John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 5:1-14
See Chapter Introduction read more
See Chapter Introduction read more
When the priests were come out - After having carried the ark into the holy of holies, before the sacred service had commenced. read more
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. read more
The first worship in the finished temple. The homiletic matter of this chapter may be said to be one. For we are, in fact, brought face to face with the central interest—the mystic presence, and veiled glory of the tabernacle or temple, in connection with the outer worship—the whole form of the outer worship of the Church visible of God's ancient people. This central interest means the ark—the ark of the covenant; the ark, with its two Divine autograph tables of stone; the ark, with... read more
The dedication of the temple: 1. The bringing-in of the ark. I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE CEREMONY . ( 2 Chronicles 5:1-4 .) 1 . The completion of the temple furniture. The manufacture of the various articles having been described in the preceding chapter, it is here briefly recorded that the whole work which Solomon made for the house of the Lord was finished—a happy illustration of the proverb, "Better is the end of a thing," etc. ( Ecclesiastes 7:8 ). The work,... read more
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... read more
The parallel ( 1 Kings 8:10 ) shows the first half of this verse and the last sentence of 2 Chronicles 5:13 to make its tenth verse. All between these two is special to the present passage and to Chronicles. All the priests … not by course ; i.e. all of all the courses, twenty-four in number, instead of only the one course on daily duty at the time ( 1 Chronicles 23:6-32 ; 1 Chronicles 24:1-31 ). Present ; or, found more literally; that is to say, all who were not for one cause... read more
This verse, marked off in the Authorized Version in brackets, is most graphic. First all the priests , who were not hors de combat, i.e. all the "courses" of them together, thronged the arena; and now they are joined by all the Levites who were singers, of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun ( 1 Chronicles 25:1-31 ), i.e. twenty-four choirs in one, with their sons and their brethren ; and this collected choir is arrayed in white linen; and they have three kinds of musical... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 5:11-14
Solomon, and the elders of Israel, had done what they could to grace the solemnity of the introduction of the ark; but God, by testifying his acceptance of what they did, put the greatest honour upon it. The cloud of glory that filled the house beautified it more than all the gold with which it was overlaid or the precious stones with which it was garnished; and yet that was no glory in comparison with the glory of the gospel dispensation, 2 Cor. 3:8-10. Observe, I. How God took possession of... read more