2 Chronicles Chapter 5 — The Ark and the Glory of God
Solomon completes the Temple construction and brings the Ark of the Covenant to its new place in the Holy of Holies, where the glory of the Lord descends as a cloud.
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,
14so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the LORD’s glory filled God’s house.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
2 Chronicles 5:13
“when 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'”
This verse highlights the importance of unified worship and collective praise in the dedication of the Temple.
2 Chronicles 5:14
“so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the LORD’s glory filled God’s house.”
It marks the physical manifestation of God's presence, validating the Temple as His dwelling place.
Chapter Summary
2 Chronicles Chapter 5 records the completion of Solomon's work on the Temple. To finalize the dedication, Solomon gathers the leaders of Israel to bring the Ark of the Covenant from the City of David to the new sanctuary. The Levites carry the Ark and the holy vessels, accompanied by countless sacrifices. Once the Ark is placed beneath the wings of the cherubim in the Most Holy Place, the priests and singers unite in a powerful moment of praise. As 120 trumpeters and a choir of singers offer thanks, saying, 'For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever,' a cloud fills the house. This manifestation of God's presence is so intense that the priests are unable to continue their ministry, signifying that the Lord has formally taken up residence in His house.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to verse 10, the Ark contained only the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Horeb. These tablets represented the covenant God made with the children of Israel after they left Egypt.
The Levites were responsible for carrying the Ark, while the Levitical priests brought up the Tent of Meeting and the holy vessels. Solomon assembled all the elders and tribal heads of Israel to witness this significant event.
The priests were unable to continue their ministry because the house of God was filled with a cloud representing the Lord's glory. The presence of God was so overwhelming that it physically prevented them from standing to perform their duties.
Study Note
The detail that the poles of the Ark were seen from the front of the inner sanctuary emphasizes the Ark's fixed placement and the enduring nature of the installation at the time of the writing.
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