And all the elders of Israel came ,.... To Zion, the city of David: and the priests took up the ark ; from thence; in 2 Chronicles 5:4 it is said the Levites did it, whose business it was, Deuteronomy 31:25 , and so the priests might be called; for every priest was a Levite, though every Levite was not a priest, and the priests did at all times bear the ark; see Joshua 3:15 . read more
And they brought up the ark of the Lord ,.... From the city of David to the temple: and the tabernacle of the congregation ; not the tent David made for the ark, though that might be brought also, but the tabernacle of Moses, which had been many years at Gibeon; but now removed to Zion, and from thence to the temple, where it was laid up, as having been a sacred thing; that it might not be put to common or superstitious uses, and to prevent the being of more places than one for worship: ... read more
And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled together ,.... On this solemn occasion: were with him before the ark ; while it was in the court of the priests, before it was carried into the most holy place: sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude ; the phrase seems to be hyperbolical, and designed to denote a great number. read more
They brought up - the tabernacle - It is generally agreed that there were now two tabernacles at Gibeon, and the other in the city of David, which one David had constructed as a temporary residence for the ark, in the event of a temple being built. Which of these tabernacles was brought into the temple at this time, is not well known; some think both were brought in, in order to prevent the danger of idolatry. I should rather suppose that the tabernacle from Gibeon was brought in,... read more
And all the elders of Israel came [Not a mere repetition. The men who were summoned to Jerusalem ( 1 Kings 8:1 ) were all present, of their own accord, to witness the removal], and the priests took up the ark. tin the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 5:4 , we read that " the Levites took up the ark." But there is no contradiction, as has been too readily supposed. For 2 Chronicles 5:7 of the Chronicles," the priests brought in the ark," etc; confirms the statement of the text.... read more
And they brought up the ark of the Lord [which had now been for nearly 40 years "in the tabernacle that David had pitched for it" on the Mount Zion ( 2 Samuel 6:17 ) ], and the tabernacle of the congregation [Heb, "the tabernacle of meeting ". This had been for many years at Gibeon. (Cf. 1 Kings 3:4 ; 2 Chronicles 1:8 ; 1 Chronicles 16:1-43 :89. See note on 1 Chronicles 3:4 .) The tabernacle of Mount Zion is never called "the tabernacle of the congregation"—indeed, it is... read more
And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him were with him; before the ark [Prayers and sacrifices alike were offered toward the mercy seat ( Psalms 28:2 ; cf. Exodus 25:22 ) ], sacrificing sheep and oxen [apparently the ark festal en route (cf. 2 Samuel 6:18 ) whilst the sacrifices were offered. The object of the sacrifice was to testify the grateful joy of the people at the proximate realization of their hopes. There may have been also... read more
In 2 Chronicles 5:4, ““the Levites” took up the ark;” and by the Law the ark was the special charge of the Kohathites Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15. But all priests were Levites Joshua 3:3, though all Levites were not priests. And as Joshua had done Joshua 3:6; Joshua 6:6, so Solomon called upon the priests to bear the holy structure, allowing to mere Levites only the inferior honor of helping to transport the tabernacle and the vessels of the sanctuary. read more
And the tabernacle of the congregation - Not the tented structure erected for the ark on Mount Zion 2 Samuel 6:17 by David, but the original tabernacle made by Moses, which had hitherto remained at Gibeon (margin reference). The tabernacle and its holy vessels were probably placed in the treasury. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:1-11
The temple, though richly beautified, yet while it was without the ark was like a body without a soul, or a candlestick without a candle, or (to speak more properly) a house without an inhabitant. All the cost and pains bestowed on this stately structure are lost if God do not accept them; and, unless he please to own it as the place where he will record his name, it is after all but a ruinous heap. When therefore all the work is ended (1 Kgs. 7:51), the one thing needful is yet behind, and... read more