Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
The Bringing up of the Ark. 2 CHRONICLES V, VI. Solomons Dedicatory Prayer, cending the brazen scaffold, he assumed those two attitudes in succession, and with different oljjects in view, characteristic splendour of the edifice, but to l)e a standing emblem to the Hebrews, that the growing light of the word was necessary to counteract the growing darkness In the world. [LiGHTrooT.] 11. Huram made—(see on
- He stood while he addressed and blessed the surrounding multitude (v. 3-11); afterwards he knelt down and streU lied out his liands towards heaven, with his lace probably turned towards the altar, while he gave utterance to the beautiful and impressive prayer which is recorded in tiie remainder of this chapter. It is deserving of notice that there was no seat in this pulpit— for the king cither stood or knelt all the time he was in it. It is not improbable that it was surmounted by a canopy, or covered by a veil, to screen the royal speaker from the rays of the sun. 1821. how much less this house which I have iuiilt I Have respect tlierefore to the prayer of thy servant No person who entertains just and exalted views of the spiritual nature of the Divine Being will suppose that he can raise a temple for the habitation of Deity, as a man builds a house for himself. Nearly as Improper and inadmissible is the idea that a temple can contribute to enhance the glory of God, as a monument maj' be raised in honour q( a great man. Solomon described tlie true and proper u.se of the temple, when he entreated that the Lord "would hearken unto the supplications of His servant and His people Israel, which they should make towards this place." In short, the grand pui"pose for which the temple was erected was precisely the same as that contemplated by churches— to aftbrd the opportunity and means of public and social worship, according to the ritual of the Mosaic dispensation — to supplicate the Divine mercy and favour—to render thanks tor past instances of goodness, and offer petitions for future blessings (see on 1 Kings 8. 22-61). This religious design of the temple—the one temple in the world— is in fact its stand-point of absbrliing interest, ij'i. If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and tlie oath eoiae before thine altar in this Iiouse, itc.—In cases where the testi-mony of witnesses could not be obtained, and there was no way of settling a dillerence or dispute between two people but by accepting the oath of the accused, tlie practice had gradually crept in, and had acquired the force of consuetudinary law, for the party to be brought before the altar where his oath was taken with all due solemnity, together with tlie imprecation of a curse to
1 Kings 7. 40-46). CHAPTER V.
Ver. 1. The Dedicated Treasitres. 1. Solomon brunglit in all tilings tUat Davltl Ills father Iiad dedicated—The immense sums and the store of valuable articles which his father and other generals had reserved and appropriated for the temple (1 Chronicles 22. 14; 20. 20).
2-13. Bringing Up OF THE Akk OF THE Covenant. 3, 3. Tlieii Scloiuoii assembled ... in the feast whtch was ill the seventh month—The feast of the dedication of the temple was on the eighth day of that montli. This
IS related, word for word, the same as in 1 Kings 8. 1-10. 9. there it is unto this day i. e., at the time when this Iiistory was composed; for after the Babylonish captivity there is no trace of either ark orstaves. 11. all the priests that were present . . . did not then wait by eourse The rotation system of weekly service introduced by David was intended for the ordinary duties of the priesthood; on extraordinary occasions, or when more tlian wonted solemnity attached to them, the priests attended in a body. 13. the Levltes which were the singers—On great and solemn occasions, such as this, a full clioir was required, and their station was taken witli scrupulous regard to their oflicial parts; the family of Henian occupied the central place, the family of Asaph stood on his riglit, and that of Jedutliun on his left; the place allotted to the vocal department being a space between the court of Israel and the altar in the east end of the prie.sts' court, witli them nn hundred and twenty priests sonnding with trumpets—The trumpet was always us(>d l>y the priests, and in the Divine service it was specially employed in calling the people togetlier during the holy solemnities, and in drawing attention to new and successive parts of tlie ritual. Tlie number of trumpets used in the Divine service could not be less tlian two(Nuniber.slO.
2), and their greatest number never exceeded tlie precedent set at the dedication of the temi)le. Tlie station where the priests were sounding with trumpets was apart from that of the other musicians; fai' wliilc tlie Levite singers occupied an orchestra east of tlie altar, tlie priests stood at the marble table on the south-west of llie altar. There both of tliem stood with their faces to the altar. The manner of blowing the trumpets was, tirst, by a long plain blast, then by one with breakings and quaverings, and tlien by a long plain blast again. [Brown's Jewish Antiquities.] 13. the house was tilled with a eloud— (see on 1 Kings 8. 10, 11).
fall upon himself if his disavowal should be found untrue. There is an allusion to such a practice in this passage. 3S. If they return to thee ... in the land of their captivity . . . and pray towai-d their land wiiich thou gavest unto their fathers—These woids gave rise to the favourite usage of the ancient as well as modern Jews, of turning in prayer toward Jerusalem, in whatever quarter of the world they might be, and of directing their faei's toward the temple when in Jerusalem jlself,' or any part of the holy land (1 Kings 8. 4t). '41. arise, O Kiord God, Into thy resting-place—These words are not found In the record of this prayer in the First Uooli of Kings; but they occur in the l.'i2d Psalm, which is generally believed to have been composed by David, or rather by Solomon, in reference to this occasion. "Arise" is a very suitable expression to be used when the ark was to be reiiun 1 from the tabernacle in Zlon to the temple ou Mount Morlali. Into thy restlng-plate—Tile temiile so calli'd (Isaiah (i(>. II, because it was a lixed and permanent mansion (I'salni I.'i2. II). the ark of thy strength—The abode by which thy glorious presence is sy mlioli/.ed, and whence thou dost issue thine authoritative oracles, and manifest thy power on belialf of th.v people when they (U'slreaiid need It. It might well be designated the ark of God's strength, because It was through means of It the mighty miracles wer(! wrought, and the brilliant victories were won, that distinguish the early annals of the Hebrew nation. The sight of It Inspired the gr<'alest animation Into the breasts of His people, while it diffused terror and dismay through the ranks of their eneniles(cr. Psalm 78. (il). let thy priests be clothed « Hh salvation-Or with righteousness (I'siilm l;!2. !)), ('.<•.. ho equipped not oii)y with tlu; pure white linen gannenls thou hast aiijioluted for their robe of oUlcc, but J-Ua
CHAPTER VI.
Ver. 1^1. Soi.oMON Bi.f.sses the Pi:oi'i-k and Praises God. 1. Tlie Lord hath said that he woulil dwell in thick darkiie.ss—This introduction to Solomon's address was evidently suggested by the remarkalile incident recorded at the close of tlie last chapter; tlie phenomenon of a densely opaque and uniformly shaped cloud, descending in a slow and majestic manner, ainl lilling Ih.e whole area of the temple. He regarded it himscir, and directed tlie people also to regard it,asan unihiubtcd sign and welcome pledge of the Divine presence and iicceptance of the building reared to His honour and worship. Hi! referred not to any particular declaration of God, but to the cloud having been all along in thenation.al history of Israel the recognized syml)ol of the Divine presence (Mxodus Ki. 10-
21. Ifi ; 40. .14 ; NumlKrs !). 15 ; 1 Kings 8. 10, 1 1 ). i;j. Solomon had made a brazen scnl Told—A sort of platform ; but the Jfchrcw term rendered scatlold, being the .sanu! as that used to designate the liasin, suggests the i<lea that this throne might bear some resemblance. In form tnstructure, to those lavers in the temple, beluga sort of round and elevated puliMt, placed in the inlddh of the court, and In front of the altar of liurnt offering, upon It he tood, and kneeled down upon his knees—After as-
2GS