2 Chronicles 7:13

2Ch 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

Ver. 13. If I shut up heaven, &c.] In answer this is to that prayer of Solomon, 1Ki 8:35; 1Ki 8:37.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 7:13. If I command the locusts to devour the land — That is, use my authority and power over them to cause them to do so. A metaphor elsewhere used in reference to irrational animals, as 1Ki 17:4, Amo 9:3, which are not properly capable of receiving a command, or of paying obedience to it. Other national judgments are here supposed, such as famine, war, and the ravages of savage beasts.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7:13-15 These verses refer directly to Solomon’s prayer (see 6:26, 28, 40). God outlined for Solomon the requirements for rescue from judgment. In Solomon’s prayer, each case had been addressed separately; in the Lord’s answer, the required response is developed more generally and comprehensively. The people need humility, repentance, seeking the Lord, and prayer in order to be healed from their distresses.

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

Verse 13. Or if I send pestilence] "The angel of death." - Targum.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(13) If I shut up heaven that there be no rain.—Deu_11:17; 2Ch_6:26.

If.—Hçn, as in Jer_3:1; Isa_54:15.

The locusts.—Hâgâb, a winged and edible species (Lev_11:22). In 2Ch_6:28, two other kinds, the ’arbeh and hâsîl, were mentioned.

If I send pestilence.—2Ch_6:28; 1 Chronicles 21

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

13. to devour the land] LXX. to devour the trees; cp. Exo_10:15; Joe_1:6-7.

13–15. These vv. have no parallel in 1 Kings.

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.

If I command the locusts, i.e. use my authority and power over them to cause them to do so. A metaphor elsewhere used in reference to unreasonable creatures, as 1Ki 17:4; Amo 9:3, who are not properly capable of a command, or of obedience.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 13-15. These three verses (the counterparts of (2Ch_6:26, 2Ch_6:28, 2Ch_6:40) are not in the parallel. Although we can scarcely trace the principle of their selection from the seven parts of the prayer, they would seem to have been selected from the original work, as samples of a reply which presumably embraced reference to all the seven. When, in ver. 14, it is said, I will heal their land, the telling expression, according to the Authorized Version, must be understood to refer to the removing of drought by rain. On the other hand, the Authorized Version is, in ver. 15, unfortunate in the unnecessary and misleading insertion of the italics found there, and in the use of the preposition "in" for of, the simple case construct, which is manifestly what is wanted and intended. It was not absolutely essential that prayer should be made in the place. How many references there are to prayer being made from a distance toward the place!

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

Suppose that I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain

Here "heavens" refers to the sky, and is spoken of as if it were a building in which God stores the rain. See how you translated a similar phrase in 2 Chronicles 6:26. AT: "Suppose that I do not allow the rain to fall from the skies" (See: Metaphor)

devour the land

The word "land" represents the plants and crops on the land. (See: Metonymy)

if I send disease among my people

Here "send disease" represents causing diseases. AT: "if I cause my people to have diseases" (See: Metaphor)

who are called by my name

Here being called by God's name is an idiom meaning belonging to God. AT: "who belong to me" (See: Idiom)

seek my face

Here God's face represents his acceptance of them. Possible meanings are "seek my face" represents 1) urgently asking him for forgiveness. AT: "beg me to forgive them" or 2) strongly wanting to please him. AT: "choose to please me" (See: Metaphor)

turn from their wicked ways

Here "turn from" is a metaphor meaning to stop doing something, and "ways" represent behavior. AT: "stop their wicked behavior" or "stop doing wicked things" (See: Metaphor)

heal their land

Here land that does not produce much is spoken of as though it were sick. AT: "make their land good again" or "make their land produce good crops" (See: Personification)

my eyes will be open

The eyes being open is a metonym for seeing. Here it represents looking attentively. AT: "I will pay attention to you" or "I will watch you" (See: Metonymy)

my ears attentive to the prayers

The ears being attentive is a metonym for listening attentively. AT: "I will listen to the prayers" (See: Metonymy)

the prayers that are made in this place

This can be expressed in active form. AT: "to the prayers that you make in this place" or "to you as you pray to me in this place" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

heaven

command

devour

people of God

call

name

humble

face

turn

evil

forgive

sin

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

If I shut up... if I command...or if I send corresponding to three prayers, “I shall hear...and forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

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.