II Chronicles 5: The Temple's Dedication and God's Glory
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
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.
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
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:
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:)
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;
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.
II Chronicles 5 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the dedication of Solomon's magnificent temple. This chapter details the careful preparations, the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, and the overwhelming manifestation of God's presence, offering valuable insights into worship, unity, and God's enduring love. This event fulfilled David's vision and Solomon's commitment to build a permanent dwelling place for the Lord.
Completion and Preparation (II Chronicles 5:1)
Chapter 4 concludes with the remarkable craftsmanship of Huram from Tyre and the sheer opulence of the temple furnishings. The sheer volume of bronze used was beyond calculation (II Chronicles 4:18), and the extensive use of pure gold (II Chronicles 4:20) demonstrated that nothing was too extravagant for the Lord's house. The treasures David had previously dedicated, combined with Solomon's own contributions, resulted in an abundance of resources (II Chronicles 5:1). This highlights the principle that our best should be offered to God.
A Magnificent Dedication (II Chronicles 5:2-3)
Solomon understood that a temple of such grandeur required an equally magnificent dedication ceremony. This event took place during the Festival of Shelters (also known as Tabernacles or Booths) in the seventh month (II Chronicles 5:3). This festival was one of the three pilgrim feasts (along with Passover and Pentecost) that required all Israelite men to journey to Jerusalem. The Feast of Shelters commemorated Israel's exodus from Egypt, where they lived in temporary dwellings as God provided for them (Leviticus 23:34-43). The timing of the dedication during this festival ensured a large gathering of people, emphasizing the national significance of the event. The Ark of the Covenant, temporarily housed in the City of David (Zion), south of Mount Moriah where the temple stood (II Chronicles 5:2), was now ready to be moved to its permanent home.
Transferring the Ark (II Chronicles 5:4-10)
Solomon led the procession carrying the Ark to the temple (II Chronicles 5:4-6), echoing his father David's earlier efforts to bring the Ark into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:25-29). The scale of the procession and the number of sacrifices offered were immense, so numerous that they were beyond counting (II Chronicles 5:6). The Levites carried the Ark using its poles (II Chronicles 5:7-9), adhering to the correct method of transport prescribed in the Law. This contrasts with David's initial mistake and subsequent correction (1 Chronicles 13:7, 9-10; 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13-15), emphasizing the importance of following God's instructions precisely. The priests placed the Ark, containing the two tablets of the Law that Moses had placed within (II Chronicles 5:10), in the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim (II Chronicles 5:7-8).
It's worth noting that the Ark's presence in the temple wasn't guaranteed throughout Judah's history. It was likely removed during the reign of Manasseh, who desecrated the temple with idols. Josiah, Manasseh's grandson, later ordered its restoration (see commentary on 35:1-9), highlighting the cyclical nature of obedience and disobedience in Israel's relationship with God.
Unity, Worship, and God's Glory (II Chronicles 5:11-14)
The dedication reached its climax with joyful worship led by the Levites, accompanied by instruments and voices (II Chronicles 5:11-13). Their refrain of praise, "He is good; his faithful love endures forever" (II Chronicles 5:13), encapsulates the essence of God's character and His covenant relationship with Israel. The phrase "faithful love" translates the Hebrew word chesed, which signifies God's enduring love, loving kindness, loyal love, and mercy.
The people’s heartfelt praise pleased God, and He responded by filling the temple with a cloud, a visible manifestation of His presence and glory (II Chronicles 5:13-14). This parallels the cloud that led the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings and the cloud that descended upon the Tabernacle.
Verse 11 highlights the remarkable unity of the priests: "all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions." The priesthood was organized into twenty-four divisions, each with its assigned duties. However, on this sacred day, those divisions were set aside as they came together in unified worship. The trumpeters and singers joined "to praise and thank the LORD with one voice" (II Chronicles 5:13). This illustrates a powerful principle: spiritual unity invites God's presence, while disunity hinders it. This is a crucial lesson for the church today.
Oneness in the body of Christ does not require uniformity. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons within the one God, members of the church come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and personalities. These distinctions are legitimate and contribute to the richness of the body. However, the unity God desires involves a shared purpose and spiritual alignment, even amidst differences. The enemy seeks to sow discord because disunity obstructs the manifestation of God's glory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
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.
