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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Chronicles, Chapter V].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<P>
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The temple being built and furnished for God, we have here,
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I. Possession given to him, by bringing in the dedicated things
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:1">ver. 1</A>),
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but especially the ark, the token of his presence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:2-10">ver. 2-10</A>.
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II. Possession taken by him, in a cloud,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:11-14">ver. 11-14</A>.
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For if any man open the door of his heart to God he will come in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20">Rev. iii. 20</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Ark Placed in the Temple.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1004.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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was finished: and Solomon brought in <I>all</I> the things that David
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his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all
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the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
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2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the
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heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of
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Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> out of the city of David, which <I>is</I> Zion.
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3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the
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king in the feast which <I>was</I> in the seventh month.
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4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up
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the ark.
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5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the
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congregation, and all the holy vessels that <I>were</I> in the
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tabernacle, these did the priests <I>and</I> the Levites bring up.
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6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that
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were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and
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oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
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7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most
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holy <I>place, even</I> under the wings of the cherubims:
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8 For the cherubims spread forth <I>their</I> wings over the place
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of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves
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thereof above.
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9 And they drew out the staves <I>of the ark,</I> that the ends of
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the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they
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were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
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10 <I>There was</I> nothing in the ark save the two tables which
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Moses put <I>therein</I> at Horeb, when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> made <I>a covenant</I>
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with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This agrees with what we had
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:2-10">1 Kings viii. 2</A>,
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&c., where an account was given
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of the solemn introduction of the ark into the new-erected temple.
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1. There needed no great solemnity for the bringing in of the dedicated
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things,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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They added to the wealth, and perhaps were so disposed as to add to the
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beauty of it; but they could not add to the holiness, for it was the
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<I>temple that sanctified the gold,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:17">Matt. xxiii. 17</A>.
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See how just Solomon was both to God and to his father. Whatever David
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had dedicated to God, however much he might have liked it himself, he
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would by no means alienate it, but put it among the treasures of the
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temple. Those children that would inherit their godly parents'
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blessing must religiously pursue their pious intentions and not defeat
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them. When Solomon had made all the vessels of the temple in abundance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+4:18"><I>ch.</I> iv. 18</A>),
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many of the materials were left, which he would not convert to any
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other use, but laid up in the treasury for a time of need. Dedicated
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things must not be alienated. It is sacrilege to do it.
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2. But it was fit that the ark should be brought in with great
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solemnity; and so it was. All the other vessels were made new, and
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larger, in proportion to the house, than they had been in the
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tabernacle. But the ark, with the mercy-seat and the cherubim, was the
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same; for the presence and the grace of God are the same in little
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assemblies that they are in large ones, in the poor condition of the
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church that they are in its prosperous estate. Wherever two or three
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are gathered together in Christ's name there is he as truly present
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with them as if there were 2000 or 3000. The ark was brought in
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attended by a very great assembly of the elders of Israel, who came to
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grace and solemnity; and a very sumptuous appearance no doubt they
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made,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:2-4"><I>v.</I> 2-4</A>.
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It was carried by the priests
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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brought into the most holy place, and put under the wings of the great
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cherubim which Solomon had set up there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.
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<I>There they are unto this day</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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not the day when this book was written after the captivity, but when
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that was written out of which this story was transcribed. Or they were
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there (so it might be read) unto this day, the day of Jerusalem's
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desolations, that fatal day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:7">Ps. cxxxvii. 7</A>.
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The ark was a type of Christ, and, as such, a token of the presence of
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God. That gracious promise, <I>Lo, I am with you always, even unto the
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end of the world,</I> does in effect bring the ark into our religious
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assemblies if we by faith and prayer put that promise in suit; and this
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we should be most solicitous and earnest for. <I>Lord, if thy presence
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go not up with us,</I> wherefore should we go up? The temple itself, if
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Christ leave it, is a desolate place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:38">Matt. xxiii. 38</A>.
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3. With the ark they brought up the tabernacle and all the <I>holy
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vessels that were in the tabernacle,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Those were not alienated, because they had been dedicated to God, were
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not altered or melted down for the new work, though there was no need
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of them; but they were carefully laid up as monuments of antiquity, and
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probably as many of the vessels as were fit for use were still used.
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4. This was done with great joy. They kept a holy feast upon the
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occasion
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and <I>sacrificed sheep and oxen without number,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) The establishment of the public worship of God according to his
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institution, and with the tokens of his presence, is, and ought to be,
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matter of great joy to any people.
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(2.) When Christ is formed in a soul, the law written in the heart, the
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ark of the covenant settled there, so that it becomes the temple of the
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Holy Ghost, there is true satisfaction in that soul.
