Read 2 Chronicles 2 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
1:14-2:2 {p} Solomon increased chariots/ horses/ silver/ gold; determined to build YHVH’s house
2:3-10 {s} Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre, for timber and a skilled craftsman
2:11-16 {p} Hiram sent to Solomon his master craftsman and arranged for the delivery of timber
2:17-3:7 {s} …
The Strong themes:
2:3-16 {s+p} Solomon and Hiram king of Tyre contract for timber and a master craftsman to build YHVH’s house
The Chiastic structure:
But who is able to build Him a house, since the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain Him? 2 Chr 2:6
The Three Heavens of the Biblical Cosmology
The First Heaven
The Hebrew שמים shamayim (Strong’s H8064) “heavens” or “sky,” refers to the atmosphere surrounding the earth, where birds fly and clouds gather.
And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament, Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. Gen 1:6-8
This firmament of heaven separates the waters above (water vapor in clouds) from waters below (seas).
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let winged creatures fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Gen 1:20
The Second Heaven
The second heaven is the heavens beyond the first heaven: the cosmos, the realm of the sun, moon, and stars.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens, to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. Gen 1:14-15
God placed the celestial bodies in the firmament of the heavens, distinct from the simple firmament or atmosphere of Gen 1:6.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established; what is man, that You are mindful of him? And the son of man, that You visit him? Psa 8:3-4
The Third Heaven
The phrase “the heavens of the heavens” is a Hebrew multiplier, meaning the heavens beyond the atmosphere and the cosmos; the heavens exalted above the heavens of this natural world.
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to the heavens; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Gen 28:12
It denotes the spiritual realm where God dwells and where His throne is.
YHVH is in His holy temple, YHVH’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids test the children of men. Psa 11:4
When we speak of going to heaven upon our death, it is this third heaven to which we are referring.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of YHVH forever. Psa 23:6
Then the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecc 12:7
And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luk 23:43
We are confident, and rather prefer to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:8
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