1The temple finished, and the dedicated treasures deposited therein. 2The ark with great solemnity brought into the most holy place. 11Whilst the priests and Levites are praising God with singing and music, a cloud filleth the house.
1THUS all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the 1things 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.
1 Hebr. holinesses, that is, things dedicated to the Lord. See 1 Kings 7 on verse 51.
2 ¶ 2Then 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 3bring up the ark of the 4covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 Compare this account with 1 Kings 8:1, etc., and see there the annotations which likewise appertains to this place.
3 Namely, into the temple, into which they were to go up with steps.
4 The reason of this appellation, see Num. 10 on verse 33.
3Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the 5seventh month.
5 Called in 1 Kings 8:2, Ethanim; almost agreeing with our September. See the annotation there.
4And all the elders of Israel came; and the 6Levites took up the ark.
6 Namely, the priests out of the family of Levi. Compare verses 5 and 7; 1 Kings 8:3; likewise see Num. 4 on verse 15.
5And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the 7holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
7 Hebr. vessels of holiness, that is, holy vessels, so called because they were ordained for an holy use. See Lev. 16 on verse 4.
6Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, 8sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
8 See of the proper signification of these words, Gen. 12 on verse 16.
7And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the 9oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under 10the wings of the cherubims:
9 That is, the inner part of the temple, forthwith called in the sequel, the most holy place. Why it was called the oracle, see 1 Kings 6 on verse 5.
10 See the annotations on 1 Kings 6:27; 8:6.
8For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the 11staves thereof above.
11 See of these Exod. 25:13, 14, 15.
9And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the 12ends of the staves were seen 13from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is 14unto this day.
12 That is, the outermost ends.
13 Namely, in regard the ends of the staves which were drawn forth and pushed out. See hereof further 1 Kings 8 on verse 8.
14 That is, until the burning of the temple by the Babylonians.
1015There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at 16Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
15 See the exposition of this verse 1 Kings 8 on verse 9.
16 In the wilderness, in the camp of the Israelites, where the ark, with its appurtenances, was made. See likewise of this mount, Num. 10 on verse 33.
11¶And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the 17holy place: (for all the priests that were present 18were sanctified, and did not then wait by 19course:
17 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 10.
18 That is, had purified themselves according to the ordinance of the law, and prepared themselves for this solemn engagement of the dedication of the temple, which was done by prayers, fasting, washing of garments, abstaining from conjugal rights. Compare Gen. 35:2 and see the annotation; likewise Exod. 19:10 and the annotation.
19 Understand the distinction of courses or turns, which the priests were to observe in the execution of their office, according to the order appointed by David, 1 Chronicles 24. This they could not follow now in this extraordinary work wherein they were all of them to be employed.
12Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of 20Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries 21and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
20 These were chief musicians, and very wise men of the tribe of Levi, having under them many other singers, and among these their sons, etc. See of them 1 Chron. 25:1, 2, etc.
21 Other, cithers.
13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as 22one, 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, 23For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
22 Or, as unanimous. Hebr. as one, namely, person.
23 It is thought that they sang and played upon musical instruments the 136th Psalm, wherein the verses do end with these words. It may also be that they sang some other psalms besides, and thereunto added these words, as the 96th, the 105th, etc. Compare 1 Chron. 16:7, 8, etc.
14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the 24glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
24 See Num. 14 on verse 10.