2 Chronicles 5:10

[There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put [therein] at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

There was nothing in the ark {H727} save the two {H8147} tables {H3871} which Moses {H4872} put {H5414} therein at Horeb {H2722}, when the LORD {H3068} made {H3772} a covenant with the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, when they came out {H3318} of Egypt {H4714}.

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moshe put there at Horev, when ADONAI made the covenant with the people of Isra'el at the time of their leaving Egypt.

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 5:10 describes a pivotal moment in Israelite history: the placement of the Ark of the Covenant into the newly constructed Temple by King Solomon. This verse specifically details the contents of the Ark at that time, emphasizing the enduring significance of God's law and covenant with His people.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative surrounding the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. After decades of preparation and seven years of construction, the Ark of the Covenant – the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's presence – is finally brought from the City of David into the Most Holy Place of the Temple. This event marks a culmination of God's promise to dwell among His people, transitioning from the portable Tabernacle to a permanent house of worship. The account here closely parallels the description found in 1 Kings 8:9.

Key Themes

  • The Enduring Law: The verse explicitly states that "nothing in the ark save the two tables" remained. While earlier accounts mention other items temporarily placed near or in the Ark (like Aaron's rod that budded or a pot of manna, as referenced in Hebrews 9:4), by this time, only the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments were inside. This highlights the foundational and unchanging nature of God's moral law and His covenant with Israel.
  • God's Covenant Faithfulness: The mention of "Horeb" (another name for Mount Sinai) and the "covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt" serves as a powerful reminder of God's historical faithfulness. It roots the current Temple dedication in the foundational events of the Exodus and the giving of the Law, underscoring that God's promises and His relationship with His people are steadfast. The Hebrew word for covenant, berit, signifies a solemn, binding agreement.
  • Divine Presence and Dwelling: The Ark was the earthly symbol of God's presence among His people. Its placement in the Temple signifies God's willingness to dwell among Israel in a more permanent and grand structure, fulfilling His desire to be near them since their liberation from Egypt.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Horeb" is used interchangeably with "Mount Sinai" in the Old Testament, specifically referring to the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where the covenant was formally established. The "two tables" refers to the stone tablets upon which God Himself inscribed the Law, as detailed in Exodus 31:18 and Deuteronomy 10:5.

Reflection and Application

This verse reminds us that while outward forms of worship or symbols may change, the core of God's relationship with humanity remains centered on His unchanging character, His holy law, and His faithful covenant. For believers today, the enduring significance of the Law points to the enduring truth of God's Word. Though we are under grace, the principles of God's law reveal His nature and serve as a guide for righteous living. Just as God desired to dwell among His people in the Temple, He now desires to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit, making our bodies temples of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19).

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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 9:4 (4 votes)

    Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

  • Deuteronomy 10:2 (3 votes)

    And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

  • Deuteronomy 10:5 (3 votes)

    And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

  • Exodus 24:7 (3 votes)

    And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

  • Exodus 24:8 (3 votes)

    And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:11 (3 votes)

    And in it have I put the ark, wherein [is] the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

  • Exodus 19:5 (3 votes)

    Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: