portas obsederint civitatis;” Syriac and Arabic, “when enemies press them hard in their land and in their cities.” Perhaps “in the land (at) his gates” is right (Bertheau).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. dearth] R.V. famine (as in 1 Kings).

caterpillars] Rather some kind of locust; see Driver on Joe_1:4.

in the cities of their land] R.V. in the land of their cities (Heb. gates). The text is probably corrupt: read either, in any one of their cities (cp. LXX.), or, by making a breach in his gates (Heb. biphìrôç for b’ereç).

whatsoever sore] R.V. whatsoever plague. “Plague” is used here in the general sense of calamity, as in the phrase. The Ten Plagues of Egypt.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Blasting, or mildew, (ærugo & aurugo.) The first has the colour of brass, the other of gold. both have nearly the same import. (Menochius) --- One of the terms is rendered, corrupt air; (3 Kings viii. 37.; Calmet) as this is one of the great causes why both plants and animals do not thrive. Septuagint, "corruption of the air and king’s evil, or yellow jaundice:" Greek: ikteros. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

(See Lev_26:16-26; Deu_28:22-52, 59 2Ch_20:9) In the cities of their land. This, to represent correctly the Hebrew, should read, in the land of their gates. Reference probably is being made to the fact that law and justice and judgment were administered "in the gate of the city" (Deu_16:18 Deu_21:19; Jos_20:4) Thou only knowest. (so 1Ch_28:9) That they may fear thee. (Psa_130:4) In the absence of a healthy fear is involved both the absence of a healing hopefulness, and too probably the presence of recklessness.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

blight or mildew

These are agricultural terms that refer to the death of crops from either too little or too much rain, respectively.

locusts or caterpillars

A "locust" is a type of grasshopper that causes destruction by eating crops. The word "caterpillar" refers to an early growth stage of the locust.

prayers and requests are made by a person or by all your people Israel

This can be stated in active form. AT: "a person, or all your people Israel, prays and makes requests" (See: Active or Passive)

prayers and requests

The words "prayers" and "requests" mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the person is sincere as he makes his requests. (See: Doublet)

knowing the plague and sorrow in his own heart

Here "plague" is a metaphor for sin, and sin and sorrow are spoken of as being in people's hearts. AT: "knowing the sin and sorrow in his own heart" (See: Metaphor)

he spreads out his hands toward this temple

This was a way of showing that they were praying to the God of the temple. See how you translated "spread out his hands" in 2 Chronicles 6:12. (See: Symbolic Action)

for all his ways

Here "his ways" represents the person's behavior. AT: "for what he has done" (See: Metaphor)

so that they may walk in your ways

Here "walk in your ways" represents living and behaving the way God wants. AT: "so that they may live as you want them to" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

famine

locust

gate

plague

heaven

forgive

know

fear

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness (there be) The meaning is: I have mentioned to You pestilence, blast and mildew, being struck down [in battle], and lack of rainfall, and what else can I include, but whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there may be, and he pray and spread forth his hands toward this House, and this is what it says.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.