MPV Commentary

The Dedication of the Temple.

The formal inauguration of the national place of worship did not take place until eleven months after the completion of the temple. This delay was likely due to Solomon's desire to choose a fitting opportunity for a general gathering of the people in Jerusalem. The next year was a jubilee year, and he decided to begin the solemn ceremony a few days before the feast of tabernacles, which was an appropriate time. This annual festival commemorated the Israelites' dwelling in booths during their wilderness stay and the tabernacle, where God promised to meet and dwell with His people, sanctifying it with His glory.

As the tabernacle would be superseded by the temple, there was a fitting propriety in choosing the feast of tabernacles for dedicating the new place of worship. The king issued orders for all heads and representatives of the nation to come to Jerusalem and participate in the procession. The lead was taken by the king and elders of the people, accompanied by priests offering numerous sacrifices along the route. Next came the priests carrying the ark and tabernacle, which was brought from Gibeon. The Levites followed, carrying vessels and ornaments for the new temple.

The order of march deviated slightly from that established in the wilderness (Numbers 3:31; 4:15), but the spirit of the arrangement was observed. The ark was placed in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubim, which were larger and more expanded than those made by Moses.

They drew out the staves a little way to project from the ark (see Exodus 25:15; Numbers 4:6), leaving them in that position. This allowed the staves to serve as a guide for the high priest when conducting him to his annual office before the ark, preventing him from getting lost in the dark.

The ark contained only the two tables of stone. Nothing else was ever in the ark, although articles mentioned elsewhere (Hebrews 9:4) were laid in the most holy place before the testimony (Exodus 16:33; Numbers 17:10).

A cloud filled the house of the Lord, symbolizing the divine presence and a testament to God's acceptance of the temple as He had accepted the tabernacle. The dazzling brightness or dense darkness of the cloud struck the priests with such astonishment and terror that they could not remain in their place. Thus, the temple became the place where the divine glory was revealed, and the king of Israel established his royal residence.