2 Chronicles 5:1-14
1 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.
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.
4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.
5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORDa made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:
12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
13 It came even to pass, as 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 musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
DAVID'S PROVISIONS PUT IN THE TEMPLE
(v.1)
The work of building being completed, Solomon also brought into the temple the things that David had collected and dedicated to the Lord, silver and gold and other furnishings. These were put in the treasuries of the house of the Lord, evidently in a different room than either of the sanctuaries. But the reminder of David's part was not to be lost, for he had put down the enemies of the Lord.
THE ARK PUT IN ITS PROPER PLACE
(vv.2-14)
The bringing of the ark to the temple required a special public observance, for this was to be an occasion of great rejoicing. Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the 12 tribes, the chief fathers of Israel, to Jerusalem for this observance. This was at the time of the feast of the seventh month, very likely the Feast of Tabernacles, which began on the 15th day of this month, for it pictures the blessing of Israel's millennial glory.
When the people were assembled, the Levites took up the ark, according to the prescribed order, and also brought the tabernacle and its furnishings up to the temple (vv.4-5). Does this not tell us that, though the temple adds to the truth that is illustrated in the tabernacle, yet nothing of the truth connected with the tabernacle was to be lost, but rather incorporated into the teaching of the temple?
As this work was being done, King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude (v.6). Every one of these offerings is symbolical of the one offering of Christ, but the number speaks of the worship of One who is worthy of unlimited adoration because of the unlimited value of His sacrifice.
The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord into the most holy place and set it under the wings of the two cherubim whose wings were spread from wall to wall. The poles for carrying the ark were left in place so as to be seen inside the holiest of all, but of course could not be seen outside (vv.7-8). The poles were no longer necessary for carrying the ark, but remained as a reminder that the ark (Christ in figure) had been a pilgrim at one time, just as we shall be reminded for eternity that the Lord Jesus was once on earth as an outcast sojourner (v.9). All this history on earth will be a matter for our eternal appreciation.
Nothing but the two tables of the law were in the ark (v.10). There will be the reminder for eternity that the law has been perfectly kept, not by mankind, but in the heart of the Lord Jesus. who not only kept the law Himself, but fulfilled all the law's claims against sinners (Psalms 40:8).
After having placed, the ark in the Most Holy Place, the priests came out (v, 11), and the Levites who were singers under Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were stationed at the east of the bronze altar, clothed in white linen, having various stringed instruments, and with them 120 priests with trumpets (v.12).
The trumpeters and singers were "as one," their harmony beautiful as the stringed instruments also joined in, and thus the gathering unitedly thanked and praised the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever" (v.13). All this is symbolical of the spontaneous great joy that will fill the hearts of Israel at the dawning of the millennial age. The Lord then expressed His own approval by filling the temple with the cloud of His glory, so that for the time even the priests could not enter there (v.14).