2 Chronicles 5
Cambridge2 Chronicles 5:1
Ch. 2 Chronicles 5:1. David his father had dedicated] Cp. 1 Chronicles 18:11. all the instruments] R.V. all the vessels.
2 Chronicles 5:2
2–10 (= 1 Kings 8:1-9). The Ark brought into the Sanctuary This section is taken almost verbatim from 1 Kings. 2. Then Solomon assembled] The same verb in the Hebrew as in 1 Chronicles 15:3 (see note there) and in 1 Chronicles 28:1. the chief of the fathers] R.V. the princes of the fathers’ houses. the city of David] See 1 Chronicles 11:5, note on the castle of Zion.
2 Chronicles 5:3
- the feast] i.e. the Feast of Tabernacles. in the seventh month] In 1 Kings the name of the month is given as Ethanim, but this word was perhaps obsolete when the Chronicler wrote; at any rate we know that in post-biblical times the seventh month was called Tisri.
2 Chronicles 5:4
- the Levites took up the ark] According to 1 Kings the, priests performed this duty. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Chronicles 15:12-13. It is clear from these passages that the Chronicler believed that in the days of David and Solomon, as in his own, the Levites were regarded as a class subordinate to the priests, having special duties distinct from those of the true “priests.” It is however more probable that in these early days all Levites were possible priests, Levi being the name of the priestly clan, and not of a lower order of priests.
2 Chronicles 5:5
- the tabernacle of the congregation] R.V. the tent of meeting. the priests and the Levites] R.V. the priests the Levites. The A.V. emends the text from 1 Kings 8:4, but R.V. gives the correct translation of the text of Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 5:7
- to the oracle] See 2 Chronicles 3:16, note.
2 Chronicles 5:9
- And they drew out the staves of the ark] R.V. And the staves were so long. from the ark] Read (with LXX. and 1 Kings 8:8) from the holy place. One standing in the holy place and looking towards the Holy of Holies could see the heads of the staves. And there it is unto this day] These words are taken over with the loss of one letter (which here makes the difference between singular and plural) from 1 Kings 8:8, but they are out of place in Chron., for when the Chronicler wrote the ark had long ago disappeared. The vessels which were brought back from the Babylonian captivity are specified in Ezra 1:9-10, but the ark of the covenant is not reckoned among them.
2 Chronicles 5:10
- which Moses put therein] Exodus 40:20. at Horeb] Deuteronomy 5:2.
2 Chronicles 5:11
11–14 (= 1 Kings 8:10-11). The Descent of the Glory of the Lord 11. out of the holy place] The priests could remain neither in the Holy of Holies where they had deposited the ark, nor even in the holy place, but were driven altogether out of the Temple building into the Temple court (cp. 2 Chronicles 5:14). and did not then wait by course] R.V. and did not keep their courses. Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:1-19.
2 Chronicles 5:12
- of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons] R.V. even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons. Cp. 1 Chronicles 25:1-7. being arrayed in white linen] R.V. arrayed in fine linen. psalteries … harps] See 1 Chronicles 13:8, notes. at the east end of the altar] Looking westward, facing the Holy of Holies. To face the East was to turn the back upon the sanctuary; Ezekiel 8:16. trumpets] See 1 Chronicles 15:24, note.
2 Chronicles 5:13
- instruments of musick] Rather as R.V. mg. instruments for song. for his mercy endureth for ever] 1 Chronicles 16:41. was filled with a cloud] Exodus 40:34-35.
2 Chronicles 5:14
- had filled] R.V. filled.