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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 5
Welcome to the year 910B.C. where we find King Solomon, the Nation of the House of Israel’s third man-king is wrapping up the completion of Father’s Temple—three things to note concerning King Solomon: (1) King Solomon is the man-king whom Father Blessed with a “wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee”; (2) only Solomon’s father, King David, Israel’s second man-king, was a greater King of Israel than Solomon, King David is the King which all the other Kings of Israel were judged against; and (3) King Solomon will be the last King of the United Kingdom of the Nation of the House of Israel as, because of King Solomon’s lust of women, many of them being foreign woman who worshiped false gods, his allowing them to bring their false gods into the Kingdom, and then he too serving and worshiping those false gods, Father will divide the Kingdom into two separate Nations—the House of Israel and the House of Judah—at the end of Solomon’s reign.
We closed our last Chapter, II Chronicles 4, with Solomon having completed all the furnishings, instruments, vessels and utensils which he was going to put into Father’s House.
In this Chapter, we’ll be reading of Solomon bringing The Ark of the Covenant up, and his Dedicating of Father’s House.
With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “Father, we come to you right now to thank you for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”
I Chronicles 10:1-II Chronicles 36:21
HISTORY (UP TO THE CAPTIVITY.)
(Division.)
11:1-II Chronicles 36:21 THE HOUSE
of DAVID. ESTABLISHED. (Division.)
II Chronicles 1:1-9:31 SOLOMON.
(Introversion and Alternation.)
2:1-7:11 BUILDING OF TEMPLE
(EVENTS: SACRED) (Introversion.)
4:11-5:1 Completion.
1A1
II Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon (peaceful; and, peaceful) (shel-o-moי) made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David (loving; and, well-beloved) (Daw-veedי) his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. —> Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished=After seven and a half years, the Temple which Solomon had built for Father is now complete. He began construction in the year 917B.C. and the year is now 910B.C. Of course Solomon didn’t do this construction himself; no, he hired Huram, the king of Tyre to oversee the construction, Huram had another man also named Huram do the fashioning of all the furnishings, plus, Solomon had had roughly 153,000 workers, both fellow Israelites and free-laborers—read that, slaves—foreign workers from the nations around Israel who owed tribute to Israel. Seven plus years plus 153,000 worker-bees equals many, many thousands—possibly even into the millions—of man-hours of labor to complete Father’s House.
…all the things that David his father had dedicated…=This is in reference to the things which David had given over to and dedicated to Father. What all had David given over to and dedicated to Father? We find our answer to that in I Chronicles 29:2-8. Let’s go back and review: I Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. —> There is much to be discussed with this verse brethren: Let’s start with the word and number of “and(s)” in this verse. First off, we know that when we see multiple and(s) in a singular or successive verses, we know that it is a polysyndeton—in other words, they are used to highlight and emphasize each detail and point—secondly, note the number used here in this verse, 7, the number for “Spiritual Perfection and Completeness.” David had provided much of the materials needed to build Father’s Temple and for the furnishings, instruments, and vessels which were to be used in the Worship of Him. He had even donated very much of his own personal wealth because, he knew that everything he had came from Father. It was Father Who gave him his victory over Goliath and every other enemy he faced. It was Father Who gave him his victories over every nation which surrounded Israel whereby David could put them to tribute and have the wealth the Nation of Israel enjoyed. …things to be made of gold…=These were the golden candlesticks—the menorah—and their holders which were used both inside the Holiest of Holies and in the Holy Place just outside the Holiest of Holies, the table of shewbread, the golden Altar of Incense, the sacrificial and other tables, fleshhooks, basons, bowls, cups and all the other instruments and vessels which the Priests will be utilizing in their course of service of ministering to Father as they Worshipped Him. Some of these gold items were made entirely of pure refined gold—pure gold because, Propitiation—Atonement, Reconciliation and Redemption—is a Divine work throughout—while some were made of gold which was not quite as refined and pure as other items—a good example is the carat measurement used to describe the purity of gold based on 24 whole parts. 24-carat gold is defined as 100 percent pure. 18-carat gold is considered 75 percent pure because only 18 of its 24 parts are gold. Fourteen-carat gold is 58.3 percent pure, as 14 out of its 24 parts are made of gold, and 10-carat gold is 41.6 percent pure, with only 10 of its 24 parts consisting of gold—some were made of solid gold—think of Father’s Mercy Seat—and some were items, instruments and vessels which were made of wood which was then overlaid with gold—items such as the table of Shewbread. Some items—again, think of Father’s Mercy Seat and the cherubims which sat a top it—were of a beaten work, while other items were fashioned by first making a mold and then pouring the gold into it. …things to be made of silver…=Silver also denoting “Redemption.” These were the tables and lampstands which were used outside the Holy place but within Father’s House, i.e., inside the treasuries and such. The Silver candlesticks were most likely small individual candlesticks which the were able to carried by those whose duties inside the Temple could see by, i.e., the porters whose duty it was to be the overseers of the treasuries and such. Like the gold items, some of these silver items were made entirely of pure refined silver, while some were made of silver which was not quite as refined and pure as other items. Some items were of a beaten work, while other items were fashioned by first making a mold and then pouring the silver into it. …things to be made of brass…=Brass denoting “Judgment in Righteousness.” These were basons, cups, firepans, fleshhooks, and shovels, all things which the Priests used outside where they slaughtered the sacrificial animals. Brass pins, rings and sockets were used to hang the curtains, secure the boards and such. Again, like the gold and silver items, some of these brass items were made entirely of pure refined copper, while some were made of copper and zink metals which were not quite as refined and pure as other items. Some items were of a beaten work, while other items were fashioned by first making a mold and then pouring the copper into it. …things to be made of iron…=Iron was found in Egypt as early as 2,800B.C.. Iron was used to make tools and such. …wood for things of wood…=The wood was the Cedar and Fir trees which David—and later his son Solomon will also—had commissioned to be gotten from Lebanon. The wood was used as both beams and paneling. There were also things which were made of wood and covered or overlaid with gold—think of how the staves for Father’s Ark were made of wood and then overlaid with gold. …onyx stones…=When we look up the word “onyx” in the Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H7718, - שֹׁהַם, - shôham, pronounced - shoי-ham, and means: From an unused root probably meaning to blanch; a gem, probably the beryl (from its pale green color): - onyx. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. As we see from the Strong’s, there are only 11 uses in all the KJV Bible, and only 1 of those uses is mentioned in any way, shape, or form in connection with Father’s Temple, and that usage is in I Chronicles 2:2, when David says that he collected Onyx Stones. We read in II Chronicles 3:6, that Solomon garnished Father’s Temple with some of these stones during the construction of Father’s Temple. …stones to be set…=These were gem stones which were in settings, but again, like the Onyx Stones above, Solomon garnished Father’s Temple with some of these stones. With that being said, there is a unique thing concerning these “stones to be set.” We find that, it in the Strong’s Concordance, is the same Hebrew word number: H4394, as that of the word “Consecration.” Another unique thing about this Hebrew word number “H4394,” is that it only appears a total of 15 times in the KJV Bible, and 9 of those times are used in connection with the word “Consecration.” …glistering stones…=Let’s check out this word “glistering” in our Strong’s Concordance brethren. When we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6320, - פּוּךְ, - pûk, pronounced - pook, and means: From an unused root meaning to paint; dye (specifically stibium for the eyes): - fair colours, glistering, paint [-ed] (-ing) Total KJV occurrences: 4.. So, what we can gather from these glistering stones is that they were stones which had a pigment in them, and our forefathers would crush them and the women could then be able to paint their eyes, sort of like applying eyeliner today. …divers colours…=Here’s another word which we need to check out in our Strong’s Concordance brethren. This word in the Strong’s is Hebrew word number: H7553, - רִקְמָה, - riqmâh, pronounced - rik-mawי, and means: From H7551; variegation of color; specifically embroidery: - broidered (work), divers colours, (raiment of) needlework (on both sides). Total KJV occurrences: 12.. These would be items which were made of fine twined linen, think of the curtains which were hung in the inner and outer courts, table cloths and other such items. Of other note could be that these “divers colours” were the veins which ran through the “marble stones” which we also see in this verse. …precious stones…=Some of these were small precious gem stones, while others were large stones which were cut, dressed and finished while they were still at the quarry. The reason for their being cut dressed and finished at the quarry was because there wasn’t any axe, hammer, or tool of iron used at the construction site. …marble stones…=Marble in the Strong’s Concordance, is Hebrew word number: H7893, - שַׁיִשׁ, - shayish, pronounced - shahי-yish, and means: From an unused root meaning to bleach; that is, whiten; white, that is, marble: - marble. See H8336. Total KJV occurrences: .. Like the “precious stones,” these marble stones were cut, dressed and finished at the quarry and then brought to the construction site and laid in place. [29:3] Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, —> Here, David is saying that he has joyfully given out of his own personal treasure, both gold and silver and I’m sure, plenty of gem stones and jewels too. This was\is in addition to all the gold, silver, brass, wood, and stones which were in all the different treasuries in Jerusalem and throughout all the territories of Israel. [29:4] Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: —> David knew that he was returning Home to Father, and as such, he couldn’t take all his personal wealth with him, so what does he do? He donates it to the construction of Father’s House. Just how much did he donate? Remember, one talent in weight was equal to roughly 110-180 pounds. And here, David said that he gave 3,000 talents of gold. At the low end, that’s 330,000 pounds, at the high end, it would be 540,000. All of his gold was from Ophir, which was considered to be the finest, pure gold there was at the time. In today’s money, that would be a very considerable amount, up into the trillions of dollars, especially considering that an once of gold is selling for $1,497.65. In any case, we can read in II Chronicles 3, that a vast majority of this gold was used to cover the interior walls, the ceiling, the porch, and other many other items. [29:5] The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?” —> By David showing that he was willing, and had indeed offered up so much of his own personal wealth for the building of Father’s House, he was now going to ask everybody present to be willing to do the same. …artificers…=I like David’s use of the word “artificers” as here, it has a broad range of meaning. Let’s check it out in our Strong’s Concordance, and we’ll find that it is Hebrew word number: H2797, - חָרָשׁ, - chârâsh, pronounced - khaw-rawshי, and means: From H2790; a fabricator of any material: - artificer, (+) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought. Total KJV occurrences: 37.. So what David is saying here, is that, he had already lined up all the different skilled workers to build, construct and fashion Father’s House and all the items which will go inside. [29:6] Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly, —> First off, notice that this verse ends in a comma, not a period, thus letting us know that it continues into the next verse. …chief of the fathers…princes of the tribes of Israel…=Each of the twelve Tribes had a ruler who was known as the “prince of the Tribe.” We had read of them back in I Chronicles 27:16—they were: Eliezer the son of Zichri of the Reubenites; Shephatiah the son of Maachah of the Simeonites; Hashabiah the son