2 Chronicles 6 · a question people ask

The last words of the prayer are close to Psalm 132. Which came first?

In the text

The Bible doesn't say. 2 Chronicles ends the prayer, "Now therefore arise, LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness" (6:41), and "LORD God, don’t turn away the face of your anointed. Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant" (6:42). Psalm 132, whose title is "A Song of Ascents" (Psalm 132:1) and names no writer, has "Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength" (Psalm 132:8), "Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!" (Psalm 132:9), and "For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one" (Psalm 132:10). So 2 Chronicles begins "Now therefore" and calls on the "LORD God" three times, where the psalm has "LORD" once; the priests are clothed with salvation in one and righteousness in the other (later in the psalm the LORD says, "I will also clothe her priests with salvation" (Psalm 132:16)); the saints rejoice in goodness in one and shout for joy in the other; "your anointed" is "your anointed one" in the psalm; and David comes before the request in the psalm ("For your servant David’s sake") and after it in 2 Chronicles ("Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant"). The psalm begins, "LORD, remember David" (Psalm 132:1); 2 Chronicles ends, "Remember your loving kindnesses to David" (6:42). 1 Kings 8 has none of these words and ends the prayer with Egypt (1 Kings 8:51-53). Neither book says why, and this answer quotes them and leaves them side by side.

The verses

““Now therefore arise, LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness. “LORD God, don’t turn away the face of your anointed. Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant.””
2 Chronicles 6:41-42 · World English Bible
“A Song of Ascents. LORD, remember David and all his affliction,”
Psalm 132:1 · World English Bible
“Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy! For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.”
Psalm 132:8-10 · World English Bible
“I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.”
Psalm 132:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6: Hands toward heaven

Solomon's bronze platform (6:13) is, in Hebrew, the word for the bronze basins of 4:6, and only Chronicles tells that he knelt on it. And only Chronicles ends the prayer with David: "Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant" (6:42), two Hebrew words, chasdei David, found side by side in just one other verse of the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 55:3.

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

First week free, then $10 a month per person

More questions about 2 Chronicles 6

All questions about 2 Chronicles →

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions like this, in every chapter

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions