Chapter 5

1 The dedicated treasures. 2 The solemn induction of the ark into the oracle. 11 God being praised giveth a visible sign of his favour.

1. Was finished. This verse belongs properly at the close of ch. 4, for it summarizes the material there discussed. In the parallel account it appears as the last verse of the chapter (1 Kings 7:51).

2. Assembled the elders. Chapters 5:2 to 7:22 are an account of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. See comments on 1 Kings 8:1 to 9:9. 2 Chron. 5:2–11, 14 is an almost exact duplicate of the parallel text in 1 Kings 8:1–11. The record in Chronicles adds one important detail not found in Kings, namely, the circumstances under which the manifestation of God’s presence took place (2 Chron. 5:11–13).

City of David. The ark had been kept in a tent in the City of David (1 Chron. 16:1). The City of David was the lower, or southernmost, part of the city of Jerusalem—the old Jebusite stronghold of Zion captured by David, where he had his royal residence (2 Sam. 5:6–9; 1 Chron. 11:5, 7). The hill where the Temple was built was north of the Zion ridge. The ark had been brought to the City of David from the home of Obed-edom (2 Sam. 6:12, 16; 1 Chron. 15).

3. The feast. The Feast of Tabernacles, which was held following the dedication (see on ch. 7:8–10). This feast was a joyous occasion among the Hebrews (Lev. 23:39–43; cf. Neh. 8:14–18).

4. The Levites. The parallel passage reads, “the priests” (1 Kings 8:3). The record further states that “the priests brought in the ark” (2 Chron. 5:7). So “Levites” here must mean such Levites as were sons of Aaron and hence priests.

5. The tabernacle. The tabernacle was moved from Gibeon (see ch. 1:3; PK 38).

The priests and the Levites. The task of bearing the ark and the furniture of the tabernacle was assigned to the Kohathites (Num. 3:30, 31; Num. 4:4, 15). Aaron, whose sons were priests, was a descendant of Kohath (1 Chron. 6:2, 3, 54). See further on 1 Kings 8:3, 4.

6. Sacrificed sheep and oxen. The sacrifice on this occasion corresponded, on a grander scale, to the services on the occasion of David’s transfer of the ark from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David (2 Sam. 6:13; 1 Chron. 15:26).

7. Cherubims. See ch. 3:11–13.

9. Drew out the staves. See on 1 Kings 8:8.

Unto this day. If the entire book of Chronicles was compiled after the Exile (see Introduction to Chronicles, pp. 115–117), the compiler here preserves a statement written before the destruction of the Temple (2 Kings 24:13; 25:9, 13–17) and the secreting of the ark in a cave (see PK 453).

10. Nothing in the ark. Only the two tables of stone containing the law of God were in the ark proper. The pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were no longer there (see on 1 Kings 8:9).

Made a covenant. The law of God was the basis of the old covenant that God made with Israel at Horeb when they came out of Egypt (Ex. 19:5–8; 34:27, 28); and it was also the basis of the new covenant under which He promised to write His law upon the heart (Jer. 31:33, 34).

11. For all the priests. From this point onward, until the clause “for his mercy endureth for ever” (v. 13), the record is peculiar to Chronicles. Between the two clauses that form the halves of the short verse of 1 Kings 8:10 the record in Chronicles describes an important item, giving the exact details of the manifestation of the divine presence in the Temple.

Were sanctified. That is, they had ceremonially purified themselves so that they could take part in this solemn service (see 1 Chron. 15:12).

12. Arrayed. Compare 1 Chron. 15:27.

Cymbals. Compare 1 Chron. 15:28.

With trumpets. Compare 1 Chron. 15:24.

13. Praising and thanking. Music is a form of worship, and praise and thanksgiving are an important element of prayer. As the people raised their voices in joyous praise to God in grateful remembrance of His wonderful mercies to them, God drew near and a cloud filled the Temple.

14. Filled the house. Compare Ex. 40:35; Isa. 6:1–5; Luke 9:34.

Ellen G. White comments

1–14PK 37–39

1–3PK 37

4–7PK 38

12, 13, 14 PK 38