Then 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 Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion. So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month. All the elders of Israel came. The Levites took up the ark;
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2 Chronicles 5:2-4 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then 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 Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion. So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month. All the elders of Israel came. The Levites took up the ark; and they brought up the ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these the Levitical priests brought up. King 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. The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above. The 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. There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
Parallel Translations
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Then 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 Yahweh’s covenant out of David’s city, which is Zion.
So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
All the elders of Israel came. The Levites took up the ark;
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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.
Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.
And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.
Show all 3 translations
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Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' houses 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.
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.
Cross-references (28)
- 1 Kings 8:2 (v3) All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
- 2 Samuel 6:12 (v2) King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and…
- 2 Chronicles 7:8-10 (v3) So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the…
- Leviticus 23:34-36 (v3) “Speak to the children of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of booths for seven days to Yahweh. On…
- Joshua 3:6 (v4) Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the…
Show all 28 cross-references
- 1 Kings 8:3 (v4) All the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked up the ark.
- 2 Chronicles 1:4 (v2) But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at…
- Numbers 4:15 (v4) “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after…
- Numbers 10:33 (v2) They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek…
- Numbers 10:36 (v2) When it rested, he said, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”
- Joshua 6:6 (v4) Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of…
- 2 Samuel 5:7 (v2) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.
- 1 Kings 8:1-11 (v2) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, with all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of…
- 1 Chronicles 15:2 (v4) Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For Yahweh has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him…
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 (v2) and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you…
- 1 Chronicles 15:12-14 (v4) and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you…
- 1 Chronicles 15:25 (v2) So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up out of the house of…
- 1 Chronicles 16:1 (v2) They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace…
- 1 Chronicles 24:6 (v2) Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest,…
- 1 Chronicles 24:31 (v2) These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the…
- 1 Chronicles 26:26 (v2) This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’…
- 1 Chronicles 28:1 (v2) David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the…
- 2 Chronicles 5:1 (v2) Thus all the work that Solomon did for Yahweh’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even…
- 2 Chronicles 5:7 (v4) The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under…
- 2 Chronicles 5:12 (v2) also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen,…
- Psalms 2:6 (v2) “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
- Psalms 87:2 (v2) Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
- Psalms 132:13-17 (v2) For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Read 2 Sam. 6:12.
Read 2 Sam. 6:12.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–3 2Ch 5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel,…
2Ch 5:2 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.
Ver. 2. Then Solomon assembled, &c.] See for this whole chapter following, 1Ki 8:1-12. {See Trapp on "1Ki 8:1"} &c
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v2 Of this and the following verses, See Poole "1Ki…
Of this and the following verses, See Poole "1Ki 8:1", &c.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v3 Verse 3. The feast] "That is, the feast of…
Verse 3. The feast] "That is, the feast of tabernacles, which was held in the seventh month." - Targum. See 1Kg 8:2.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v4 The Levites took up the ark - i. e.,…
The Levites took up the ark - i. e., such of the Levites as were also priests (compare 2Ch 5:7; 1Ki 8:3).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Ark. Another was not made, as that was most…
Ark. Another was not made, as that was most sacred and excellent. (Worthington)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v2 BRINGING UP OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. (Ch2…
BRINGING UP OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. (Ch2 5:2-13)
Then Solomon assembled . . . in the feast which was in the seventh month--The feast of the dedication of the temple was on the eighth day of that month. This is related, word for word, the same as in Kg1 8:1-10.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–4 2–10 (= 1Ki_8:1-9). The Ark brought into the Sanctuary
2–10 (= 1Ki_8:1-9). The Ark brought into the Sanctuary
This section is taken almost verbatim from 1 Kings.
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2. Then Solomon assembled] The same verb in the Hebrew as in 1Ch_15:3 (see note there) and in 1Ch_28:1.
the chief of the fathers] R.V. the princes of the fathers’ houses.
the city of David] See 1Ch_11:5, note on the castle of Zion.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 4 (2) The chief of the fathers.—Rather, the chiefs of…
(2) The chief of the fathers.—Rather, the chiefs of the clans (father-houses). Vulg., “capita familiarum;” LXX., τοὺς ἠγουμένους πατριῶν.
Elders . . . heads.—Or, sheikhs . . . ameers.
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Zion.—Syr. and Arab., Hebron.
In the feast which was in the seventh month.—Heb., in the feast; that (is) the seventh month. The words “in the month of Ethanim” (Kings) have been accidentally omitted before the expression rendered “in the feast.” The Authorised version suggests another mode of emending the text. (Comp. Neh_8:14.) Syr., “in the month of the fruits (’ebbô) of the feast of Tabernacles; that is the seventh month.” The LXX. had the present faulty Hebrew.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Comparing the language of this and the following verse…
Comparing the language of this and the following verse with that used on the occasion of David"s bringing up of the ark to Zion, found 2Sa_6:1 1Ch 13. and 15., some have thought that a considerable difference of tone is perceptible, and that indication is given of the intention, or at any rate a feeling, even if more or less unconscious, on the part of Solomon, that times were ripe for a demonstration, that should partake less of the enthusiasm of the mass, so far as his own summons might be concerned, and more of the form and dignity of the chief and representative men of the nation. This view can hardly be pressed. The very word "wherefore" in ver. 3 goes far to discredit it. And any difference that may be apparent in the language is far more probably and easily attributable to the old cause of the narrower, though intenser, interest of the writer of Chronicles.
