2 Chronicles 5:7

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims:

And the priests {H3548} brought in {H935} the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} of the LORD {H3068} unto his place {H4725}, to the oracle {H1687} of the house {H1004}, into the most {H6944} holy {H6944} place, even under the wings {H3671} of the cherubims {H3742}:

The cohanim brought the ark for the covenant of ADONAI in to its place inside the sanctuary of the house, to the Especially Holy Place, under the wings of the k'ruvim.

Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 5:7 describes a pivotal moment in ancient Israel's history: the ceremonial placement of the Ark of the Covenant into its permanent resting place within Solomon's newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem. This verse marks the culmination of a long journey for the Ark, which had previously resided in the Tabernacle and various temporary locations.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative detailing the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple, a grand undertaking that fulfilled a vision first conceived by his father, King David. The bringing of the Ark into the Temple's inner sanctuary was the most sacred event of the dedication ceremony, symbolizing the establishment of God's dwelling place among His people in a fixed, glorious structure. The entire chapter, 2 Chronicles 5, along with its parallel account in 1 Kings 8, highlights the immense spiritual significance of this event, leading to the descent of God's glory (the Shekinah) filling the Temple.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence: The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's personal presence and His covenant relationship with His people. Its placement in the Temple signified that God had chosen to dwell among them.
  • Holiness and Sanctity: The "most holy place" (also known as the Holy of Holies or the "oracle") was the innermost and most sacred chamber of the Temple, accessible only to the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2). This emphasizes God's absolute holiness and the reverence required in His presence.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This act completed the long-held desire for a permanent dwelling place for the Ark, fulfilling God's promise to establish His name in Jerusalem and to dwell among the Israelites.
  • Order and Worship: The meticulous procedure of the priests bringing the Ark demonstrates the highly ordered and reverent nature of Israelite worship, emphasizing obedience to God's instructions.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Oracle of the house": The Hebrew word used here is devir (ื“ึฐึผื‘ึดื™ืจ), which refers to the innermost sanctuary of the Temple. It can also imply a place of "speaking" or "utterance," suggesting that this was where God would speak to His people.
  • "Most holy [place]": The Hebrew phrase is qodesh haqqodashim (ืงึนื“ึถืฉื ื”ึทืงึณึผื“ึธืฉึดืื™ื), literally "holiness of holinesses," an emphatic superlative indicating the supreme sanctity of this chamber.
  • "Under the wings of the cherubims": The cherubim were angelic figures depicted on the Ark's mercy seat and carved into the Temple's walls and ceiling. Their outstretched wings over the Ark symbolized their role as guardians of God's holiness and His throne, signifying the divine presence and protection.

Practical Application

While the physical Temple and Ark are no longer central to worship, the principles they represent remain profoundly relevant. This verse reminds us of God's desire to dwell with His people. In the New Testament, we learn that through Christ, the veil to the "Most Holy Place" has been torn, granting believers direct access to God's presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). Furthermore, New Covenant believers are now considered the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19), meaning God's presence resides within us. This calls for us to live lives of holiness, reverence, and worship, recognizing the sacredness of our own bodies and our corporate gathering as the Church, which is God's spiritual temple.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 132:8 (4 votes)

    Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

  • Exodus 37:6 (4 votes)

    And he made the mercy seat [of] pure gold: two cubits and a half [was] the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

  • Exodus 37:9 (4 votes)

    And the cherubims spread out [their] wings on high, [and] covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; [even] to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

  • 1 Kings 8:6 (4 votes)

    And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims.

  • 1 Kings 8:7 (4 votes)

    For the cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

  • 1 Kings 6:23 (4 votes)

    And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of] olive tree, [each] ten cubits high.

  • 1 Kings 6:28 (4 votes)

    And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.