2 Chronicles 5 Study Notes

5:10 By this time only the two tablets with the commandments were in the ark, but at one time it contained two other objects—a pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that had sprouted miraculously (Heb 9:4).

5:11 Solomon followed David’s plan for the division of the priests into different shifts, but all of the priests participated in the dedication service.

5:12-13 The descendants of the three chief musicians—Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun—who had been divided between the tent of the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle in Gibeon were now reunited. Together with their clans, they started to make music. Everyone joined together in praising God because the temple was an expression of God’s goodness and love for his people.

5:14 God approved of what the people had done, and he displayed his approval by revealing his glory through a cloud that filled the temple. There are three points of significance to the cloud and the momentary stoppage it forced on all activities. (1) It shows that God was pleased with the work the people had done. (2) It was a reminder that God’s presence among his people is ultimately the focal point, not the many activities that the people carry out in worshiping God. (3) It brought the exodus to conclusion. Nearly 500 years earlier, the Israelites had followed God from point to point as they crisscrossed the desert for forty years (1Kg 6:1). During that time, God had shown himself as a cloud during the day and as a pillar of fire at night (Ex 13:21-22), always moving ahead of the people. Now, with the land possessed in its entirety and the temple in place, the conquest had finally been finished; the cloud came to rest inside the sanctuary.

This root in various languages suggests a distinguishing mark. Shem was associated with being, character, and public standing. Names bore meanings (Ex 2:10,22), and changed names connoted changed characters (Gn 32:28). “Call the name” often appears as name (Gn 3:20) or call (Jr 20:3). One called by someone’s name belonged to him (Is 4:1). God’s name is synonymous with God (Ps 75:1); God’s name dwells in his temple (Dt 16:2). Walking (Mc 4:5) or living (Ps 69:36) in his name is living as he instructs. “Calling on his name” is prayer (Ps 116:4) or worship (Gn 12:8). One acts in his name (Dt 18:5,22). Shem denotes fame (Is 63:12) or reputation (Jos 9:9). “Name of the day” signifies today’s date (Ezk 24:2). One acts on someone’s behalf (1Sm 25:9). Shem functions as famous (Zph 3:20), prominent (Nm 16:2), or notorious (Ezk 23:10). Infamous is “unclean of name” (Ezk 22:5).