1 When Solomon had finished constructing the Lord’s temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and all the other articles) in the treasuries of God’s temple.

2 Then Solomon convened Israel’s elders – all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families – in Jerusalem,map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of Davidsn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7. (that is, Zion).tn Heb “Then Solomon convened the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers belonging to the sons of Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David (it is Zion).”

3 All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festivalsn This festival in the seventh month was the Feast of Tabernacles, see Lev 23:34. in the seventh month.sn The seventh month would be September-October in modern reckoning.

4 When all Israel’s elders had arrived, the Levites lifted the ark.

5 The priests and Levites carried the ark, the tent where God appeared to his people,tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”sn See Exod 33:7-11. and all the holy items in the tent.tn Heb “and they carried the ark of the Lord…. The priests and the Levites carried them.”

6 Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.tn Heb “And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel, those who had been gathered to him, [were] before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle which could not be counted or numbered because of the abundance.”

7 The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its assignedtn The word “assigned” is supplied in the translation for clarification. place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubs.

8 The cherubs’ wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.sn These poles were used to carry the ark. The Levites were to carry it with the poles on their shoulders. See Exod 25:13-15; 1 Chr 15:15.

9 The poles were so long their ends extending out from the ark were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point.tn Heb “they could not be seen outside.” They have remained there to this very day.

10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb.sn Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai (cf. Exod 3:1). (It was there thattn Heb “in Horeb where.” the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.)

11 The priests left the holy place.tn Heb “and when the priests went from the holy place.” The syntactical relationship of this temporal clause to the following context is unclear. Perhaps the thought is completed in v. 14 after a lengthy digression. All the priests who participated had consecrated themselves, no matter which division they represented.tn Heb “Indeed [or “for”] all the priests who were found consecrated themselves without guarding divisions.”

12 All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets.

13 The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the Lord, singing:tn Heb “like one were the trumpeters and the musicians, causing one voice to be heard, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, and while raising a voice with trumpets and with cymbals and with instruments of music, and while praising the Lord.” “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!” Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple.tn Heb “and the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the Lord.”

14 The priests could not carry out their dutiestn Heb “were not able to stand to serve.” because of the cloud; the Lord’s splendor filled God’s temple.