The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 5
Chapter V · Vol. II, pp. 849–850
1 The dedicated treasures. 2 The solemn induction of the ark into the most holy place. 11 God being praised, giveth a visible sign of his favour.
1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was afinished:1 and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the bsilver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
B.C. 1004.
a 1 Ki.7.51.
1 Three thousand years after the creation.
b What remained of that mentioned 1 Ch.22.14; 29.4,7; 26.26-28.
2 Thenc Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel,2 unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD dout of the city of David, which is Zion.3
c 1 Ki.8.1-11, &c. 1 Ch.13.1; 28.1; 29.1.
2 B.C. 1003.
d 2 Sa.6.12. 1 Ch.16.1. ch.1.4.
3 Jerusalem was built upon several hills. The largest and loftiest was Zion. On it stood the ancient citadel of the Jebusites which David captured and made the seat of his government. It was on this account called 'the city of David.' When the ark was brought up from the house of Obed-edom, it was placed in a tabernacle specially prepared for it by king David, and erected on Mount Zion, in all probability beside the palace, 2 Sa.6.12. 1 Ch.16.1. Solomon having now completed the erection of the temple, the ark was removed from Zion and conveyed to its final resting-place on the summit of Mount Moriah in the holy of holies.—P.
3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king ein the feast which was in the seventh month.4
e Le.23.34-36. Nu.29.12-38. 1 Ki.8.2. ch.7.8-10.
4 In the feast of tabernacles, Le. 23. 34, which was celebrated in the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year called Ethanim.—C.
5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.5
5 The Levites might carry the ark to the temple, but might not take it into the most holy place—this was lawful for the priests only, ver.7.—C.
6 Also gking Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
g 1 Ch.29.21; 16.1,2. 1 Ki.8.5. 2 Sa.6.13.
7 And the hpriests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to ithe oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
h 1 Ki.8.6. Jos.3.6; 6.6. 1 Ch.15.2,12,14.
i 1 Ki.6.27. ch.3.10-13. Ex.25.18-22, i.e. the inmost and altogether dark apartment.
8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the kstaves thereof above.
k Ex.25.12,15. Nu.4.6.
9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And lthere it is unto this day.6
l Or, they are there, as 1 Ki.8.8.
6 That is, until the time when the original account was written.—C.
10 There was nothing in the ark save mthe two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when7 the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place; (for all the priests that were 8present9 were nsanctified, and did not then wait oby course;
8 Heb. found.
9 All that were found in the whole land were assembled, not by courses, as in the ordinary service, but in one general assembly, the emblem of that greater and more glorious company of the royal priesthood, 1 Pe. 2. 9, that shall yet assemble to witness the dedication of a more glorious temple, Re. 21.3,10,22,26.—C.
12 Alsop the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals, and psalteries, and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with qtrumpets;)
A.M. 3001. B.C. 1003.
p 1 Ch.xxv.; 6.18-47; 15.16-24; 16.4-6,41,42. Re.14.1-4.
q Nu.10.1-10. Le.25.9,10.
13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make rone sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with sthe trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, tFor he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud,1 even the house of the LORD;2
r ver.12. Is.52.8. Ac.2.42,46. Ro.15.6. 1 Co.1.10.
s Ps.150.2-4; 68.25,26. 1 Ch.15.16-21,28; 16.5,42; 25.1-6.
t Ps.136.1-26. ch.20.21.
1 God's covenant of light and life was written on a cloud, Ge. 9. 13. By a cloud God protected his people, Ex. 14. 20. In a cloud he exhibited the emblematic brightness of his glory, Ex. 16. 10, and from a thick cloud he spoke to Moses, Ex. 19.9. From all which we learn that, even in the midst of light, there is still a mysterious darkness over the providence of the Almighty, and that even in our most sacred worship we can see but as through a cloud darkly. See ch. 6.1.—C.
2 The ancient versions (followed by Dathe), instead of house, read glory—by which the repetition of house is avoided. This suits better ver. 14. 'When the singers and musicians praised God with one sound, then the house was filled with the cloud. Where unity is, there the Lord commands the blessing' (Henry).—I.
Notes
[Ver. 10. It has been objected that this passage does not accord with Ex. 16. 33 and He. 9. 4. It will be observed, however, that in Ex. 16. 33 it is not said the 'pot of manna' was to be placed in the ark, but only 'before the Lord.' It is probable, however, that while the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, and while the ark remained without a settled place in Palestine, the pot of manna and rod of Aaron may have been placed within it for security; but upon being located permanently in Jerusalem the rod and the manna were put in their proper positions 'before the Lord.' Hence it is truly said in this chapter, 'There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb.' The emphatic manner in which this statement is made leaves the impression on the mind that at some previous period there had been other things in it. Paul, in the epistle to the Hebrews, speaks of the time when the manna and rod were in the ark. P.]
Ver. 14. [It is worthy of note that as at the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness, 'a cloud covered the tent of the congregation; and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle; and Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon;' so now, on the dedication of the temple, 'the house was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.' P.]
Reflections.—If we would inherit our godly parents' blessings we must religiously pursue their intentions. Dedicated things must never be alienated from the Lord's service. The most regularly framed and furnished churches are but desolate if they want the presence of Jesus Christ, the ark of God's strength, and the glory of his Father in him. But his faithful people, according to his promise, shall have him with them always unto the end of the world. And when God accepts us in Christ, and himself in him, we ought exceedingly to rejoice in and thank him, as then we shall taste joys unspeakable and full of glory. When everything else is put out of God's room, and we become hearty and unanimous in our prayers and praises, we may expect astonishing discoveries of his glory in our second, our great temple, Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily!