1 Kings 8:6

6 Then the priests brought the Chest of the Covenant of God to its place in the Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim.

1 Kings 8:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:6

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord
unto his place
Destined for it, the like to which it had in the tabernacle:

into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place;
that part of the house where the divine oracle was, the holy of holies; for though into it none but the high priest might enter, and he but once a year; yet in case of necessity, as for the repair of it, which the Jews F19 gather from hence, other priests might enter, as was the case now; an high priest could not carry in the ark himself, and therefore it was necessary to employ others; and besides, as yet the divine Majesty had not taken up his residence in it:

even under the wings of the cherubim;
the large ones which Solomon had made, ( 1 Kings 6:23 ) not those of Moses.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. Maimon. Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 7. sect. 23.

1 Kings 8:6 In-Context

4 and carried up the Chest and the Tent of Meeting and all the holy vessels that went with the Tent.
5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel were there at the Chest worshiping and sacrificing huge numbers of sheep and cattle - so many that no one could keep track.
6 Then the priests brought the Chest of the Covenant of God to its place in the Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim.
7 The outspread wings of the cherubim stretched over the Chest and its poles.
8 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the entrance to the Inner Sanctuary, but were not noticeable farther out. They're still there today.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.