2 Chronicles 5

Salomon causeth all the dedicated things of his father, v.1. &c. and the ark of God, with other vessels to be brought into the temple, 2. What was in the ark, 10. Glory and praise is sung unto God, 11. Whereupon the LORD appeareth in a cloud, which filleth the house, 13.

1. Thus all the work that Salomon made for the house of the LORD, was finished: Then Salomon brought (in) all the hallowed things [Heb. Holinesses; that is, things hallowed to the LORD. See 1 Kings 7.on v.51.] of David his Father; and the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, laid he among the treasures of the house of God.

2. Then Salomon assembled the Eldest of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the Fathers among the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem: To bring up [To wit, into the Temple, into which they were to go up with steps, or stairs] the ark of the covenant of the LORD [the reason or ground of this appellation, see Numb.10.on vers.33.] out of the city of David, which is Zion. [Compare this relation with 1 Kings 8:1, etc. and see there the annotate. Which likewise appertaineth to this place.]

3. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the King at the feast: which was (in) the seventh month. [Called 1 Kings 8:2. Ethamim, almost agreeing with our September. See the annotate. There.]

4. And all the Eldest of Israel came, and the Levites [Namely, the Priests out of the family of Levi] took up the ark. [compare 1 Kings 8:3. and below v.5. and 7Item see Num.4.on v.15.]

5. And they brought up the ark, and the tent of the congregation together with all the holy vessels [Hebr. Vessels of holiness, that is, holy vessels; so called, because they were ordained for the holy use. See Lev.16.on ver.4.] that were in the Tent, these did the Priests (and) the Levites bring upwards.

6. Now king Salomon, and all the Congregation of Israel that were assembled with him before the ark, offered sheep, and oxen [See of the proper signification of these words, Gen.12.on ver.26.] which could not be told, nor numbered for multitude.

7. So the Priests brought the ask of the covenant of the Lord unto its place, to the oracles-place, [That is, the inner part of the Temple, forthwith in the sequel called, the holy of holies. Why it was called Oracles-place, see 1 Kings 6.on v.5.] of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubims. [see the annotate. On 1 Kings 6:27. and 8 6.]

8. For the Cherubims spread forth both wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark, and the head-beams thereof [See of these, Exod.25.13,14,15.] from above.

9. Then they shoved the head-beams further out, that the heads [That is, the outermost ends] of the hand-beams were seen from the ark [to wit, in regard the ends of the hand-beams were thence drawn forth and shoved out. See hereof further, 1 Kings 8.on v.8.] before the oracles place, but were not seen without: And it was there unto this day. [That is, until the burning of the Temple by the Babylonians.]

10. There was nothing in the ark, save only the two tables, which Moseh had put (therein) at Horeb, [In the wilderness, in the camp of the Israelites, where the ark with its appurtenances was made. See likewise of this mount, Num.10.on v.33.] when the LORD made (a covenant) with the children of Israel, when they were come forth out of Egypt. [see the exposition of this ver. 1 Kings 8.on v.9.]

11. And it came to pass, when the Priests went forth out of the holy place: [See 1 Kings 8.on v.10.] (for all the Priests that were found had hallowed themselves, [that is, had purified themselves according to the ordinance of the law, and prepared themselves for this solemn business of the dedication of the temple, which was done by prayers, fasting, washing of garments, abstaining from conjugal society. Compare Gen.35.2. and see the annotate. Item Exod.19.10. and the annotate.] without keeping the divisions. [understand the distinction of courses or turns, which the Priests were to observe in the executed of their office, according to the order appointed by David, 1 Chron.24. this they could not now follow in this extraordinary work wherein they were all of them to be employed.]

12. And the Levites which were singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, [These were chief singers, and very wise men of the tribe of Levi, having under them many other singers, and among these their sons, etc. See of them, 1 Chron.25.1,2,etc.] and of their sons, and of their brethren, cloathed in fine linen, with cymbals, and with lutes, and harps [oth. Citherns] stood toward the East of the altar, and with them to (the number of) an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with trumpets.)

13. It came to pass then, when they trumpeted, and sung with one accord, [Heb. As one, to wit, man] to cause an uniform voice to be heard, praising, and thanking the LORD; and when they lift up (their) voice with trumpets, and with cymbals, and (other) musical instruments, and when they praised the LORD, (saying) for he is good, for his mercy is for ever; [it is thought that they sung, and played upon musical instruments, the 136. Psalm; wherein the verses do end with these words. It may be also, that they sung some other Psalms besides, and thereunto added these words, as the 96. The 105. Etc. Compare 1 Chron.16.7,8,etc.] that the house was filled with a cloud, (namely) the house of the LORD.

14. And the Priests could not stand minister, by reason of the cloud: For the glory of the LORD had filled the house. [See Numb.14.on v.10.]