2 Chronicles · Chapter 5

V. 1. The gold-The remainder of those vast sums mentioned, 1 Chronicles 22:14.

Verse 1. Brought in all the things] See Clarke note on “1 Kings 7:51”.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verse 3. The feast] “That is, the feast of tabernacles, which was held in the seventh month.”-Targum. See 1 Kings 8:2.

V. 5. 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. Those &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.

Verse 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.

V. 9. To this day-When this history was first written; not when it was reviewed by Ezra: for after the return from Babylon, neither staves nor ark were any more seen.

Verse 9. They drew out the staves] As the ark was no longer to be carried about, these were unnecessary.

Verse 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.

Verse 10. There was nothing in the ark save] The Chaldee paraphrases thus: “There was nothing put in the ark but the two tables which Moses placed there, after the first had been broken on account of the calf which they made in Horeb, and the two other tables had been confirmed which were written with writing expressed in the TEN WORDS.”

Verse 10. Nothing in the ark save the two tables. We hear nothing now of the golden pot of manna, nor of Aaron’s rod which budded. See note on 1 Kings 8:9.

V. 11. By course-According to David’s appointment, 1 Chronicles 24:1-31, 25:1-22, which was only for the ordinary service, but in extraordinary solemnities, such as this, they all came together.

Verse 11. When the priests were come out] After having carried the ark into the holy of holies, before the sacred service had commenced.

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

Verse 12. A hundred and twenty priests] Cymbals, psalteries, and harps, of any kind, in union with a hundred and twenty trumpets or horns, could not produce much harmony; as to melody, that must have been impossible, as the noise was too great.

Verse 13. For he is good] This was either the whole of the song, or the burden of each verse. The Hebrew is very short:— wdsj לעולם yk bwc yk

Ki tob, ki leolam chasdo.

For he is good; for his mercy is endless.

Verse 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 Psalm 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.

Ver. 13. When they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals, then the temple was filled with the cloud of the divine presence, and when the prophet Iddo had invoked the Lord with sacred song, aided by the sweet notes of the minstrel, the Lord gave water to the perishing army. Music in the hands of holy men, aids the soul in its elevation to God.

V. 14. Glory of the Lord-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.

Verse 14. The priests could not stand] What a proof of the being of God, and of the Divine presence! What must those holy men have felt at this time!

II CHRONICLES

Verse 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.

Ver. 14. The priests could not stand to minister. So Moses “was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:35.