of Kemuel of the Levites; Zadok of the Aaronites; Elihu, one of the brethren of David of the Judah; Omri the son of Michael of Issachar; Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah of Zebulun; Jerimoth the son of Azriel of Naphtali; Hoshea the son of Azaziah of Ephraim; Joel the son of Pedaiah of half the Tribe of Manasseh; Iddo the son of Zechariah of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead; Jaasiel the son of Abner of Benjamin; and Azareel the son of Jeroham of the Tribe of Dan—I noted there that, the order was the first four sons of Leah, in order of their birth: Issachar and Zebulun, fifth and sixth—Genesis 30:18,20. Thus the first six are Leah’s sons. Her maid Zilpah’s—Gad and Asher—not mentioned. Then Naphtali—Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. Then Ephraim and Manasseh—Rachel’s, through Joseph. Then Benjamin—Rachel’s younger son. Dan comes last because the Tribe of Dan was the first to be beguiled into idolatry. Hence Dan is ommited and not named in Revelation 7:4. …the captains of thousands and of hundreds…=This would be David’s Commanding General—his nephew Joab—followed by his 30 Captains and the leaders of the smaller Divisions and Branches. …the rulers of the king’s work…=These were David’s stewards. The men who were responsible for David’s everyday well being, his personal wealth and things of that nature. Notice that David is telling them that they had made significant financial gains of off his assets, so now what are they going donate in order to assist in building Father’s House. …Offered willingly…=Don’t overlook this statement of David’s brethren as, this too is crucial to and for us as, we too should be willing to freely offer our Best to Father in All that We Do. [29:7] And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. —> As I noted in my opening commentary in the last verse. The last verse ended with a comma, not a period. So then, this is saying that the Rulers of the Tribes, the Captains over the thousands and hundreds, and David’s Stewards did indeed offer up their best with a joyful and willing heart. Drams=Why the use of the word “drams?” Because we have to bear in mind that these The Books of the Chronicles were written after the Babylonian captivity. Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion Notes to this verse: “Only here, and Ezra 2:7. A Persian coin Probably so called from the appellative “Darius” = the king’s coin (like English “sovereign”). Indicates date of book. See note on “the palace”, v. 1, and consult Ap. 51. I. 1, p. 73.”. [29:8] And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. —> …by the hand…=In other words, those who had precious gem stones, willingly gave them into the hand of Jehiel—one of the Royal Tresaurers—so that he could put them into one of the treasuries in Father’s House. Jehiel=We read in I Chronicles 26:21-22 that, this same Jehiel is there identified as Jehieli. [29:9] Then the People rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. —> The People were very pleased that they were able to offer their best to Father, David was pleased that they had so willingly given to Father, and Father was pleased that the People gave with a willing heart. How do I know or how can I say that Father was pleased? Because, we read of Paul telling us this in II Corinthians 9:7 which reads: II Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [9:7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. —> A True statement indeed. To be pleasing to Father, our offering must be given with a cheerful heart, as such, I need to add in here that we should never allow ourselves to be brow-beaten into giving. I remember when I used to attend a certain church that, they would not only “pass the plate,” but, some Sundays, they would pass it more than once. Turn on your TV to some of these TV ministries and you’ll see them begging for your money, saying things like, “if you don’t send us $1,000 today, we won’t be here next week,” or sending letters through the mail saying the same thing. Brethren, this is completely contrary to the teachings of our Lord Jesus, who teaches us in Matthew 10:10 which reads: Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ [10:8] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [10:9] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, [10:10] Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. —> This “Nor script” is a leather pouch or wallet, meaning, that when the disciples went out to teach Father’s Word, they weren’t to take a “begging bag” with them.
Let’s return now to II Chronicles 5:1.
…among the treasures…=More specifically, in the treasuries. There was a minimum of three different Treasuries located in various locations within Father’s Temple, and also several scattered throughout all the territories of Israel. We can read in I Chronicles 26:20 of three specific treasuries at this time: the Treasures of the House of God; the Treasures of the Dedicated Things; and the Treasury of the House of the LORD. Who was in charge of these Treasuries? The Levites were. Again, we read in I Chronicles 26:20-28, just who it was: I Chronicles 26:20 And of the Levites, Ahijah (this name is a mis-translation which I’ll explain below) was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. —> We’re going to see anomalies with two different names in the verses below brethren. The first occurs in this verse, with the name Ahijah; and the second occurs in verse I Chronicles 26:24, with the name “Shebuel.” Ahijah=Just about all the Biblical scholars agree—as do I—that the word “Ahijah” used here, is not really the name of a man. Dr. Scofield translates the verse to read “And the Levites, their relatives…;” Dr. Moffatt translates the verse to read “As for their fellow Levites…;” and Dr. Bullinger notes the following in his Companion Notes to this verse: “The Sept. reads “the Levites their brethren were” (reading Ahikem instead of Ahijah)..” As I said, I too agree with Dr. Bullinger’s thought process. I say this because of the way verse I Chronicles 26:26 below reads. When we look up the word “brethren” of that verse in our Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H251, - אָח, - 'âch, pronounced - awkhי, and means: A primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like H1]): - another, brother (-ly), kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with “Ah-” or “Ahi-”. - Total KJV occurrences: 629.. I believe this verse should have actually been translated by our KJV 1611 Translators the way the Sept reads: “the Levites their brethren were.” [26:21] As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. —> Laadan=Laadan was Gershon’s first born son, this would make him grandson to Levi. He is also called Libni in Exodus 6:17; Numbers 3:18; I Chronicles 6:17,20. [26:22] The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD. [26:23] Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: —> All these men mentioned here in these two verses, were the sons of Levi’s son, Kohath. Amram of course, was the father of Miriam, Aaron and Moses; whereas, Izhar was the father of Korah, who was a cousin to Miriam, Aaron and Moses. It was Korah who rebelled against Father as we read in Numbers 16. The Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites had jobs as Officers and Judges, they were not necessarily assigned to Father’s Temple, they were assigned to and given duties in the outlying areas of Jerusalem. Being Levites, they would have knowledge of Father’s Law and could therefore, judge cases as they arose. [26:24] And Shebuel (this is the second name we find our anomaly in, this name should actually read Jonathan, see my commentary after verse I Chronicles 26:20 above) the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. —> Ruler of the treasures=When Father initially brought our forefathers up, out of Egypt and had Moses construct His Tabernacle, He had directed that Moses’ grandson Jonathan be in charge of His Treasuries. After Jonathan passed and returned Home to Father, those responsibilities were passed down to his descendants. So, even though we are several hundred years since the time of Moses, we’re now reading whom was initially responsible for Father’s Treasuries. Shebuel=Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion Bible that “the Chaldee paraphrase asserts that this name “Shebuel”—which in Hebrew translates, “he returned to יEL, the True God”—was given to Jonathan, after he had returned to “the fear—read that reverence—of the LORD.”” Dr. Bullinger further directs us to his commentary in Judges 18:30. First the verse and then Dr. Bullinger’s commentary: Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. —> Now from Dr. Bullinger’s commentary, which reads: “Manasseh=This word is one of the four that has a suspended letter. Here the letter (נ), nun (n), is written partly in the line and partly above the line, to show that originally it formed no part of the word, but was put in to make it spell “Manasseh” instead of “Moses”. Jonathan was the grandson of Moses (his contemporary Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, being mentioned in 20, 28). This was done for two reasons: (1) to spare the honour of Moses’ memory and name; (2) to put the sin upon one who committed so gross a sin. The Talmud gives this latter as the reason. Jonathan’s name is omitted in 1 Chron. 23. 15, 16, and 26. 24. The Chald. paraphrase says that “Shebuel”, there substituted, is meant for Jonathan after his repentance and restoration. Shebuel = “he returned to God”. The A. V. follows Sept. and Chald. by putting “Manasseh” in the text; R.V. follows Vulg., and those codices and early editions which have “n” suspended, by putting “Moses” in the text and “Manasseh” in the margin.”. [26:25] And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri, and Shelomith his son. [26:26] Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated. —> Shelomith=We read in I Chronicles 23, that this Shelomith was the Chief of the Izharites; we further read in that same Chapter, that Izhar was the son of Kohath, which tells us that he was of the Priest Line. When David and the Host of Israel would war against, and defeat another nation such as the Edomites, the Gibeonites, the Philistines etc., there were always spoils of war: brass, gold, silver etc.; well David, the Generals, the Captains and even the individual soldiers would all give a portion of their victory spoils to Father, and when they did so, they would dedicate them to Him as Thank Offerings for their victory and also for bringing them back home to their families alive. Bear in mind brethren, these spoils of war would total up into the hundreds of millions of dollars. We had read in some of the previous chapters in Father’s Word, that there was brought in a thousand talents of gold, and a thousand, thousand talents of silver. How much was a talent? Well, a talent weighed anywhere between 110-180 pounds. Dr. Bullinger notes in Appendix 51 of his Companion Bible the following: “Talent of the king = 158 lb. Troy. Talent of gold = 131 lb. Troy. About £,6,150, $290.85. Talent of silver = 117 lb. Troy.”. [26:27] Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD. —> All these spoils went to either build Father’s Temple or to make the items or vessels which went into Father’s Temple or Tabernacle and then also to maintain—i.e., maintenance and upkeep of—the same. This practice doesn’t apply just to the time of David, it goes all the way back to the time of Moses, when Father brought our forefathers up, out of Egypt and Father was giving them them victory of His enemies: the Amalekites and some of the other heathen nations which were living in the Promised Land. These spoils didn’t only include the precious metals, they also included animals. We can read of some of these events in Numbers 31:28-47 and Joshua 6:24. [26:28] And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. —> …dedicated any thing…it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren=So, the answer to my question above as to who was in charge of the Treasuries is: (1) the Levites were; (2) more specifically, Moses’ grandson Jonathan was over-all in charge of overseeing all of Father’s Treasuries; (3) Moses’ son Eliezer’s descendants were the overseers of the Treasuries of the Dedicated Things; (4) of the Treasuries of the House of the LORD, Levi’s son Gershon’s descendants through his son Laadan, through his son Jehieli, through his sons Zetham and Joel; (5) Father’s Word does not state which Levites were the actual overseers of the Treasures of the House of God, nor of the Treasuries which were in all the territories/cities.
We change courses beginning with the next verse, changing to Solomon’s Dedication of Father’s Temple. Solomon will now be bringing the Ark of the Covenant out of the tent which David had made for it on Mount Zion in Jerusalem to be now placed in the Temple on Mount Moriah, we’ll read of the Dedication of the Temple of Father YHVH, and the Prayer of Blessing Solomon asks of Father over the entire House of Israel. Therefore, it is now time for all the elders of Israel, the heads of all the tribes, and all the people of all the tribes of Israel to also come to Jerusalem for the Dedication ceremony. With the Ark of the Covenant now about to be placed in its permanent location inside the Temple of YHVH, worship will no longer be held in a tent—tabernacle—which is still in the high place in Gibeon.