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(3.) Whatever we have the comfort of we must, by the sacrifice of
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praise, give God the glory of, and not be straitened therein; <I>for
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with such sacrifices God is well pleased.</I> If God favour us with his
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presence, we must honour him with our services, the best we have.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch5_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Temple Filled with Glory.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1004.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the
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holy <I>place:</I> (for all the priests <I>that were</I> present were
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sanctified, <I>and</I> did not <I>then</I> wait by course:
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12 Also the Levites <I>which were</I> the singers, all of them of
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Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren,
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<I>being</I> arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and
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harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an
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hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
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13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers <I>were</I>
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as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and when they lifted up <I>their</I> voice with the trumpets
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and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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<I>saying,</I> For <I>he is</I> good; for his mercy <I>endureth</I> for ever:
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that <I>then</I> the house was filled with a cloud, <I>even</I> the house
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>;
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14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of
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the cloud: for the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had filled the house of God.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Solomon, and the elders of Israel, had done what they could to grace
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the solemnity of the introduction of the ark; but God, by testifying
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his acceptance of what they did, put the greatest honour upon it. The
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cloud of glory that filled the house beautified it more than all the
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gold with which it was overlaid or the precious stones with which it
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was garnished; and yet that was no glory in comparison with the glory
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of the gospel dispensation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:8-10">2 Cor. iii. 8-10</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How God took possession of the temple: He <I>filled it with a
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cloud,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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1. Thus he signified his acceptance of this temple to be the same to
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him that the tabernacle of Moses was, and assured them that he would be
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the same in it; for it was by a cloud that he made his public entry
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into that,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+40:34">Exod. xl. 34</A>.
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2. Thus he considered the weakness and infirmity of those to whom he
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manifested himself, who could not bear the dazzling lustre of the
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divine light: it would have overpowered them; he therefore <I>spread
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his cloud upon it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+26:9">Job xxvi. 9</A>.
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Christ revealed things unto his disciples as they were able to bear
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them, and in parables, which wrapped up divine things as in a cloud.
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3. Thus he would affect all that worshipped in his courts with holy
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reverence and fear. Christ's disciples were afraid when they entered
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into a cloud,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+9:34">Luke ix. 34</A>.
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4. Thus he would intimate the darkness of that dispensation, by reason
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of which they could not stedfastly look to the end of those things
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which were now abolished,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:13">2 Cor. iii. 13</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. When he took possession of it.
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1. <I>When the priests had come out of the holy place,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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This is the way of giving possession. All must come out, that the
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rightful owner may come in. Would we have God dwell in our hearts? We
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must leave room for him; let every thing else give way. We are here
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told that upon this occasion the whole family of the priests attended,
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and not any one particular course: <I>All the priests that were present
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were sanctified</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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because there was work enough for them all, when such a multitude of
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sacrifices were to be offered, and because it was fit that they should
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all be eye-witnesses of this solemnity and receive the impressions of
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it.
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2. When the singers and musicians praised God, then the house was
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filled with a cloud. This is very observable; it was not when they
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<I>offered sacrifices,</I> but when they <I>sang the praises of
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God,</I> that God gave them this token of his favour; for the sacrifice
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of praise <I>pleaseth the Lord</I> better than that of <I>an ox or
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bullock,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:31">Ps. lxix. 31</A>.
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All the singers and musicians were employed, those of all the three
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families; and, to complete the concert, 120 priests, with their
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trumpets, joined with them, all standing at the east end of the altar,
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on that side of the court which lay outmost towards the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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And, when this part of the service began, the glory of God appeared.
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Observe,
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(1.) It was when they were unanimous, when they were as one, to make
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one sound. The Holy God descended on the apostles when they met with
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one accord,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:1-4">Acts ii. 1-4</A>.
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Where unity is the Lord commands the blessing.
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(2.) It was when they were lively and hearty, and <I>lifted up their
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voice to praise the Lord.</I> Then we serve God acceptably when we are
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fervent in spirit serving him.
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(3.) It was when they were, in their praises, celebrating the
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everlasting mercy and goodness of God. As there is one saying oftener
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repeated in scripture than this, <I>his mercy endureth for ever</I>
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(twenty-six times in one psalm,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+136:1-26">Ps. cxxxvi.</A>,
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and often elsewhere), so there is none more signally owned from heaven;
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for it was not the expression of some rapturous flights that the
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priests were singing when the glory of God appeared, but this plain
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song, <I>He is good, and his mercy endureth for ever.</I> God's
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goodness is his glory, and he is pleased when we give him the glory of
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it.</P>
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<P>
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III. What was the effect of it. The <I>priests themselves could not
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stand to minister, by reason of the cloud</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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which, as it was an evidence that the law made men priests that had
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infirmity, so (as bishop Patrick observes) it was a plain intimation
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that the Levitical priesthood should cease, and stand no longer to
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minister, when the Messiah should come, in whom <I>the fulness of the
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godhead should dwell bodily.</I> In him the glory of God dwelt among
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us, but covered with a cloud. The Word was made flesh; and when he
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comes to his temple, like a refiner's fire, <I>who may abide the day of
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his coming?</I> And <I>who shall stand when he appeareth?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:1,2">Mal. iii. 1, 2</A>.</P>
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<!-- (End Body) -->
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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