In today’s text, the ark makes the last stage of its journey: from Jerusalem in the “city of David” (2 Chronicles 5:2) into the temple Solomon has built for it.8 The ark is “the ark of the Lord’s covenant” (vv. 2, 7), which was constructed at Sinai and journeyed with Israel all the way to the promised land. This ark, with all these historical resonances, comes “to its place” (v. 7) under the wings of the cherubim in Solomon’s temple.

The ark enters the temple during “the festival in the seventh month” (v. 3). This refers to the Festival of Booths (or Festival of Tabernacles), which celebrates the exodus from Egypt and the ingathering of the harvest (Leviticus 23:33–43). All Israel’s leaders assemble, as at previous stages of the journey (1 Chronicles 13:5; 15:3).

King and people offer copious sacrifices in celebration (2 Chronicles 5:6). Different Levitical divisions play their part, praising God for His boundless goodness and commitment (vv. 11–13). Then a cloud representing God’s presence fills the temple, so majestic that the priests had to stop ministering (vv. 13–14; see Leviticus 9:23–24).

Solomon speaks: God may dwell “in a dark cloud”, but the temple is a “place for you to dwell for ever” (2 Chronicles 6:1–2). He then draws out the significance of what has just happened (vv. 3–11): for a long time, God did not have a temple among His people and did not choose a leader for them, but now He has chosen Jerusalem for His temple and David’s line to lead Israel. David could not build the temple, but Solomon has built the “temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel” (v. 10). The ark of the covenant has entered the temple, with God’s clear approval (v. 11).

Solomon turns to prayer, kneeling on a special bronze platform built for this purpose (vv. 12–17). No god is like the Lord, Israel’s God, who maintains covenant faithfulness with His people. God has kept His promise to David: the ark is now in the temple built by his son. But God promised David yet more: there will always be a king from David’s line ruling Israel, provided David’s descendants live according to God’s law given through Moses (v. 16). So, Solomon prays, let this part of the promise also be fulfilled.

This is a big request, reaching far into the future. Later chapters of 2 Chronicles will show that God took Solomon’s prayer seriously: kings from David’s line would rule for many generations and God would indeed honour those kings who were careful to follow His law. The Chronicler wanted his hearers to realise that the possibilities of enjoying God’s blessing, goodness, and peace are open to every generation who seeks God. Those possibilities remain open to us as well.

⁸ At this stage, the temple lay outside Jerusalem, though Solomon would extend the city walls to include it (2 Chronicles 8:1–6; 1 Kings 9:15).