Solomon
Solomon=Solomon was one of, if not the greatest king to rule Israel. Though his father David was and is the king by which all other kings were compared against, it was Solomon who Father came to in that dream where He asked Solomon “Ask what I shall give thee?” Solomon replied in I Kings 3, where we read: I Kings 3:6 And Solomon said “Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before Thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with Thee; and Thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. [3:7] And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [3:8] And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy People which Thou hast chosen, a great People, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [3:9] Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy People, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a People?” —> Solomon took over the throne from his father when he was at the tender age of 19—he wasn’t Israel’s youngest king, there were several others who had that distinction—and he reigned for forty years, from 920–880B.C., he was 59 years old when he returned Home to Father in heaven. Solomon accomplished a lot of things during his reign, and a lot of good things. For the first 20+ years he did very well: He built the Temple; the palatial complex; the House of the Cedar of Lebanon; the house for pharaoh's daughter: the queen; and he brought in much gold and other sundries. It wasn’t until he got the “big head” after he completed all his building and Father appeared to him, Blessing him with all the wisdom he had, and then wanting to show off that Father Given Wisdom. It was then he started succumbing to the lust of the flesh, and he started accumulating his wives and concubines, and then started worshipping and building altars for his foreign wives’ false gods, and causing Israel to worship them too. Remember, all of the things that Solomon and Israel did, bringing in the wealth of the world by ships, and it happened in a short span of only forty years. † For the etymology of the name Solomon, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Solomon comes from the fertile and familiar root שלם (shalem), meaning to be unbroken or whole: The noun שלמה (shilluma) is identical to our name Sholomoh, and is used in Psalm 91:8 in the meaning of reward or recompense (of the wicked). This illustrates the perhaps anti-intuitive notion that a bad result of something that was bad to begin with, is still very good (or rather: just). Although Psalm 91 is anonymous and tradition demands that Solomon is the great peace-king, his name may have stemmed from David’s deep remorse and grief over losing Solomon’s older sibling. When Solomon is born, the prophet Nathan receives word from Father that this child is loved by Him. Hence He names him Jedidiah—The name Jedidiah is a combination of two elements: The second element of the name Jedidiah is יה, which is the commonly accepted abbreviated form of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, which is YHVH, or YAHVEH, the sacred Name of Father. The first element of the name Jedidiah comes from the verb ידד (yadad), meaning to love—as can be read in II Samuel 12:25, although this name is, sadly, never again used.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H8010, - ש למה, - shelômôh, pronounced - shel-o-moי, and means: From H7965; peaceful; Shelomoh, David’s successor: - Solomon. Total KJV occurrences: 293.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: The description of Solomon in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is extensive and too long to post here; so, I’ll instead just post the link to it: Solomon.
David
David=I could spend days discussing David and his life; literally, an entire Book—II Samuel—covered most of what David accomplished as king of Israel. David was a man after Father’s own heart, and though he made a few mistakes, David always tried to please Father in all that he did; therefore, Father loved David; so much so that, He chose David as the Line to bring forth the Branch, The Bright Morning Star, Immanuel\Emmanuel, God in the Flesh: Jesus. Even though Father chose David, it doesn’t mean that David never sinned as, David indeed did sin. He committed adultery with the wife of one of his soldiers; and, then had that soldier murdered by ordering his being put on the front lines of the hottest part of the battle. David was not perfect; however, he was obedient in the end; and, in the end, he left judgment in Father’s hand. All the other kings of Judah and some of the kings of Israel will be judged; or, compared to David; and, the one thing which can always be said of David, is that, not one time had David ever fallen away into idolatry. But, what else can we take away from David? If you sin: repent to Father and then leave the correction and judgment in Father’s hands. † For the etymology of the name David, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “Most Bible translators and commentator will render the name David as Beloved; but, as always with important names, the etymology of the name David is disputed. However, we can’t help noticing the distinct similarity of this name with the Hebrew root דוד (dwd) that yields דוד (dod), generally meaning beloved. This word is also the Hebrew word for uncle — I Chronicles 27:32, for instance, speaks of דוד־דויד, or “David’s uncle”: The distinct difference between the name דוד (David) and the word דוד (dod) is that in the name David the letter waw counts for a consonant, while in the word dod it counts for a vowel. A consonant and a vowel are completely different entities and they’ll never mean the same, no matter how many times you write them with the same symbol (in this case the waw). If the name was meant to mean Beloved, then it was perhaps given to David after he became king and beloved. In his father’s household he wasn’t much of a hit, after all. But then, if this name was meant to mean Beloved, why hasn’t history given us the tales of King Dod? Harris Archer Waltke (HAW) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament lists David under dod but admits that “the name is conjectured to come from dod, beloved, but the etymology is uncertain. It has been compared with the Mari term dawidum, lsquo;leader,’ but this too is unsure.” Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary too lists the name David under the derivations of the root dod, but also makes mention of A.H. Sayce’s note of a sun-god named Dodo — דודה — which was worshipped in East-Jordan Israel. Zion, now known as the city of David, was then apparently known as the city of the god Dod. But where Dod went the way of the dodo, king David is eternally remembered as the beloved king. And this is curious for more than one reason. But whatever the reason, Israel’s identity of a Kingdom is associated with a king whose name is not a regular Hebrew word, but which is spelled identical to the word for Beloved, and pronounced completely different. Perhaps, and this is a wild guess, the name Dod was altered to David to charge it with the tone of the word דוה (dawa), meaning infirmity.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1732, - דּוד, or ssדּויד, - dâvid, or dâvı̂yd, pronounced - daw-veedי, or daw-veedי and means: From the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse: - David. Total KJV occurrences: 1076.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we find that the description of David in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is extensive and too long to post here; so, I’ll instead just post the link to it: David.
5:2-7:1 Dedication of the House.
5:2-7:1 DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE.
(Introversion and Alternation.)
5:2-13 The Feast.
5:2-13 THE FEAST. (Alternation.)
5:2-5 The Ark brought up.
1A2
II Chronicles 5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel (he will rule as YAH; and, the prince that prevails with YAH) (Yis-raw-aleי) (secondary map), and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem (founded peaceful; and, the habitation of peace) (Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-im), to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion (a monumental or guiding pillar; and, sunny, height) (tsee-yoneי). —> The commotion of all the construction is finally over and all the construction equipment has now been removed. Can you imagine the joy and pride of all the people within the city of seeing the now completed Temple? Remember, so far, for the most part, it is only the people within the city who have seen the Temple. Remember also, up until this point, everybody had to go to Gibeon to Honor, Serve and Worship Father as, that was where the Mosiac Fabric Tent Tabernacle, the altar, the Brazen Sea etc., were at; while Father’s Ark was in the fabric tent which David had prepared for it, was in the City of David, otherwise known as Zion or Mount Zion.
Why were Father’s Ark and the Mosiac Tabernacle separated at this time? Because, if you’ll recall, when David had taken over the Kingdom, Father’s Ark was in the hand of the Philistines because, even before the first man-king, king Saul, had ruled the Kingdom, while the Nation was still under the leadership of the Judge of the Nation, Samuel, during a war against the Philistines, our forefathers had taken Father’s Ark to the front-lines—without first seeking Father to get His Blessing—for Him to defeat their enemy. As they had not sought Him in this effort, He allowed His Ark to be captured by the Philistines. After He brought several plagues upon the Philistines when they put His Ark in the house of their god dagon, they wanted nothing more to do with His Ark, so they put It on a cart and sent It back to Israel. This was now during David’s reign and Rule, and when he received It back, he put It in the tent he had prepared for It.
Now, it’s time for Solomon to gather all the People of Israel to Jerusalem in order for them to be a part of the Dedication of Father’s Temple. Solomon sends messengers to all the elders of all the Capital Cities of each of the Tribes in order for them to send out word to all the People of Israel to come to Jerusalem for the Dedication Ceremony. Think for a moment and imagine the looks of astonishment which must have been on the Peoples faces as they looked upon this magnificent building.
Remember, the Temple is situated on Mount Moriah. Why this particular site? Because, this was the site Father Chose. Let’s turn to I Chronicles 21:15-26 and read of this: I Chronicles 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and He repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, “It is enough, stay now thine hand.” And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. [21:16] And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the Angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. —> Father had sent His Angel because, David had sinned by allowing satan to tempt him into numbering Israel. The sin in this, was that with him now being King of Israel and having had all the victories which Father had given him, he now felt, to a degree, that he no longer needed Father. Father stopped His Angel why? It wasn’t because of David acknowledging his sin, nor was it because he and the elders of Israel clothed themselves with sackcloth and ashes. No, it was because this city of Jerusalem has a very special place in Father’s heart. Jerusalem is His Most favorite place in All His Created Universe. It was the land whom He took to wife—Ezekiel 16—until His People polluted it, at which time He wrote her a bill of divorcement—Jeremiah 3:8. [21:17] And David said unto God, “Is it not I that commanded the People to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on Thy People, that they should be plagued.” —> David did correctly in acknowledging his sin and accepting the responsibility for and of it, but that still was not why Father stayed His hand. It was because of Jerusalem being His Most Favorite Place in All His Created Universe. [21:18] Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. —> This altar was for offering burnt sacrifices. Remember brethren, Jerusalem had been called “Jebus” before David had captured it, and when Father and David found her, Jerusalem—Jebus before David renamed her—was a very unclean city, where, these Adamic heathen were observing many nefarious religious practices. When we inspect closer, we find that the position of Ornan’s “threshing floor” was exactly where the “dome of the rock”—the temple to the false rock—is today in Jerusalem, and it is the site where Solomon built the Temple to Father. It was right there on Mount Moriah, where so many other “religious” events have taken place throughout the years. This is the very spot where Christ was crucified and then ascended into heaven. This is also the place, where, as we read in Genesis 22, Abraham offered up Isaac to be a sacrifice, and just like we’re reading here in I Chronicles 21, Father stepped in then and said, “That’s enough,” as He withheld Abraham’s hand from sacrificing his son Isaac. It all happened here, right in the same spot of Ornan’s threshing floor. This was no accident that this location was selected for the sacrifice that David would give, for as we read in Ezekiel 16, Father made an everlasting covenant with this same location in Jerusalem. Father said that this spot was His most favorite spot in all His Created Universe. Likewise also, it is from this same spot that Father is going to build his Eternal Temple, and rule the world through all eternity. So, this is why Father made David do what He is ordering here. [21:19] And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD. —> David has repented and is now trying to come back under Father’s good graces. How will he accomplish this? He will do so because, from this point going forward, he is going to do everything that he does “by the book,” i.e., exactly as Father instructed that sacrifices are to be offered. This is important to the key of David, that we pay attention to all the details of the entire Word of Father. [21:20] And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. —> Ornan and his sons are out in their threshing floor threshing wheat