2 Chronicles 5:2
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, and the chiefs of the fathers to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion, for the dedication of the temple. The temple he had built was a larger, permanent and immovable house made on the same plan as the tabernacle, with two holy places, vessels of the same kinds, and the very same ministration. In having two holy places it was a pattern of the heavenly temple, showing that the heavenly sanctuary has two holy places. The ark and the tabernacle were brought together into the newly built temple, which replaced the old temporary tabernacle as God's sanctuary and dwelling place, and the ark was set with great rejoicing in the holy of holies where praise accompanied God's presence and His glory filled the house.
Historical Context and Setting
The verse belongs to 2 Chronicles 1 to 9, which continue 1 Chronicles and give the history of the undivided kingdom under Solomon in chronological order, parallel to 1 Kings 1 to 11. It is part of the account of the building and furniture of the temple, leading to the dedication prayer and sacrifices and the divine answer to Solomon's prayer, which are to be especially noted. It belongs to the history of Solomon, one of the four divisions of Chronicles alongside genealogies and the histories of David and the remaining kings of Judah. That history supplies what was left out of Samuel and Kings, assumes knowledge of the preceding books, gives many new and important facts, and says scarcely anything about the northern kingdom or the sinful acts of David and Solomon.
It comes after the close of David's reign, David's purpose to build a house for God and gathering of material for it, Solomon's call to the kingdom, and the perplexities of establishing his reign. It belongs to the six chapters on the glorious rule of Solomon that tell the building of the temple and its services, while only three chapters tell other matters of his reign. As part of the history following the line of Judah through David, the line of the Messiah, it makes prominent the kings who served God and put away idolatry. It shows God's care for his people and his purpose to save them, with divine favor dependent on faithfulness to the original covenant and divine punishment resulting from unfaithfulness.
The verse records Solomon assembling Israel's elders, heads of the tribes, and chiefs of the fathers in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion, as part of the temple's dedication. The temple dedication at Jerusalem described in this chapter took place during the Feast of Tabernacles in the eleventh year of Solomon's reign. It was about a month before the temple was fully completed, given as the date 1020 B.C.
Sanctuary Pattern and Worship
Solomon's temple was a larger, permanent and immovable structure built on the same plan as the tabernacle, with two holy places, sacred vessels of the same kinds, and the very same ministration. It was grander than the tabernacle yet followed it exactly in arrangement and service. In having two holy places, it was a pattern of the heavenly temple, proving that the heavenly sanctuary has two holy places.
The verse begins the transfer of the ark from the former tabernacle to Solomon's temple, when the ark and the tabernacle were brought together into the newly built house. That newly built temple replaced the old, temporary tabernacle as the sanctuary and dwelling place of God. The sanctuary included more than the building itself; it also encompassed its sacred furnishings and the court surrounding the temple.
The gathering of Israel's elders and tribal and family leaders at Jerusalem was to bring the covenant ark from the city of David, which is Zion. The ark was then placed with great rejoicing in the holy of holies of the magnificent temple built for God's worship. This belongs to the account of the building and furniture of the temple leading to the dedication prayer and sacrifices and the divine answer to Solomon's prayer, which are to be especially noted. The chapter's worship scene is an example of praise accompanying God's presence: while the singers praised the Lord, his glory filled the temple.