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
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:
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:)
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;
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.
II Chronicles 5 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the dedication of Solomon's magnificent temple. This chapter details the careful preparations, the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, and the overwhelming manifestation of God's presence, offering valuable insights into worship, unity, and God's enduring love. This event fulfilled David's vision and Solomon's commitment to build a permanent dwelling place for the Lord.
Completion and Preparation (II Chronicles 5:1)
Chapter 4 concludes with the remarkable craftsmanship of Huram from Tyre and the sheer opulence of the temple furnishings. The sheer volume of bronze used was beyond calculation (II Chronicles 4:18), and the extensive use of pure gold (II Chronicles 4:20) demonstrated that nothing was too extravagant for the Lord's house. The treasures David had previously dedicated, combined with Solomon's own contributions, resulted in an abundance of resources (II Chronicles 5:1). This highlights the principle that our best should be offered to God.
A Magnificent Dedication (II Chronicles 5:2-3)
Solomon understood that a temple of such grandeur required an equally magnificent dedication ceremony. This event took place during the Festival of Shelters (also known as Tabernacles or Booths) in the seventh month (II Chronicles 5:3). This festival was one of the three pilgrim feasts (along with Passover and Pentecost) that required all Israelite men to journey to Jerusalem. The Feast of Shelters commemorated Israel's exodus from Egypt, where they lived in temporary dwellings as God provided for them (Leviticus 23:34-43). The timing of the dedication during this festival ensured a large gathering of people, emphasizing the national significance of the event. The Ark of the Covenant, temporarily housed in the City of David (Zion), south of Mount Moriah where the temple stood (II Chronicles 5:2), was now ready to be moved to its permanent home.
Transferring the Ark (II Chronicles 5:4-10)
Solomon led the procession carrying the Ark to the temple (II Chronicles 5:4-6), echoing his father David's earlier efforts to bring the Ark into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:25-29). The scale of the procession and the number of sacrifices offered were immense, so numerous that they were beyond counting (II Chronicles 5:6). The Levites carried the Ark using its poles (II Chronicles 5:7-9), adhering to the correct method of transport prescribed in the Law. This contrasts with David's initial mistake and subsequent correction (1 Chronicles 13:7, 9-10; 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13-15), emphasizing the importance of following God's instructions precisely. The priests placed the Ark, containing the two tablets of the Law that Moses had placed within (II Chronicles 5:10), in the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim (II Chronicles 5:7-8).
It's worth noting that the Ark's presence in the temple wasn't guaranteed throughout Judah's history. It was likely removed during the reign of Manasseh, who desecrated the temple with idols. Josiah, Manasseh's grandson, later ordered its restoration (see commentary on 35:1-9), highlighting the cyclical nature of obedience and disobedience in Israel's relationship with God.
Unity, Worship, and God's Glory (II Chronicles 5:11-14)
The dedication reached its climax with joyful worship led by the Levites, accompanied by instruments and voices (II Chronicles 5:11-13). Their refrain of praise, "He is good; his faithful love endures forever" (II Chronicles 5:13), encapsulates the essence of God's character and His covenant relationship with Israel. The phrase "faithful love" translates the Hebrew word chesed, which signifies God's enduring love, loving kindness, loyal love, and mercy.
The people’s heartfelt praise pleased God, and He responded by filling the temple with a cloud, a visible manifestation of His presence and glory (II Chronicles 5:13-14). This parallels the cloud that led the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings and the cloud that descended upon the Tabernacle.
Verse 11 highlights the remarkable unity of the priests: "all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions." The priesthood was organized into twenty-four divisions, each with its assigned duties. However, on this sacred day, those divisions were set aside as they came together in unified worship. The trumpeters and singers joined "to praise and thank the LORD with one voice" (II Chronicles 5:13). This illustrates a powerful principle: spiritual unity invites God's presence, while disunity hinders it. This is a crucial lesson for the church today.
Oneness in the body of Christ does not require uniformity. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons within the one God, members of the church come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and personalities. These distinctions are legitimate and contribute to the richness of the body. However, the unity God desires involves a shared purpose and spiritual alignment, even amidst differences. The enemy seeks to sow discord because disunity obstructs the manifestation of God's glory.