when, Ornan turns at the sound of David and his procession approaching, and can you imagine his surprise at seeing Father’s Angel standing before Jerusalem with His sword drawn, ready to strike another fatal blow to the city? What a sight that must have been! What did he and they do when they saw this spectacularly frightening sight? They hid themselves, that’s what they did. At least until they knew they were going to be safe. [21:21] And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. —> After he recovered from his shock at seeing Father’s Angel, Ornan, who knows and understands that his king is approaching, hurriedly goes toward his king and immediately bows and prostrates himself before his king. Again, what an intense shock this must have been to this man Ornan as, first he sees Father’s Angel, and then he sees his earthly king approaching, he had to have been thinking to himself, “what’s next?” [21:22] Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the People.” —> Here, David isn’t just talking of Ornan’s threshing floor; no, David is saying he wants to purchase ornan’s entire land. We know this because, we’ll read three verses below in I Chronicles 21:25, that David will pay 600 shekles of gold for Ornan’s property. [21:23] And Ornan said unto David, “Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.” —> I give it all=Wow, listen to how generous Ornan is being to David. He offers to give him not only his entire area, but he’ll even throw in all his threshing instruments as well — an offer just too good to be true. Either Ornan is, as I just said, a very generous person, or this is, as I also just said, an offer “just too good to be true.” Should David accept this offer of Ornan’s and then offer it up to Father as an offering, whose burnt offering would David actually offering up brethren? His own or, Ornan’s? Brethren, if David would take this, it would not be an offering from him, as, he doesn’t own any of it, it’s Ornan’s. It has to be bought and paid for, in order to be his. This is much like when Abraham needed to purchase a burying place for Sarah, he was at the time, living in Kirjath-arba, which was in Hebron, in the land of the Canaan, therefore, he bought the burying place from the sons of Heth, which in reality were Adamic because Canaan was Ham’s son, and the sons of Heth were the offspring of Canaan. Likewise also, Shem begat Eber, who begat Peleg, who begat Reu, who begat Serug, who begat Nahor, who begat Terah, who begat Abram. But, from Canaan on, his offspring stopped worshipping Father in order to serve and worship other, false gods, therefore, Abram, didn’t know the sons of Heth, his own kin, nor did he know they too were of the same lineage, from Noah. But, since they didn’t worship Father, it was best that he bought the sepulchre instead of allowing the sons of Heth to give it to him, otherwise he would have been indebted to them, and, they could have asked for it back at any time, even to today. This land which is in the same land as Ornan’s, is bought and paid for: — free and clear. What this really is brethren, is a test from Father. Father was checking David to see if David is paying attention to the instructions which are laid out in His Word. What good is a sacrifice if it wasn’t yours in the first place to give? A sacrifice is something of value that you give up, without expecting anything in return. You simply cannot sacrifice anything that is not yours. You must sacrifice and tithe and give to Father that which is yours, and it doesn’t matter what the size, large or small, but it has to be something of your possession. If it is not yours, it is not your sacrifice, and it becomes worthless before the Father. What this also is, is a trap from ole slewfoot — satan, just like the trap that David fell into when he listened to satan, and ordered the census taken. Here, satan through Ornan is saying “you don’t have to buy it, it is yours for the taking; not only will I give it all to you, but here are your sacrifices free and clear of all debt.” This sounds oh so good, so what could be wrong with what Ornan wanted to Do? Again, it wouldn’t have been David’s, that’s what’s wrong. [21:24] And king David said to Ornan, “Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.” —> Just like Abraham who declined Ephron the son of Zohar’s offer concerning the cave of Mach-pelah—the burying place of Sarah, and then Isaac, Abraham, and Leah—David here, also rightfully so, declines Ornan’s “oh so generous” offer, and instead tells him, that he pay for it, and once David paid the price for the threshing floor, and the oxen, and the wood, and the instruments, they then belonged to David and Father would then accept his sacrifice. [21:25] So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. —> Six hundred shekels of gold=So we see that, David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold for his land, it is for this reason that Father’ Temple is on Israelite land, and therefore, nobody else can lay claim to it, the Deed-of-Title is still in Israeli hands to this day. [21:26] And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. —> From heaven by fire= Brethren, this should put you in mind of I Kings 18, when Father accepted and consumed Elijah’s sacrifice by completely consuming it with His devouring fire, it should also put you in mind of Hebrews 12:29, which reads: Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.. Today, we no longer offer sacrifices by fire, nor by slaughtering an animal as, Jesus paid the price when He went to that cross for all our sins. But, at the time, all sacrifices accepted by Father were consumed by fire from heaven, not kindled on earth. Two more quick notes or reminders concerning all this brethren: (1) remember, it was Father YHVH Who told His Prophet Gad to tell David to come up to this site here at Ornan’s threshing floor to offer these sacrifices; and (2) remember also, this site is the future site of where Solomon will build the Temple to\for Father.
Let’s return now to II Chronicles 5:2.
We read in the next verse, that when Solomon gathered everybody to Jerusalem, it was in the seventh month—Ethanim in the Hebrew language, Tisri in the Chaldee language. The first order of business will be to bring Father’s Ark to Jerusalem to put in His House. This will be accomplished by the Levitical Priests, not just the Levites, but, the sons of Kohath, the sons of Aaron, who were the only Priests who were allowed and authorized by Father to touch His Ark.
Ark of the covenant=Note the different titles used of Father’s Ark in His Word, especially in The Books of the Chronicles: It’s The Ark — fifteen times, The Ark of GOD — twelve times, The Ark of The LORD — four times, The Ark of The Covenant of The LORD — eleven times, The Ark of The Covenant of GOD — once, The Ark of Thy Strength — once, The Holy Ark — once, and The Ark of our GOD — once, for a total of forty-six uses. Now, let’s compare the title here, with those of Exodus 25:22 which Dr. Bullinger declares the other seven titles: Ark of the Testimony, Ark of The Covenant of YHVH, Ark of Adonai YHVH, Ark of YHVH, Ark of ELOHIM, The Holy Ark, and The Ark of Thy Strength.
Israel
Israel=The kingdom of Israel consists and comprises of both a People, and a territory. The People were and are our Father, our Creator ELOHIM’s—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: ELOHIM the genus God—Chosen People. Chosen only in the sense that they were the lineage through which He Himself will\would be born in the flesh as His Only Begotten Son: Jesus Christ. That lineage began with Adam, then his son Seth, down to Noah, then his son Shem, down to Abram, then his son Isaac, and then his son Jacob whom Father renamed Israel, on to his two sons Levi—actually, Levi’s son Amram and his son Aaron and his descendants—and Judah—and his son Pharez, then his son Hezron, then his son Aram, then his son Amminadab, then his son Nashon, then his son Salmon, then his son Boaz, then his son Obed, then his son Jesse, then his son David. Both lineages culminated and terminated at Mary—cousin to Elisabeth, wife of Zacharias, whom the Holy Spirit overshadowed while she was yet a virgin, and after Michael the arch angel had told would come to pass. When Father had changed Jacob’s name to Israel and then he had his twelve sons—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Napthali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin—who went into captivity to Egypt for those 200 plus years, when Father led them out by the hand of Moses, they became known collectively as, the House of Israel. As for the territory, see the links of the 2 maps in the verse to understand the land mass which comprised the territory of Israel. † For the etymology of the name Israel, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The meaning of the name Israel is not clear—of which I emphatically disagree—but, yet, it’s huge. The meaning of Israel is not singular and distinct; but, consists of many nuances and facets and bulges with theological significance. Judging from Genesis 32:28, the form ישראל (Israel) appears to be a compilation of two elements. The first one is the noun אל (EL), the common abbreviation of ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: “ELOHIM the genus God. EL is essentially the Almighty, though the word is never so rendered. EL is ELOHIM in all His strength and power. It is rendered “God” as ELOHIM is, but EL is God the Omnipotent. ELOHIM is God the Creator putting His omnipotence into operation:” The second part of our name appears to be related to the verb שרה (sara): However, even though Genesis 32:28 uses the enigmatic verb שרה — which is assumed to mean to struggle but which might something else entirely — it’s by no means certain that this verb is etymologically linked to our name Israel. When we say, “we named him Bob because that seemed like a good idea,” we certainly don’t mean to say that the name Bob means “good idea.” The first part of the name Israel looks a lot like the verb שרה that explains this name; but, this apparent link is possibly a mere case of word-play. In fact, the name Israel may have more to do with the verb ישר (yashar), meaning to be upright. Note that the difference between the letter שׂ (sin) as found in the name ישׂראל (Israel) and the letter ש (shin) as found in the verb יש ר (yashar) didn’t exist in Biblical times and as it was invented more than a thousand years after the Bible was written: For a meaning of the name Israel, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List, Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary and Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) unanimously go with the verb שרה of which the meaning is unsure. Undeterred, NOBSE reads God Strives, and BDB proposes El Persisteth or El Persevereth. Alfred Jones figures that the mysterious verb שרה might very well mean “to be princely,” and assumes that the name Israel consists of a future form of this verb, which hence would mean to become princely. And so Jones interprets the name Israel with He Will Be Prince With God.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3478, - ישׂראל, - Yiśrâ'êl, pronounced - Yis-raw-aleי, and means: From H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: - Israel. Total KJV occurrences: 2,576.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary: The description of Israel in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is extensive and too long to post here; so, I’ll instead just post the link to it, click: here.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem=Jerusalem, like several other of the cities of our forefathers, is rich in history. When our forefathers moved into the Promised Land, Jerusalem—Jebus as it was known as at the time; though, we can also go back as far as The Book of Joshua; Joshua 10:1, and The Book of Judges; Judges 1:8 and read that it had already been called Jerusalem—was in the hands of the Canaanites, and more specifically, the Jebusites. It stayed that way for hundreds of years before David, as king, mustered the troops to fight against the Jebusites and capture Father’s most favorite place in all His Created Universe. As I said in the opening of the description here; Jerusalem is rich with history, far too much to list here; but, of particular note, or importance is this tidbit: it was the land that our Father took to be His Wife;—Ezekiel 16:3—but, as can be read in Jeremiah 3:8, because of our forefathers being sottish, He issued her a bill of divorcement. † For the etymology of the name Jerusalem, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “Without a doubt, the second and dominant part of the name reminded—then and now—of the word שלום (shalom), meaning: peace. The root of this word, שלם (shalem), denotes completeness, wholeness and soundness: In this sense, the name Jerusalem is related to some other famous names from the David saga: Solomon and Absalom. The first part of the name Jerusalem may likely have reminded a Hebrew audience of the verb ירה (yara), throw, cast or shoot; Perhaps the name Jerusalem was never changed, but only Hebraized, because it seems to mean Rain Of Peace. Jerusalem was to be the radiating heart of a world of completeness and wholeness. It seems that history supplied her with a most suiting name. For a meaning of the name Jerusalem, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Possession Of Peace. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Foundation Of Peace.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find it is Hebrew word number: H3389, - ירוּשׁלם, or ירוּשׁלים, - Yerûshâlaim, or Yerûshâlayim, pronounced - Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-im, or Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-yim, and means: A dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of H3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) H3384 and H7999, founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine: - Jerusalem. Total KJV occurrences: 643.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: The description of Jerusalem in the Smith’s Bible Dictionary is extensive and too long to post here; so, I’ll instead just post the link to it, click here.
