V.

(1) Thus.—And. This verse is identical with 1Kings 7:51. (The chronicler has made three slight corrections of the older text.)

Brought in all the things . . . dedicated.—Brought in the holy (or hallowed) things of David his father. (Comp. 1Chronicles 18:11; 1Chronicles 26:26-28.)

The implements.—Or, vessels. The word all is omitted by some MSS., and by the LXX., Syriac, and Arabic. “The holy things of David” are identical with “the silver and the gold and the vessels.”

THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE (2Chronicles 5:2 to 2Chronicles 7:22).

12Chronicles 5:2-14.

NATIONAL CEREMONY OF THE TRANSFER OF THE ARK INTO THE TEMPLE.

(Comp. 1Kings 8:1-11.)

The chapter is an almost literal duplicate of the parallel text. The desire to explain and abridge accounts for such variations as are not due to the transcribers.

A.M. 2999. — B.C. 1005.

Solomon brings the dedicated treasures into the house, and the ark into the sanctuary, 2 Chronicles 5:1-10. While the priests and Levites sing praise, the glory of God fills the house, 2 Chronicles 5:11-14.

NOTES ON CHAPTER 5.

2 Chronicles 5:1-2. Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated — What remained of the things that David had provided, Solomon would not employ to his own use, but laid them up in the treasures of the temple. And the silver and the gold — The remainder of those vast sums, mentioned 1 Chronicles 22:14. Solomon assembled the elders of Israel — Of this and the following verses, see notes on 1 Kings 8:1, &c.

2 Chronicles 5:5. They brought up the ark — The ark was a type of Christ, and a token of the presence of God. That gracious promise, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, does in effect bring the ark into our religious assemblies, if we claim it by faith and prayer. And this we should be earnest for: the temple itself, if Christ leave it, is a desolate place. These did the priests bring in, &c. — As many of them as were fit for use, it is probable, were still used. The rest were carefully laid up, as monuments of antiquity.

2 Chronicles 5:9. There it is unto this day — When these records were first written, not when they were reviewed and copied by Ezra: for neither the ark nor the staves were seen or remained after the captivity.

2 Chronicles 5:11. The priests did not then wait by course — According to David’s appointment, (1 Chronicles 24:25.,) which was only for the ordinary service: but in extraordinary solemnities, such as this, they all came together.

2 Chronicles 5:13. To make one sound — They sung and sounded their trumpets all so exactly in time, and in the same note, that it seemed but as one sound. For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever — Probably they sung the whole of Psalms 136., which begins thus, O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, &c., &c.; every verse of which ends with, For his mercy endureth for ever. The house was filled with a cloud — That is, with such a cloud as had formerly been in the most holy place of the tabernacle, and was the token of the gracious presence and blessing of the Divine Majesty among them.

2 Chronicles 5:14. The priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud — This wonderful cloud of the divine glory was a grand distinguishing particular between the Jews and other nations, and an indubitable testimony that God did indeed reveal himself to them, and took them under his protection and care. Other nations had temples dedicated to their gods; but the records of none of them signify, or give any the least intimation, that there was ever any such appearance among them publicly, or in the sight of all the people, as this which is here spoken of, and represented as a convincing token that God was among them, accepted their offerings, and took possession of the house which they had erected for his service. The glory of the Lord had filled the house — And this beautified it more than all the gold with which it was overlaid, or the precious stones with which it was garnished. Yet even that was no glory, in comparison of the glory of the gospel dispensation.

5:1-10 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.This chapter contains one important addition only to the narrative of Kings (see the marginal references); namely, the account of the circumstances under which the manifestation of the Divine Presence took place 2 Chronicles 5:11-13. CHAPTER 5

2Ch 5:1. The Dedicated Treasures.

1. Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated—the immense sums and the store of valuable articles which his father and other generals had reserved and appropriated for the temple (1Ch 22:14; 26:26).The dedicated treasures, 2 Chronicles 5:1. The solemn induction of the ark into the oracle, 2 Chronicles 5:2-10. Glory and praise is sung to God, who appeareth in a cloud, which filled the house, 2 Chronicles 5:11-14.

Or, even (as that particle is oft understood) the silver and the gold, the remainder of those vast sums mentioned 1 Chronicles 22:14.

See Chapter Introduction Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.