2 Chronicles5
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
2Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ houses of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.
3And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
4And all the elders of Israel came: and the Levites took up the ark;
5and they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the priests the Levites bring up.
6And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
7And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
8For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
9And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there it is unto this day.
10There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place (for all the priests that were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their courses;
12also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brethren, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets);
13it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Jehovah; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Jehovah, saying, For he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah,
14so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of God.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The ark placed in the temple. (1–10). The temple filled with glory. (11–14).
vv1-10
The ark was a type of Christ, and, as such, a token of the presence of God. That gracious promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, does, in effect, bring the ark into our religious assemblies, if we by faith and prayer plead that promise; and this we should be most earnest for. When Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart, the ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the temple of the Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul.
vv11-14
God took possession of the temple; he filled it with a cloud. Thus he signified his acceptance of this temple, to be the same to him that the tabernacle of Moses was, and assured his people that he would be the same in it. Would we have God dwell in our hearts, we must leave room for him; every thing else must give way. The Word was made flesh; and when he comes to his temple, like a refiner's fire, who may abide the day of his coming? May he prepare us for that day.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מְלָאכָה: properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
שָׁלַם: to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
קֹדֶשׁ: a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
Cross References
2 Chronicles 5Parallel account detailing the assembly and transport of the ark to the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details the immense dedicated treasures accumulated by David that Solomon brought in.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
In contrast to David's ordinary priestly divisions, all courses served together here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of the cloud filling the house, preventing the priests from ministering.
Supported by JFB
Lists dedicated materials from David, Samuel, Saul, and Joab stored in treasury.
Supported by JFB
David's organization of the Levitical singers under Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle, echoing the temple filling here.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic command that the staves must remain in the rings of the ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The placement of the two stone covenant tablets inside the ark by Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The sanctification of priests and Levites required for bearing the sacred ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The established Levitical liturgy of praising God: 'His mercy endureth for ever.'
Supported by JFB
Subsequent event where the glory of the Lord again filled the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament description of the ark contents and spiritual significance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The institution of the silver trumpets used by priests in divine service.
Supported by JFB