Zion
Zion=Zion, or, Mount Zion, was the easternmost of the two hills of ancient Jerusalem—which at the time of David’s capturing the city, was still known as Jebus—it lay on the South-Eastern side of the city, located within the city itself—with that being said, you have to understand that though Zion was within the city, at the same time, it was also separate unto itself as, it sat atop the hill. When David and our forefathers of the Israelite army defeated the Jebusites and captured Jerusalem, King David established Zion as the royal Capital, and Mount Zion and the citadel which had been built by the Jebusites, became his citadel; or, palace; and, it was also renamed at that time to, “the City of David.” Beings it sat atop a hill, it was the perfect place as, it afforded the king a beautiful, clear, unobstructed view of all Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, Zion is overwhelmingly a poetic and prophetic designation, and is very infrequently used in ordinary form of spoken or written language. It usually has emotional and religious overtones; but, it is not clear why the name Zion, rather than Jerusalem, should carry these overtones. The religious and emotional qualities of the name, arise from the importance of Jerusalem as the royal city and the city of the Father’s Temple. Mount Zion is the place where Father dwells—Isaiah 8:18; Psalm 74:2—the place where He is king—Isaiah 24:23—and where He installed His man king, King David—Psalm 2:6—all these attributes make clear to see why it was the seat of action in our forefather’s history. † For the etymology of the name Zion, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “Because Zion was originally not Israeli, the name Zion comes to us probably from a language other than Hebrew. Harris Archer Waltke (HAW) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament mentions an Arabic root s-w-n, meaning to protect or defend, which may give Zion the meaning of fortress. Others (says HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) suggest derivation from a root saha, be bald. Spelled the way it is, however, the name Zion is identical to the Hebrew word ציון (sayon) either meaning place of dryness, or monument: On the Biblical canvass, the name Zion means Dry Place. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Very Dry. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List goes with the Arabic cognate mentioned above, and reads Fortress..” † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6726, - צִיּוֹן, - tsı̂yôn, pronounced - tsee-yoneי, and means: The same (regular) as H6725; a monumental or guiding pillar; Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem: - Zion. Total KJV occurrences: 154.. † Now from the Easton’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “sunny; height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon (q.v.) separating it from Moriah (q.v.), which it surpasses in height by 105 feet. It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem. When David took it from the Jebusites Joshua 15:63; II Samuel 5:7, he built on it a citadel and a palace, and it became “the city of David” I Kings 8:1; I Kings 19:21; I Kings 19:31; I Chronicles 11:5. In the later books of the Old Testament this name was sometimes used Psalms 87:2; 149:2; Isaiah 33:14; Joel 2:1, to denote Jerusalem in general, and sometimes God’s chosen Israel Psalms 51:18; 87:5. In the New Testament (see SION) it is used sometimes to denote the Church of God Hebrews 12:22, and sometimes the heavenly city Revelation 14:1.”.
1A3
II Chronicles 5:3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. —> …seventh month=We read in I Kings 8:2, that, this was the month of Ethanim. I explained there, that, the Feast which was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the month was the “Feast of Tabernacles,” the last of the Three Feasts in this month Ethanim. Ethanim means — The month of gifts, i.e., of vintage offerings, called Tisri after the Babylonian captivity—Ethanim being Hebrew in origin and Tisri being Babylonian in origin, in either case, it corresponds to both, part of September and October. It was the first month of the Civil Year, and the seventh of the Sacred, or Calendar year. Only used once, in I Kings 8:2. The seventh month is one of the most important months on the Hebrew calendar, why? Because, it is the only month in which Three Feasts were celebrated by our forefathers—as directed by Father in Leviticus 23: (1) on the 1st day of the month began the “Blowing of the Trumpets;” (2) the 10th day of the month was the “Day of Atonement;” and (3) on the 15th day of the month began the “Feast of Tabernacles.” All three of these Feast Days are important and I have a Study The Date of Jesus’ Birth, which goes into great detail of all three of them. Anyway, immediately following the Feast of Tabernacles which ended on the 21st day of the month, began another Feast, this Feast was on the eighth day—that would make this day the 22nd of Ethanim— this Feast began the actual Civil New Year, and this Feast also marked the beginning of the 24 Courses or Semi-Annual Rotational Duty assigned to the Priests, the first Course falling to Jehoiarib, the eighth of course falling to Abijah, this was the Course Zacharias was fulfilling when Gabriel appeared to him.
II Chronicles 5:4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites (patronymic from H3878, attached, a Leviite or descendant of Levi; or, descendants of Levi) (lay-veeי) took up the ark. —> …the Levites took up the ark=Remembering what had happened to Uzzah—II Samuel 6—when David and the Israelites were trying to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem on that “new cart” as the Philistines had given it back to them, Solomon here is ensuring that only the Priests, and more specifically, the sons of Kohath, bear the Ark on their shoulders as prescribed in Numbers Numbers 4—remember, Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, Only Amram’s son Aaron and his sons—and their descendants—were allowed to wrap, unwrap and handle the Most Holy things of Father, once they wrapped them, then the other sons of Kohath could come and bear the Holy things on their shoulders, as for the Tabernacle and all its furnishings, the sons—and their descendants—of Gershon and Merari could transport them on carts or wagons.
Levites=For a detailed description of the Levites, including their history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A5
II Chronicles 5:5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. —> Here, we see that they not only brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple on Mount Moriah; but, they had also gone to Gibeon and had wrapped all the instruments, vessels and utensils from within the Fabric Tabernacle, then taken down and folded the Tabernacle itself, and brought everything to be placed in the Temple as well. This also was accomplished by the Priests, the sons of Kohath, Merari and Gershon. Again, only the Aaronites were allowed to see and touch the items which went into the Holiest of Holies, the Kohathites were to bear them on their shoulders, the Gershonites and Merarites and their descendants were allowed to transport the Tabernacle and its furnishings on carts or wagons.
As Solomon had Huram fashion all new furnishing, Instruments, and vessels for the New Temple, he did not destroy or discard the original Mosiac vessels, they put those items inside the New Temple, in storage areas and kept them as cherished religious artifacts.
5:6 Sacrifices.
1A6
II Chronicles 5:6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. —> Again, Solomon has called for all the Heads of the Families, the Tribal Princes, the Heads of the Host—the Generals and Captains of the Military—and any and everybody of importance was also to come to this Dedication Ceremony. We’ll even see that, by the end of this Chapter, the People came in from the Northern borders of the Eastern Portion of Manasseh—who had the northern most border—Naphtali, and Asher, all the way down to the River Nile in Egypt. Why the Nile River? Remember, one of Solomon’s wives was the daughter of Pharaoh of the northern kingdom of Egypt. Of all the people who showed up at this Dedication Ceremony, The Most Important was The Guest of Honor, That being Father YHVH Himself.
We see here, that, even before Solomon took the Ark of the Covenant into His place inside the Holiest of Holies, Solomon began his sacrificing of all the offerings. Remember, there were numerous Offerings: the Burnt Offerings; the Heave Offerings; the Meat Offerings; the Peace Offerings; the Sin Offerings; and the Wave Offerings, and I’m sure that for such an occasion as this, even though only a week before the High Priest had gone into the Holiest of Holies to make Atonement for all the sins of Israel, with the Ark of the Covenant now being set in His place, they wanted to offer for every Offering they could. This Feast and celebration was going so strongly that, Solomon kept it for an extra seven days, before he finished it all.
5:7-10 The Ark brought in.
1A7
II Chronicles 5:7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: —> …the priests…=Notice, it is now only the Priests, the Aaronites, the descendants of the other sons of Kohath—Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel—are now no longer allowed as, the Aaronites, the son of Amram, the son of Levi, are the only ones allowed into the Most Holy of Holies, and for this time only.
…unto His place…=Again, into the inner most part of Father’s Temple, the Most Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place.
Remember, we read back in I Kings 6:20 and II Chronicles 3:8 that, the Oracle was 20 cubits long, by 20 cubits wide by 20 cubits high, and the wings of the 2 cherubim completely stretched from one wall to the other in the rear of the Most Holy Place. Therefore, now not only are the 2 cherubim which sit above the Ark as part of the Mercy Seat keeping Father’s Ark safe, so also are the 2 cherubim which are watching over it in the Holiest of Holies.
Now will be the time when the Worship of Father will become centralized. Remember, at this time, Father’s Tabernacle—the Mosiac fabric tent which Father had Moses fabricate—is in Gibeon, His Ark is in the city of David, otherwise known as Zion.
It is here—Solomon’s Temple—where Father will now commune with, and speak with man, hence the word “oracle,” which in the Strong’s Concordance is Hebrew word number H1687, - דּבר, or דּביר, - debı̂yr, or debir, pronounced - deb-eerי, deb-eerי, and means: From H1696, (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary: - oracle. Total KJV occurrences: 16.. Now let’s look at H1696, - דּבר, - dâbar, pronounced - daw-barי, and means: A primitive root; perhaps properly to arrange; but used figuratively (of words) to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter, X well, X work. Total KJV occurrences: 1142..
1A8
II Chronicles 5:8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. —> The Cherubims which were part of the Most Holy of Holies now covered Father’s Ark.
1A9
II Chronicles 5:9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. —> Once the Aaronites set Father’s Ark in His place, they removed the one end of the staves, or better put, they pulled the one end of the staves to the end of their rings on the Ark. They would not have completely removed them as, that would have gone against what Father told Moses in Exodus 25:15, which reads: Exodus 25:14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. [25:15] The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it..
So then, what does this phrase “that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place…and they were not seen without” mean? The many different scholars cannot agree; but, the most likely translation is this: Once the High Priest pulled the staves out—they most likely pulled the staves out away from the rear wall in order to afford the High Priest to be able to walk around the Ark, between the Ark and the rear wall—then that would mean that the other end of the Ark, the staves would be pressing against the veil which separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place; however, with the staves pressing against the veil, the Priests in the Holy Place would be able to see the protrusion into the veil, but, not the staves themselves, nor would they be able to see into the Most Holy Place as, as we know, if a Priest other than the High Priest did see into the Most Holy Place, he would have been struck dead.
And there it is unto this day=There it was until the day the chronicler wrote this verse. We know that it is no longer in Father’s House as: (1) Father’s House has been looted by the Babylonians; (2) Father’s House has been destroyed by the Babylonians; and (3) John tells us in Revelation 11:19, that he saw it in heaven.
