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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 5 verses 1–10
This agrees with what we had Kg1 8:2, etc., where an account was given of the solemn introduction of the ark into the new-erected temple. 1. There needed no great solemnity for the bringing in of the dedicated things, Ch2 5:1. They added to the wealth, and perhaps were so disposed as to add to the beauty of it; but they could not add to the holiness, for it was the temple that sanctified the gold, Mat 23:17. See how just Solomon was both to God and to his father. Whatever David had dedicated to God, however much he might have liked it himself, he would by no means alienate it, but put it among the treasures of the temple. Those children that would inherit their godly parents' blessing must religiously pursue their pious intentions and not defeat them. When Solomon had made all the vessels of the temple in abundance (Ch2 4:18), many of the materials were left, which he would not convert to any other use, but laid up in the treasury for a time of need. Dedicated things must not be alienated. It is sacrilege to do it. 2. But it was fit that the ark should be brought in with great solemnity; and so it was. All the other vessels were made new, and larger, in proportion to the house, than they had been in the tabernacle. But the ark, with the mercy-seat and the cherubim, was the same; for the presence and the grace of God are the same in little assemblies that they are in large ones, in the poor condition of the church that they are in its prosperous estate. Wherever two or three are gathered together in Christ's name there is he as truly present with them as if there were 2000 or 3000. The ark was brought in attended by a very great assembly of the elders of Israel, who came to grace and solemnity; and a very sumptuous appearance no doubt they made, Ch2 5:2-4. It was carried by the priests (Ch2 5:7), brought into the most holy place, and put under the wings of the great cherubim which Solomon had set up there, Ch2 5:7, Ch2 5:8. There they are unto this day (Ch2 5:9), not the day when this book was written after the captivity, but when that was written out of which this story was transcribed. Or they were there (so it might be read) unto this day, the day of Jerusalem's desolations, that fatal day, Psa 137:7. The ark was a type of Christ, and, as such, a token of the presence of God. That gracious promise, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, does in effect bring the ark into our religious assemblies if we by faith and prayer put that promise in suit; and this we should be most solicitous and earnest for. Lord, if thy presence go not up with us, wherefore should we go up? The temple itself, if Christ leave it, is a desolate place, Mat 23:38. 3. With the ark they brought up the tabernacle and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, Ch2 5:5. Those were not alienated, because they had been dedicated to God, were not altered or melted down for the new work, though there was no need of them; but they were carefully laid up as monuments of antiquity, and probably as many of the vessels as were fit for use were still used. 4. This was done with great joy. They kept a holy feast upon the occasion (Ch2 5:3), and sacrificed sheep and oxen without number, Ch2 5:6. Note, (1.) The establishment of the public worship of God according to his institution, and with the tokens of his presence, is, and ought to be, matter of great joy to any people. (2.) When Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart, the ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the temple of the Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul. (3.) Whatever we have the comfort of we must, by the sacrifice of praise, give God the glory of, and not be straitened therein; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. If God favour us with his presence, we must honour him with our services, the best we have.
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SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 5:10 provides a precise detail regarding the contents of the Ark of the Covenant as it was placed into the Most Holy Place of Solomon's newly dedicated Temple. It explicitly states that only the two stone tablets, inscribed with the Ten Commandments by God Himself at Horeb (Mount Sinai), remained within the Ark. This singular focus underscores the enduring centrality of God's foundational law and His covenant relationship with Israel, rooting the grand Temple dedication in the foundational events of the Exodus and the giving of the Torah.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Emphasis is achieved through the negative construction "nothing... save," which starkly highlights the singular importance of the two tables. This serves to underscore the enduring centrality of God's Law within the covenant. Symbolism is profoundly present: the Ark itself symbolizes God's dwelling presence, while the two tables symbolize the divine, unchanging Law and the very essence of the Mosaic Covenant. The mention of "Horeb" and "came out of Egypt" functions as Allusion, referring back to the foundational narratives of the Exodus and the giving of the Law, thereby grounding the Temple's dedication in Israel's redemptive history. This Historical Anchoring reinforces the continuity of God's work and covenant promises across generations.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The specific detail in 2 Chronicles 5:10, that only the two tablets of the Law remained in the Ark, carries profound theological weight. It signifies that at the heart of God's dwelling place among His people, and indeed at the core of their identity, was His unchanging Word and covenant. This emphasis on the Law's enduring presence within the Ark foreshadows the eternal nature of God's truth and righteousness. While the physical Ark and Temple were temporary symbols, their contents pointed to the eternal principles of God's character and His desire for a people who would live in obedience to Him. The covenant made at Horeb, though conditional, revealed God's faithfulness and His standard for holy living, providing the framework for Israel's relationship with their divine King.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detail in 2 Chronicles 5:10, though seemingly minor, offers a powerful reminder for believers today. It teaches us that while outward forms of worship, structures, or even spiritual experiences may change, the unchanging core of our relationship with God remains His holy character, His revealed Word, and His faithful covenant. The Law, though no longer a means of salvation for those in Christ, still serves as a perfect reflection of God's nature and a guide for righteous living. Just as God desired His Law to be at the very heart of His dwelling place among Israel, so too does He desire His Word to dwell richly within our hearts and minds, shaping our thoughts, desires, and actions. This verse calls us to prioritize God's truth and commands above all else, recognizing that true spiritual flourishing comes from aligning our lives with His unchanging will, not from fleeting experiences or external displays.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were only the two tables of the Law in the Ark, when other items like Aaron's rod or manna are sometimes mentioned as being associated with it?
Answer: 2 Chronicles 5:10, along with its parallel in 1 Kings 8:9, explicitly states that by the time of Solomon's Temple dedication, only the two stone tablets of the Law were inside the Ark. While other items such as Aaron's rod that budded and a pot of manna are mentioned in Hebrews 9:4 as being within the Ark, and in Exodus 16:33-34 and Numbers 17:10 as being placed before or beside the Ark of the Testimony, it is likely that these items were either removed over time or were never permanently stored inside the Ark itself. The Chronicler's emphasis on the Law's sole presence highlights its supreme and enduring significance as the core of God's covenant with Israel, distinguishing it from other miraculous but temporary testimonies of God's provision and judgment. The Law remained the foundational expression of God's character and His demands for His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The specificity of 2 Chronicles 5:10, emphasizing that only the two tables of the Law remained in the Ark, powerfully foreshadows the fulfillment of God's covenant and His indwelling presence in Jesus Christ. The Ark, with the Law at its heart, symbolized God's desire to dwell among His people, but it was a veiled and external presence, accessible only to the high priest once a year. In Christ, the Law is not merely contained in a box, but perfectly embodied and fulfilled in a person. Jesus declared that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), living out its every demand in His sinless life. Furthermore, the New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:33, promises that God will write His Law not on tablets of stone, but "on their hearts." This is precisely what happens through the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sends to indwell believers, making them temples of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Thus, the ultimate reality to which the Ark and its contents pointed—God's holy presence dwelling intimately with His people, with His Law perfectly upheld and internalized—is fully realized in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the true and eternal Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).