2 Chronicles 5

The Ark Brought to the Temple

¹Thus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of God’s house.

²Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion.

³So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.

⁴All the elders of Israel came. The Levites took up the ark.

⁵They brought up the ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent. The Levitical priests brought these up.

⁶King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered for multitude.

⁷The priests brought in the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.

⁸For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.

⁹The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen outside; and it is there to this day.

¹⁰There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

¹¹When the priests had come out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and didn’t keep their divisions;

¹²also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets);

¹³when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even the LORD’s house,

¹⁴so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the LORD’s glory filled God’s house.

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Solomon completes the temple construction and orchestrates the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the City of David to its permanent home in the temple's Most Holy Place. The ceremony involves all Israel's leadership, countless sacrifices, and elaborate worship led by Levitical priests and musicians. When the ark is properly positioned and unified worship begins, God's glory fills the temple as a cloud, so powerfully that the priests cannot continue their service.

Context

This chapter follows the completion of temple construction in chapter 4 and precedes Solomon's dedicatory prayer and God's response in chapters 6-7.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Temple Completion and Assembly Solomon finishes the temple work and summons all Israel's leaders to Jerusalem for the ark's transfer during the seventh month feast.
4-6
The Ark's Procession Levites carry the ark and sacred vessels while Solomon and the congregation offer countless sacrificial animals.
7-10
Ark Placement in the Holy of Holies Priests install the ark beneath the cherubim's wings in the inner sanctuary, containing only Moses' covenant tablets.
11-14
Divine Glory Fills the Temple Unified worship by priests and Levites triggers God's glorious presence to fill the temple as a cloud, overwhelming the ministers.

The Ark Brought to the Temple

5:1–5:14

narrative narration solemn

Solomon completes the temple and brings the ark of the covenant into the holy of holies, where God's glory fills the temple with cloud and fire. The Levites and priests conduct worship with music and sacrifices as the sacred ark is installed in its permanent dwelling place.

person_contrast

Solomon, typically portrayed as the wise ruler, here functions as chief liturgist orchestrating the ark's installation with sacrifices and worship—a rare priestly role for Israel's king.

Insight Character Study

Solomon, typically portrayed as the wise ruler, here functions as chief liturgist orchestrating the ark's installation with sacrifices and worship—a rare priestly role for Israel's king.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

2 Chronicles 5:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

1 Kings 7:51 Lexical

Thus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his…

8 shared words

Joshua 6:19 Lexical

But all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.…

5 shared words

Ezra 2:69 Lexical

They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand mina…

2 Chronicles 5

The Ark Brought to the Temple

The Ark Brought to the Temple

Insights

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 5:1 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:2 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:3 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:4 2 references

2 Chronicles 5:5 4 references

2 Chronicles 5:6 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:7 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:8 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:9 1 reference

2 Chronicles 5:10 2 references

2 Chronicles 5:12 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:13 5 references

2 Chronicles 5:14 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context

Timeline

Exodus