1A10
II Chronicles 5:10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb (desolate; and, thorny) (kho-rabeי), when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt (land of the copts; and, land of the copts) (mits-rahי-yim). —> Though this verse and I Kings 8:9 say that there was nothing in the Ark save for the two tables—maybe the Philistines removed the rest of the contents while they had it in their possession?—we know at one time it had contained more than just the two tables. Paul, in the New Testament, even talks about the contents in The Book of Hebrews, let’s turn there and read what he has to say: Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. —> The first Covenant which Father made with man, had a mundane Sanctuary with its regulations for Worship, and Ceremonies which were different from the Laws, Commandments and Statutes in part. These ordinances were followed and completed during each year for the sake of justifying a person from their sins. The blood ordinances were to give righteousness to the one performing those sacrifices, and also the one offering up the sacrifice, thereby giving them justification in Father’s eyes. Some of those ceremonies under the Old Covenant included the slaughtering of a pure and clean animal — sacrificing the blood and parts of that animal on an altar. This was a shadow of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, which would be sacrificed on the altar, which in this case, was the Roman cross. Jesus Christ fulfilled this act for our sins and shortcomings — not His, because, there was no sin in Him. That old “earthly sanctuary” was temporary, and meant that, those sacrifices were done in a setting which would pass away. The blood ordinances also were very temporary, and had to be preformed at least once a year; however, the true Temple—the one found in Revelation 21:22—is an Eternal Temple, one which will never pass away, for Father and His Lamb — Jesus Christ, are the Temple. [9:2] For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. —> We find the instructions which Father gave to Moses on how to construct the first Sanctuary and Tabernacle in Exodus 25. The Sanctuary (H4720, מִקְדָּשׁ, - miqdâsh, - pronounced: mik-dawshי, meaning - a hallowed, holy place), while the Tabernacle (H4908, מִשְׁכָּן, - mishkan, - pronounced: mish-kawnי meaning: From H7931; habitation or tent), was a tent made to a pattern that was given to Moses by Father while he was up on Mount Sinai also receiving the Ten Commandments From Father. Within that tabernacle or tent; were all the items which would become essential for the Ceremony Father required for the forgiveness of man’s sins. Though as we learn in Hebrews 10, these things could never take away a man’s sins: Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.. The candlestick (H4501, מְנוֹרָה, - menôrâh, pronounced: men-o-rawי meaning: - Feminine of H4500 (in the original sense of H5216); a chandelier: - candlestick.), was the lampstand, it was made of pure gold, a “beaten work”—one whole piece molded by hammering—with seven bowls — its purpose is recorded in Exodus 25:31-37. The table (H7979, שֻׁלְחָן, - shûlchân, pronounced: shool-khawnי meaning: - From H7971; a table (as spread out); by implication a meal: - table.), as recorded in Exodus 25:23-27 was to be overlaid with three layers of gold to represent three crowns. Those three crowns were the “crown of the Law,” which represented the atoning blood between it and the cherubim, its “executor.” The “crown of the Priest,” represents its incense fired only by the fire from the Altar of Burnt Offering. The “crown of the kingdom” represented the twelve tribes, symbolized by the twelve loaves of shewbread (H6440, פָּנִים, - pânı̂ym, pronounced: - paw-neemי meaning: - Plural (but always used as a singular) of an unused noun; the face (as the part that turns); presence, shewbread.). From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, we read: “Heb. bread of the faces; faces being put for presence by Fig. metonymy (of adjunct), Ap. 6, denoting the Divine presence in which the bread stood, and from Whom all supplies, material and spiritual came.”, which was placed on the table. In other words, the Law — the atoning blood; the Priest — incense by the altar fire; and the kingdom of the twelve tribes of Israel — the shewbread on the table. [9:3] And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; —> The tabernacle represents the abode (G3306, μένω, - menō, pronounced: - men’-o, meaning: - A primary verb, abide, dwell) with our Heavenly Father, with Jesus sitting in His place, at the right hand of the Father of which we can read of in Psalms 110:1, which reads: Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, “Sit Thou at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” —> This is the verse quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22:41-46. Let’s also take a look at that passage: Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [22:42] Saying, “What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?” They say unto Him, “The Son of David.” [22:43] He saith unto them, “How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, [22:44] ‘The Lord said unto My Lord, ‘Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?’ [22:45] If David then call Him Lord, how is He his Son?” [22:46] And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions. —> So we see Jesus Himself quoted from David here, as did Peter in Acts 2:34-35, and Paul in Hebrews 1:13. This time that our Lord Jesus Christ makes His enemies His footstool, is on the “day of Vengeance,” or better put “the Day of the Lord - i.e., The Lord’s Day;” at His return. Then, all evil will be gone, and satan will be bound, and cast in the bottomless pit for the thousand year period — the Millennium, where his spirit will not have the ability to deceive anybody during that time. The things of this earth Age of flesh man, will be completely done away with, and all mankind will be changed from their fleshly corruptible bodies, into their spiritual bodies — the same bodies that the angels have, for the thousand year period. Upon Jesus’ death in the flesh on the cross, as we read in Matthew 27:50, which reads: Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Ghost. [27:51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; —> The death in the Flesh of our Lord was 3:00PM—or as we read in The Gospel of Luke, Luke 23:44, between the sixth and ninth hour. [27:52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [27:53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. —> This was a “one-time” event to show that Jesus had the power over, and just conquered — death — i.e., satan. [27:54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.” —> He first went to those prisoners, then to Father to sit on His right hand, and that is where He is to this day. Also, as soon as He rent that veil, He opened to us, that we can now boldly go directly to Father—no longer needing a fleshly high priest. [9:4] Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; —> So, yes, we see that, at one time the Ark had contained more than just the Tables of Stone, or the two stone tablets on which Father engraved with His hand, the Ten Commandments, or “The Law;” it also contained, as Father told Moses to put into it, one of the incense pots, and Aaron’s rod which budded. Where can we find what Father told Moses to put into His Ark? In Exodus 16, so let’s turn there now and read it: Exodus 16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. —> The People complained and bellyached for water and food; therefore, Father gave them manna to eat. We learn in Psalms 78:25, that manna is angels food. [16:32] And Moses said, “This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.” —> Father wanted them—and us—to always remember that, He fulfilled His Promise to Abram, and it was He Who brought them out of their bondage to the Egyptians, and He even fed them while they wandered the wilderness—because of their unbelief—for those 40 years; therefore He told Moses to tell them to gather some of the manna to keep. [16:33] And Moses said unto Aaron, “Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.” —> They were to take that manna they gathered to keep, and put it into a censer; which, as we’re about to read, will then be put into the Ark. [16:34] As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. —> Put it into the Ark to be kept forever as a reminder of how Father had indeed taken care of our forefathers as they wandered the wilderness. [16:35] And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. —> For a full 40 years, every morning when they awoke, there was the manna covering the earth like a dew, and all they had to do was gether it and eat it. [16:36] Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. —> An ephah was equivalent to approximately 8 quarts; therefore, an omer is slightly less than a quart.
Let’s return now to II Chronicles 5:10.
Horeb
Horeb=Horeb is another, or a generic name for the Sinai Mountains. It was where our forefathers stopped and pitched their tents and camped after Father brought them up out of Egypt Exodus 19, it was where He appeared unto them in the fire and smoke, and the earth quaked greatly Exodus 19, it was where Father gave Moses the Ten Commandments Exodus 20, and it was where they sinned as Moses was up on the Mount receiving the Ten Commandments, when they convinced Aaron that his brother wasn’t coming back down off the Mount, and they convinced him to fashion them a golden calf god, and when Father pointed it out to Moses, he came down off the Mount, asked who was on Father’s side, to which the Levites stood and said that they were, and they slew about 3,000 men. † For the etymology of the name Horeb, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “Horeb (a.k.a. Sinai, and the Mountain of God) is the mountain where Moses fasts for two times forty days back to back, as he receives the Law (Exodus 3:1). Later Elijah the Tishbite also spends forty days fasting on Horeb (I Kings 19:8), after which he has his famous conversation with God in the cave (I Kings 19:9-18). The name Horeb is spelled חורב only in Exodus 33:6. The name Horeb is the same as the noun חרב (horeb), dryness or desolation, from the verb חרב (hareb): For a meaning of the name Horeb, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Arid. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Desert. Another name that means Dry Place is Zion, which is also a mountain.. † From the Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2722, - חֹרֵב, - chôrêb, pronounced: - kho-rabeי, and means: From H2717; desolate; Choreb, a (generic) name for the Sinaitic mountains: - Horeb.: - Total KJV occurrences: 17.. † From the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, we read: “Desert. Nearly in the centre of the peninsula which stretches between the horns of the Red Sea lies a wedge of granite, grunstein and porphyry rocks rising to between 8,000-9,000 feet above the sea. Its shape resembles st scalene triangle. These mountains may be divided into two great masses-that of Jebel Serbal (8,759 feet high), in the northwest above Wady Feiran, and the central group, roughly denoted by the general name of Sinai. This group rises abruptly from the Wady es-Sheikh at its north foot, first to the cliffs of the Ras Sufsafeh, behind which towers the pinnacle of Jebel Musa (the Mount of Moses), and farther back to the right of it the summit of Jebel Katerin (Mount St. Catherine, 8,705 feet) all being backed up and. Overtopped by Um Shamer (the mother of fennel, 9,300 feet), which is the highest point of the whole peninsula. (1) Names: -- These mountains are called Horeb, and sometimes Sinai. Some think that Horeb is the name of the whole range, and Sinai the name of a particular mountain; others, that Sinai is the range and Horeb the particular mountain; while Stanley suggests that the distinction is one of usage, and that both names are applied to the same place. (2) The mountain from which the law was given: -- Modern investigators have generally come to the conclusion that of the claimants Jebel Serba, Jebel Musa and Ras Sufsafeh, the last the modern Horeb of the monks -- viz. the northwest and lower face of the Jebel Musa, crowned with a range of magnificent cliffs, the highest point called Ras Sufsafeh, as overlooking the plain er Rahah -- is the scene of the giving of the law, and that peak the mountain into which Moses ascended. (But Jebel Musa and Ras Sufsafeh are really peaks of the Same mountain, and Moses may have received the law on Jebel Musa, but it must have been proclaimed from Ras Sufsafeh. Jebel Musa is the traditional mount where Moses received the law from God. It is a mountain mass two miles long and one mile broad. The southern peak Isaiah 7,363 feet high; the northern peak, Ras Sufsafeh Isaiah 6,830 feet high. It is in full view of the plain er Rahah, where the children of Israel were encamped. This plain is a smooth camping-ground, surrounded by mountains. It is about two miles long by half a mile broad, embracing 400 acres of available standing round made into a natural amphitheatre by a low semicircular mount about 300 yards from the foot of the mountain. By actual measurement it contains over 2,000,000 square yards, and with its branches over 4,000,000 square yards, so that the whole people of Israel, two million in number, would find ample accommodations for seeing and hearing. In addition to this, the air is wonderfully clear, both for seeing and hearing. Dean Stanley says that “from the highest point of Ras Sufsafeh to its lower peak, a distance of about 60 feet, the page of a book distinctly but not loudly read was perfectly audible.” It was the belief of the Arabs who conducted Niebuhr that they could make themselves heard across the Gulf of Akabah, -- a belief fostered by the great distance to which the voice can actually be carried. There is no other place known among all these mountains so well adapted for the purpose of giving and receiving the law as this rocky pulpit of Ras Sufsafeh and the natural amphitheatre of er Rahah.”.
