2 Chronicles 5

Notes on the verses

Chap. V. Ver. 2—14. Then Solomon assembled, &c.—These verses are a repetition of (1 Kings 8:1-14), except that something is here added more fully as to the sacred music performed on this occasion: the performers being 120 priests with trumpets, besides a great number of voices, harps, psalteries, and cymbals. From the multitude of these, Dr. Clarke concludes that there could not be “much harmony;” as to “melody, (he says,) that must have been impossible, as the noise was too great.” From this we may infer, that the Doctor was not present at the Abbey performances in 1784 and 4; nor, we should think, at the anniversary of the charity children at St. Paul’s, London, when 5000 or more voices united in the solemn melody of Old Hundredth, a service with which the celebrated Haydn professed himself more affected than with all the music he had before heard.

From the circumstance, however, of their all making but “one sound,” there seems to be just reason for concluding, that they knew nothing of musical counterpoint, or modern harmony. Ver. 2. In the feast.—Namely of Tabernacles. Ver. 9. Unto this day,—[i.e. the day when these events were recorded; not the day when these extracts were made, after the captivity, and consequently long after the destruction of the temple.]—Bagster. Ver. 10. Nothing in the ark.—[In the Epistle to the Hebrews, it is expressly stated that in the ark were “the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;” but it is evident that the apostle speaks there of the tabernacle erected by Moses, and of the state and contents of that tabernacle in the time of Moses; and in the temple there were several things added, and several left out.]—Bagster.

(2 Chronicles 6)This chapter contains Solomon’s prayer on this occasion; and it corresponds in sense, and for the most part in words, with the 8th chapter of the 1st Book of Kings. We may add, however, that the narrative may be illustrated by comparing the dedication of this temple with that of the Mosaic tabernacle related in (Exodus 40:33-38). Ver. 5. Neither chose I any man, &c.—[The Judges and Saul were chosen by God, for a season, to be rulers of Israel; but not to establish a permanent and hereditary authority over that people, as was the case with David. This clause is wanting in the parallel passage of Kings; but it helps to clear the] Ver. 6. Chosen Jerusalem.—(This clause is also not found in Kings.

Jerusalem marked out, by the building of the temple, to be the centre as Jehovah had before spoken by Moses.]—Bagster. [Jerusalem was the seat of the worship of Israel;]