And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
The verse belongs to the moment after the temple was finished, when all Israel was assembled for the dedication of the house of God. That dedication was carried out with great splendor, and many nations were also present to witness it. At that gathering Solomon spoke to the people with the purpose of tearing away heathen superstitions about God. He taught that the God of Israel is not like the gods of the heathen, who were thought to be confined to built temples. Instead, He would meet His people by His Spirit when they assembled in that house dedicated to His worship.
The verse belongs to the moment after the temple was finished, when all Israel was assembled for the dedication of the house of God. That dedication was carried out with great splendor, and many nations were also present to witness it. At that gathering Solomon spoke to the people with the purpose of tearing away heathen superstitions about God. He taught that the God of Israel is not like the gods of the heathen, who were thought to be confined to built temples. Instead, He would meet His people by His Spirit when they assembled in that house dedicated to His worship.