Egypt
Egypt=Egypt is rich and ripe with history, but, the bottom line for Egypt and the Egyptians is what Father has said through His Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 29, that, they would always be a base—H8217, שָׁפָל, - shâphâl, - Pronounced: - shaw-fawlי, and means: From H8213; depressed, literally or figuratively: - base (-st), humble, low (-er, -ly)—nation. Egypt played a pretty prominent role in our and our forefathers history. Every time trouble came, it seems our forefathers went down into Egypt, either because Father sent our forefathers there; or because, they seemed to think they would be safe there. We first read of Egypt, when, due to a famine in the land of Canaan, Abram takes his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot down into Egypt. Abram had told Sarai that, because she was a pretty woman, when the Egyptians saw her, she was to say that she was Abram’s sister and not his wife as, if she said she was his wife, they’d kill him in order for the pharaoh to take her to wife. Father plagued pharaoh because, he had designs to do just that, take Sarai as his wife. The next day, because Father had plagued pharaoh, he sent Abram and his family away, out of Egypt. We next read of Father telling Abraham that He was going to send his descendants down into Egypt—Genesis 15—this was for two very specific reasons: (1) In Genesis 15:14 He tells Abraham that, He will send his descendants there because, He was going to Judge the people of Egypt because of their serving false gods, and to instill in their minds that He, and He alone is ELOHIM YHVH; (2) Two verses later, in Genesis 15:16 He tells Abraham—and us—that, He was sending them there because “…the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full..” What was “the iniquity of the Amorites?” They were messing with and mating with the fallen angels, much the same as had happened earlier in Genesis 6:1-4. The Book of Genesis closes with a famine in the land of Canaan and Jacob moving his entire family down into Egypt—the fulfillment of Genesis 15:14—where his second youngest son, Joseph, has been for many years after his older brothers sold him into the hands of Midianite merchantmen and Ishmeelites—again, the fulfillment of Genesis 15:14, and though not yet revealed to Joseph, the fulfillment of Genesis 37:5-11. Joseph, because of Father, was able to interpret pharaohs dreams—concerning the seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine—which pleased pharaoh so much that, he made Joseph second in charge of all of Egypt. When the famine came, which was part of Father’s Plan, Jacob sent his 10 eldest sons—Joseph’s older brothers who sold him—to Egypt because they had heard there was food in Egypt, of course that was where Joseph was, and he immediately recognized his older brothers and before he sold them any food, he first put them through a few tests to see if they would do to their youngest brother as they had done to Joseph. When they stood for their youngest brother, Joseph revealed himself to them and he went with them back to their father to bring all the family down into Egypt where they grew into a very large Nation, and after many years and different pharaohs they became slaves to the Egyptians—the fulfillment of Genesis 15:14. The next we read of one of our forefathers going down into Egypt, is when we read of Jeroboam, an industrious and mighty man of valor, who flees to there because, Father had sent His prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam to inform him that he would be ruler over the ten northern Tribes of Israel because, Father was going to rend the Nation into two separate Nations because of Solomon’s chasing after and worshiping false gods and idols. When Solomon found this out, he tried to kill Jeroboam who fled down into Egypt until Solomon returned Home to Father, at which time Jeroboam returned to Israel. Several times throughout The Books of the Kings, we read of the Egyptians coming against our forefathers, some having success—only because Father gave them the victory because our forefathers were chasing after false gods and idols—and some not. When Father sent king Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians against the House of Judah because of their serving false gods and idols, and prophesied to Jeremiah that Judah would go into captivity for 70 years, it was then that Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, including Jeremiah, the men, women, children, and the king’s daughters, and carried them down into Egypt—Jeremiah 43. We next read in Matthew 2, that Father appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and Jesus down into Egypt when Herod sought to kill every male child 2 years and younger because he had heard that Jesus had been born. † For the etymology of the name Egypt, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “According to the Oxford Companion to the Bible, is an English rendering of the Greek name Αιγυπτος (Aiguptos), which in turn is a transliteration of the Egyptian Hwt-Ptah, meaning Temple of Ptah. In the Hebrew Bible the country of Egypt is always denoted by the name Mizraim. In the Greek New Testament, the name Αιγυπτος (Aiguptos) is used 29 times.. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4714, - מצרים, - Mitsrayim, pronounced - Mits-rahי-yim, and means: Dual of H4693, Mitsrajim, that is, Upper and Lower Egypt: - Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. Total KJV occurrences 681.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary where we read: “A country occupying the northeast angle of Africa. Its limits appear always to have been very nearly the same. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Palestine, Arabia and the Red Sea, on the south by Nubia, and on the west by the Great Desert. It is divided into upper Egypt—the valley of the Nile—and lower Egypt, the plain of the Delta, from the Greek letter; it is formed by the branching mouths of the Nile, and the Mediterranean Sea. The portions made fertile by the Nile comprise about 9,582 square geographical miles, of which only about 5,600 is under cultivation. — Encyclopedia Britannica. The Delta extends about 200 miles along the Mediterranean, and Egypt Isaiah 520 miles long from north to south from the sea to the First Cataract. NAMES. — The common name of Egypt in the Bible is “Mizraim.” It is in the dual number, which indicates the two natural divisions of the country into an upper and a lower region. The Arabic name of Egypt—Mizr—signifies “red mud.” Egypt is also called in the Bible “the land of Ham” Psalm 105:23,27, with which we can compare with Psalm 78:51. — A name most probably referring to Ham the son of Noah — and “Rahab,” the proud or insolent: these appear to be poetical appellations. The common ancient Egyptian name of the country is written in hieroglyphics Kem, which was perhaps pronounced Chem. This name signifies, in the ancient language and in Coptic, “black,” on account of the blackness of its alluvial soil. We may reasonably conjecture that Kem is the Egyptian equivalent of Ham. GENERAL APPEARANCE, CLIMATE, ETC. — The general appearance of the country cannot have greatly changed since the days of Moses. The whole country is remarkable for its extreme fertility, which especially strikes the beholder when the rich green of the fields is contrasted with the utterly bare, yellow mountains or the sand-strewn rocky desert on either side. The climate is equable and healthy. Rain is not very infrequent on the northern coast, but inland is very rare. Cultivation nowhere depends upon it. The inundation of the Nile fertilizes and sustains the country, and makes the river its chief blessing. The Nile was on this account anciently worshipped. The rise begins in Egypt about the summer solstice, and the inundation commences about two months later. The greatest height is attained about or somewhat after the autumnal equinox. The inundation lasts about three months. The atmosphere, except on the seacoast, is remarkably dry and clear, which accounts for the so perfect preservation of the monuments, with their pictures and inscriptions. The heat is extreme during a large part of the year. The winters are mild, — from 50.”.
5:11-13 Worship.
1A11
II Chronicles 5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: —> …the priests…sanctified…=Again, these are the Aaronites. So, what this is saying, is that, the Aaronites who carried Father’s Ark into the Most Holy of Holies, had taken the precautionary steps to first purify themselves, so that they were ceremonially and morally clean, well before ever touching Father’s Ark to be brought into the Most Holy Place.
…did not then wait by course…=Only the Aaronites, the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar were assigned to the 24 Courses of the Priests as can be read in I Chronicles 24:7-18; and what this is saying, is that, as they were bringing Father’s Ark into His Temple, they paid no heed as to whose Course it was, as during the three major Feasts—Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles—every one of the 24 Priests, every Kohathite and every one of the Levites—the descendants of the other sons of Levi, i.e., the Gershonites and the Merarites—Served during the Sabbath, remember also, this was during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Tabernacles, which in the Hebrew language means: Booths, was the last of the three major Feasts, it was a time for celebration as, it was celebrated during the fall harvest, they celebrated that all the hard work they had put in for the year—i.e., the planting of the crops, the tending of those crops and then the harvesting of those crops—was now coming to a close.
1A12
II Chronicles 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph (collector; and, collector of the people) (aw-sawfי), of Heman (faithful; and, faithful) (hay-mawnי), of Jeduthun (laudatory; and, praising) (yed-oo-thoonי), with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) —> …singers=Sometimes also called “Musicians,” their duties didn’t just include being “Singers or, Musicians,” some of them were prophets—these men were able to speak or sing by Divine Inspiration—some also had other duties in Father’s Temple also.
Asaph…Heman…Jeduthun=If you’re familiar with The Book of the Psalms brethren, these three names ought to look familiar to you, as they are mentioned by name several times. Even if the Psalm was written by David, he addressed some as “To the Chief Musician” which these three were. They were also known as the Directors of the Levitical Musicians.
…sons and brethren…=We read in I Chronicles 25:7, that, there were 288 of these Levite Singers. These 288 Levite singers were assigned—like the Priests—to the 24 courses of the Priests, though in the case of these Levitical Singers, 12 men served each “Course” or, “Lot.” In other words, they too were on a bi-annual Rotational Duty, having to Serve for a week, twice a year, besides during the 4 major Feasts of Father YHVH—Feast of Passover, Feast of Weeks—what we call Pentecost today—the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles—and then twice a year, individually. 288 may seem like a large number but, remember, we read back in I Chronicles 23:5, that there were 4,000 of these Levitical Singers. You can think of some of their duties as being the teachers of their younger brethren and also coordinating the Levite Musicians. 288 which is a multiplication of 24 x 12. Twelve in Biblical numberics denotes: “Governmental Perfection,” which is a factor in all that pertains to government: “whether by Tribes or Apostles, or in measurements of time, or in things which have to do with government in the heavens and the earth.”.
…stood at the east end of the altar…=In other words, they were facing west.
…an hundred and twenty…=One hundred twenty in Biblical Numerics denotes: “is made up of three forties (3x40=120). Applied to time therefore it signifies a divinely appointed period of probation, Genesis 6:3. Applied to persons it points to a divinely appointed number during a period of waiting, Acts 1:15. It is a factor also in the number of those who returned from Babylon, 42,360, being 120 x 353. It is also a factor of the number of the men who went up out of Egypt, 600,000, being 120 x 5000. It is a factor also of the 144,000 who will be sealed from the Twelve Tribes of Israel to go unscathed through the great tribulation, 144,000, being 120 x 1,200. The unanimous voice of Jewish tradition agrees with the Talmud that “the Great Synagogue” (Neh 10:1-10) consisted of 120 members. “It was called ‘Great’ because of the great work it effected in restoring the Divine law to its former greatness, and because of the great authority and reputation which it enjoyed.” Its greatest work was in completing the Canon of the Old Testament. The Great Synagogue lasted about 110 years, from BC 410-300, or from the latter days of Nehemiah to the death of Simon the Just. It then passed into the Sanhedrim, when its whole constitution was changed.”.
…sounding with trumpets=Thus marking the true solemn occasion which this was. This should also put you in remembrance of when David brought Father’s Ark into Jerusalem, of which we can read of in II Samuel 6:16 and I Chronicles 15:29.
