Add parallel Print Page Options

Finally all the work Solomon did for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord was finished. He brought in everything his father David had ·set apart [dedicated] for the ·Temple [L house]—all the silver and gold and other ·articles [utensils]. And he ·put [stored] everything in the treasuries of God’s ·Temple [L house].

The Ark Is Brought into the Temple(A)

Solomon ·called for [summoned; assembled; convened] the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, and the ·leaders [chiefs] of the ·families [clans] to come to him in Jerusalem. He wanted them to bring the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony] with the Lord from ·the older part of the city [L the city of David, that is, Zion]. So all the Israelites came together with the king during the festival in the seventh month [C the Festival of Shelters or Tabernacles or Booths held in early autumn].

When all the ·elders [men] of Israel arrived, the Levites ·lifted [picked; took] up the Ark. They ·carried [brought up] the ·Ark of the Agreement [L ark; Ex. 25:10], the ·Meeting Tent [Tabernacle], and the ·holy utensils [sacred furnishings] in it; the ·priests and the Levites [Levitical priests] brought them up. King Solomon and all the ·Israelites [L congregation/community of Israel] gathered before the ·Ark of the Agreement [L ark] and sacrificed so many sheep and ·bulls [oxen] no one could count or record them.

Then the priests put the Ark of the ·Agreement [covenant; treaty; L Testimony] with the Lord in its place inside the inner sanctuary of the ·Temple [L house], the ·Most Holy Place [T Holy of Holies], under the wings of the ·golden creatures [L cherubim]. The wings of ·these creatures [L cherubim] were spread out over the place for the Ark, ·covering [forming a canopy over] it and its carrying poles. The carrying poles were so long that anyone standing in the ·Holy Place [inner sanctuary] in front of the ·Most Holy Place [T Holy of Holies] could see the ends of the poles. But no one could see them from outside the Holy Place. The poles are still there today. 10 The only things inside the Ark were two stone tablets [C inscribed with the Ten Commandments] that Moses had put in the Ark at ·Mount Sinai [L Horeb]. That was where the Lord made his ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

11 Then all the priests ·left [came out of; withdrew from] the Holy Place. (All the priests ·from each group [regardless of their divisions/orders; or whether they were serving that day or not] had ·made themselves ready to serve the Lord [consecrated/purified/sanctified themselves].) 12 All the Levite ·musicians [singers]—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun [C all associated with certain psalms; see titles of Ps. 50, 73–83 (Asaph), 88 (Heman), 39, 62, 77 (Jeduthun)], and all their sons and ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers]—stood on the east side of the altar. They were dressed in ·white [fine] linen and played cymbals, harps, and lyres. ·With [Accompanying] them were one hundred twenty priests who blew trumpets. 13 Those who blew the trumpets and those who sang ·together sounded like one person [performed in unison] as they praised and thanked the Lord. They sang ·as others played their [accompanied by] trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments. They praised the Lord with this song:

“He is good;
    his ·love [unfailing love; lovingkindness; loyalty] ·continues [endures] forever [Ps. 136:1].”

Then the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord was filled with a cloud. 14 The priests could not continue their ·work [service] because of the cloud, because the Lord’s ·glory [splendor] filled the ·Temple [L house] of God.

When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished,(A) he brought in the things his father David had dedicated(B)—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.

The Ark Brought to the Temple(C)

Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark(D) of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. And all the Israelites(E) came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.

When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests(F) carried them up; and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

The priests then brought the ark(G) of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim(H) spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except(I) the two tablets(J) that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions.(K) 12 All the Levites who were musicians(L)—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.(M) 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”(N)

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,(O) 14 and the priests could not perform(P) their service because of the cloud,(Q) for the glory(R) of the Lord filled the temple of God.