Vers. 2-13.
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Bringing in the ark.
It was fitting enough that the ark which had been in the ancient tabernacle should be brought with much ceremony into the new temple. It linked the past and the future, and it associated two things which must be constantly kept together. It suggests to us
I THE TRUE NATIONAL CONTINUITY. This was not found at all in the permanence of one form of government, for that had passed from a theocracy to a monarchy; nor was it found only or even chiefly in the descent by blood of one generation from another; nor in the continuance of the same social customs. It was found in the faithfulness of the people to the Lord their God; in the perpetuity of the national faith and, consequently, of the national morals and habits of life. The code of religious and ethical law which God gave to them through Moses was to remain the statute law of the realm. It was to be placed, on the most solemn occasion, under the most striking and memorable conditions, in the most sacred place of the sacred building in the holy city (vers. 7-10). The nation that changes its faith is itself changed; it is not the same, but another nation. The people that remain loyal to their God and true to their ancient convictions are the same people, however their institutions and customs may be modified by "time and change.
II THE TWO GREAT COUNTERPARTS OF DIVINE SERVICE. Much was made of the altar of sacrifice; indeed, the temple was the place of sacrifice. There, and there only, could offerings be presented and sin be expiated. But in the most holy place, beneath the "mercy-seat," at the very point where the blood was sprinkled on the great Day of Atonement, was the ark which held the tables of stone; and on these was inscribed the epitome of law, the demand for obedience. Sacrifice (or worship, as it is now) and obedience are the two great complementary parts of the service of God (see homily on. (2Ch_1:3-5)
III THE BEST SERVICE OF WORLDLY DIGNITY. We learn (ver. 2) that "the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes," assembled on this occasion; they lent the weight of their social dignity to it. They did well to do this. There is nothing in which any kind of earthly distinction can be so well engaged as in promoting the piety of the people, in attaching them more firmly to their sacred principles, connecting them with and committing them to the service of the living God. Sad is it indeed when rank uses its influence to undermine the faith; admirable and honourable is it when exalted station spends its strength in advancing the devotion and the integrity of the people.
IV THE JOYOUSNESS THAT BELONGS TO DIVINE WORSHIP. It was surely right that the first act of worship associated with the temple should be accompanied by a feast rather than by a fast (ver. 3). It was right that the choir should unite "in praising and thanking the Lord" (ver. 13). In the service of One to whom such ascription can be rendered as is offered to the Lord (ver, 13), the sound of holy gladness should be the prevailing note.
V THE NEARNESS OF HUMAN APPROACH AND DIVINE MANIFESTATION. (Vers. 13, 14.) Let us draw nigh unto God in praise and prayer, and he will draw nigh unto us in the best proofs of his presence, in the most valuable manifestations of his power and grace. C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v2 To bring up the ark of the covenant of…
2Ch_5:2-10
To bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
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The removal of the ark
I. The time of its removal.
1. Remarkable in itself. The building finished in November was not dedicated until the October of the following year. Feast of Tabernacles most suitable time to dedicate temple.
2. Remarkable in its influence. The magnitude of the event is marked by the fact that now for the first time since the Exodus we have the year and month recorded (Stanley)
.
II. The method of its removal. Similar to the ceremony of removing from the house of Obed-edom.
III. The ceremonies which accompanied its removal.
IV. The solemn deposit in its resting-place. (J. Wolfendale.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Then Solomon
Then Solomon
(See Scofield "1Ki 8:1").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv2, 4 assembled the elders of Israel
assembled the elders of Israel
"called together the leaders of Israel"
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all the heads of the tribes
Here "heads" is a metaphor for the most important part of something. AT: "all the leaders of the tribes" (See: Metaphor)
All the men of Israel
This may refer either 1) to the people whom Solomon called to Jerusalem and who are listed in 2Ch 5:2 or 2) generally to those who traveled to Jerusalem for the feast, not necessarily to every male person who lived in Israel. (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)
at the feast, which was in the seventh month
This is the Festival of Shelters which is on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. This is near the beginning of October on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
elder
head
Israel
tribe
family
people group
Jerusalem
ark of the covenant
Yahweh
city of David
Zion
king
feast
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 5:3 The dedication of the Temple took place during…
5:3 The dedication of the Temple took place during the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn. This seven-day festival required a pilgrimage to the central place of worship (Deut 16:13-15). The seventh month marked the end of Israel’s harvest season, allowing landowners to leave for a week without concern for fields or crops.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.