Asaph
Asaph=Asaph was a the son of a man named Berechiah—who was one of the doorkeepers, gatekeepers, or porters—meaning he was one of the Security Forces—for Father’s Ark as David and the procession he was leading to bring Father’s Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem—and a descendant of Levi’s eldest son Gershom, his full lineage all the way back to Gershom is given in I Chronicles 6:39-43. Asaph was one of the leaders of David’s Choir during the bringing up of Father’s Ark out of the house of Obed-edom after Father had struck Uzzah dead for reaching out his hand to steady it as it was possibly about to tumble off the ox-drawn cart it was being transported on as can be read in II Samuel 5 and I Chronicles 13. Other things we know of Asaph from Father’s Word include the following: (1) he was called a “seer” in II Chronicles 29:30; (2) he was known for being both, a musical composer and as being the author of twelve cannonized Psalms: Psalms 50, and 73 through 80; and (3) two of his descendants, a man named Zechariah and a man named Mattaniah, were assigned along with several of the other Levites by king Hezekiah to cleanse, purify and sanctify Father’s House after Hezekiah’s father Ahaz had defiled it as we read in II Chronicles 29:13-19. † For the etymology of the name Asaph, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “Asaph is a direct derivative of the verb אסף (asap), meaning to gather or collect: For a meaning of the name Asaph, both New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Collector. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary has Gatherer.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find it is Hebrew number: H623, - אסף, - 'âsâph, pronounced - Aw-sawfי, and means: From H622; collector, Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first: - Asaph. Total KJV occurrences: 46.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Collector of the people. A Levite, son of Berechiah, one of the leaders of David’s choir I Chronicles 6:39. Psalm 50,73-83 are attributed to him; and he was in after times celebrated as a seer as well as a musical composer II Chronicles 29:30; Nehemiah 12:46.”.
Heman
Heman=Heman was the son of Joel—who was also known as Vashni, we can compare between I Samuel 8:1-2; I Chronicles 5:28, and I Chronicles 6:33—and grandson of Father’s Judge, Samuel—who is also called Shemuel in I Chronicles 6:33, the full lineage all the way back to Kohath’s son Izhar, and then Kohath, and then Levi, is given in I Chronicles 6:33-38—Samuel was the last Judge of Israel, Father used him to anoint first Saul and the David to be the first and then second man-king of the House of Israel. Heman was known for his being one of the musicians—he was called a “singer” in I Chronicles 6:33; I Chronicles 15:19; II Chronicles 5:12; and II Chronicles 35:15—during the return of Father’s Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem —Israel’s Capital City and Father’s most favorite place in all His Created Universe—during David’s bringing it to it’s rightful place among our forefathers. Heman is identified as being a “seer in the words of God” in I Chronicles 25:5, where Father’s Word also mentions that he had fourteen sons and three unnamed daughters. We read in I Chronicles 25:4, of 6 of the names of Heman’s sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Elithah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion notes to that verse the following: “The fact that the meanings of these six names form a complete sentence in Hebrew is no more proof that this is a mistaken “obscure and ancient prayer”, than that the chronicler has strung together a list of six names in order to form a sentence. What it shows is that Heman, in naming his sons, did so with this set purpose, as parents have often done since his day. The supposed prayer would read: “I have magnified, and I have raised up help, Sitting in trouble, I have spoken many oracles.”.” † For the etymology of the name Heman, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Heman appears to derive of the Chaldean adjective מהימן, which comes from a verb that is a close cognate of the Hebrew verb אמןss(יaman), meaning to support or confirm: For a meaning of the name Heman, the usually discordant New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names and Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary all read Faithful. The word הימן occurs once in the narrative of the Bible, namely in Daniel 6:23, with the meaning of He Trusted.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1968, - הֵימָן, - hêymân, pronounced - hay-mawnי, and means: Probably from H530; faithful; Heman, the name of at least two Israelites: - Heman. Total KJV occurrences: 17.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “faithful. Son of Joel and grandson of Samuel the prophet, a Kohathite. He is called “the singer,” rather the musician I Chronicles 6:33, and was the first of the three Levites to whom was committed the vocal and instrumental music of the temple service in the reign of David I Chronicles 15:16-22. The 88th Psalm is ascribed to him.”.
EthanJeduthun
Ethan, aka Jeduthun=The Levitical Singer Ethan, also known as Jeduthun, is one in the same. There is no clue as to why he was called both Ethan and Jeduthun, as Ethan is not a shortened version of Jeduthun, the names are not similar in Hebrew, nor does Father’s Word mention any reason. But, since this man is called both, I will combine\provide an etymology, Strong’s Concordance description, and a Smith’s Bible Dictionary description for both in this description; though when mentioning the man in general, I’ll refer to him as Ethan. He is called Ethan in I Kings 4:31—though called an Ezrahite in this verse, it just means the district he was from, the same is mentioned in Psalms 89:1—I Chronicles 6:44; I Chronicles 15:17,19 and in Psalms 89:1. He is called Jeduthun in I Chronicles 16:41,42; I Chronicles 25:1,3,6; II Chronicles 5:12; II Chronicles 29:14; II Chronicles 35:15; Psalms 39:1; Psalms 62:1; and Psalms 77:1. Ethan was the son of a man named Kishi—which was short for Kushaiah, think of Dick for Richard or Bill for William—when called Kushaiah, in I Chronicles 15:17, he is mentioned as Ethan’s father. The full lineage all the way back to Merari’s son Mushi, and then Merari, and then Levi, is given in I Chronicles 6:44-47. We read in I Chronicles 25:3, that Jeduthun was the father of six sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jehsaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. Of the man himself, we read the following in Father’s Word: (1) I Kings 4:31 tells us that he was considered a wise man, however, Solomon was wiser than he; (2) he was one of the three directors—or “chief Musicians”—of the Temple worship I Chronicles 16:42; I Chronicles 25:1-6; II Chronicles 5:12; II Chronicles 35:15; (3) Ethan—Jeduthun—was one of the Levitical “singers” in David’s Choir during the bringing up of Father’s Ark out of the house of Obed-edom after Father had struck Uzzah dead for reaching out his hand to steady it as it was possibly about to tumble off the ox-drawn cart it was being transported on, as read in II Samuel 5 and I Chronicles 13; I Chronicles 16:42; and I Chronicles 25:3 though his role was as a cymbal and trumpet sounder; (4) in II Chronicles 35:15 Ethan\Jeduthan is called “the king’s seer;” (5) in I Chronicles 25:1 it was the duty of Ethan\Jeduthan, and his two cousins Asaph and Heman, “to prophesy;” (6) and we read in II Chronicles 25:3 they were to “give thanks,” and “praise” to Father, this was according to the king’s order according to II Chronicles 25:6. There are three Psalms connected with Ethan\Jeduthun: Psalms 38, 61 and 76, and they will be found to fulfill the conditions. By comparing these Psalms as set out in The Companion Bible, the confusion, caused by two of these Psalms appearing to have the names of two different authors, vanishes. The sub-scription of each Psalm now stands “To the chief Musician—Jeduthun\Ethan.” † For the etymology of the name Ethan, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Ethan is identical to the adjective איתן (etan), meaning ever-flowing or perennial: For a meaning of the name Ethan, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Perpetuity. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names takes the idea of perpetuity and interprets it according to its application in describing the perpetuity of cities and nations. Hence Jones reads the rather liberal Firmness.”. † For the etymology of the name Jeduthun, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Jeduthun appears to be derived from an otherwise unused noun ידות (yeduth), meaning praise which in turn comes from the verb ידה (yada) meaning to confess, praise or give thanks: Our name ends with the familiar waw-nun couple that personifies or localizes the idea of the root; Jeduthun means Man Of Praise or Praiser. For a meaning of the name Jeduthun, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Praising. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Praising or Celebrating. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not interpret this name but does list it under the verb ידה (yada).”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Ethan is Hebrew word number: H386, - אֵיתָן, - 'êythân, - pronounced: ay-thawnי, and means: From an unused root (meaning to continue); permanence; hence (concretely) permanent; specifically a chieftain: - hard, mighty, rough, strength, strong. Total KJV occurrences: 13.. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that the name Jeduthun is Hebrew word number: H3038, - יְדוּתוּן, or ssדֻתוּן,ss or יְדִיתוּן, - yedûthûn, yedûthûn or yedı̂ythûn, pronounced - (1,2) yed-oo-thoonי,ss(3) yed-ee-thoonי, and means: Probably from H3034; laudatory; Jeduthun, an Israelite: - Jeduthun. Total KJV occurrences: 17.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read concerning the name Ethan, the following: “Firm. (1.) “The Ezrahite,” distinguished for his wisdom (I Kings 4:31). He is named as the author of the 89th Psalm. He was of the tribe of Levi. (2.) A Levite of the family of Merari, one of the leaders of the temple music (I Chronicles 6:44; 15:17,19). He was probably the same as Jeduthun. He is supposed by some to be the same also as (1).”. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read concerning the name Jeduthun: “praising. A Levite of the family of Merari, is probably the same as Ethan, compare: I Chronicles 15:17,19 with 16:42,42; 25:1,3,6; II Chronicles 35:15. His office was generally to preside over the music of the temple service, Jeduthun’s name stands at the head of the 39th, 62nd and 77th Psalms, indicating probably that they were to be sung by his choir.”.
5:13 The cloud.
1A13
II Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, “For He is good; for his mercy endureth for ever:” that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; —> …the trumpeters and singers were as one=In other words, they were in perfect harmony.
…For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever…=Yes, it is time to give Praise and Thanks to Father, as He provided for their safety, the location of His Temple and all their needs. His Temple is now complete; however, this king, King Solomon—who took the throne at the tender age of 18, who’ll only reign for 40 years—will be the only king to rule and reign over the entire United Nation of the House of Israel — think about that brethren. Father’s House is now complete, sadly, some 430+ years from this time, in the year 477B.C., it’ll be destroyed—because of our forefathers disobedience and disloyalty to Father. We can read in Ezra 3:11 of our forefathers again giving Praise and Thanks to Father when they lay the foundation to His Temple after their return from captivity to the Babylonians. The phrase “For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever” is recorded in 41 verses in Father’s Word: I Chronicles 16:41; II Chronicles 5:13; II Chronicles 7:3,6; Ezra 3:11; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 107:1; Psalms 118:1-4,29; and every verse of Psalms 136.
No sooner had the Aaronites left Holiest of Holies, when Father came and filled it with His Presence, signifying His approval of what Solomon had had constructed. This should put you in remembrance of when He came and dwelled with man just after Moses had had the original tent Tabernacle constructed, then too, had Father come and filled it with His Presence, signifying His approval — Exodus 40:34; but, also, several other times when we read of the manifestation of the presence of Father: we read of clouds; thunderings and lightenings — Revelation 4:5; when Moses first visited with Father — Exodus 3; right after He brought our forefathers out of Egypt and they camped at the base of Mount Sinai — Exodus 20:18; as they wandered the wilderness for those 40 years and He led them by cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night — Exodus 13:22; but, also, the very last chapter and verse of The Book of Ezekiel which reads: Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. —> YHVH Shammah.
…cloud…=The manifestation of The Glory of Father. If we were to read the Septuagint version of this verse, we would see that it there reads: “…filled with the cloud of the glory of YHVH…”. This would be the “Shekaniah Glory,” which translates out to “YAH has dwelt”.
5:14 Inability to minister.
1A14
II Chronicles 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. —> The High Priest—Zadok—and the other 24 Priests who were serving in the Holy Place, couldn’t even stay in the Holy Place because of the Thick, Dense Cloud of Father which filled—I’m sure—His entire Temple. From this point in time forward, it’ll again be only the High Priest who’ll be able to enter into the Holiest of Holies, and even then, only on the Day of Atonement, the 10th day of Ethanim.
Aug 2020, updated: Sept 2022.
This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.
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