2. Assembled the elders. Chapters 5:2 to 7:22 are an account of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. See comments on 1 Kings 8:1 to 9:9. 2 Chron. 5:2-11, 14 is an almost exact duplicate of the parallel text in 1 Kings 8:1-11. The record in Chronicles adds one important detail not found in Kings, namely, the circumstances under which the manifestation of God’s presence took place (2 Chron. 5:11-13).
City of David. The ark had been kept in a tent in the City of David (1 Chron. 16:1). The City of David was the lower, or southernmost, part of the city of Jerusalemâthe old Jebusite stronghold of Zion captured by David, where he had his royal residence (2 Sam. 5:6-9; 1 Chron. 11:5, 7). The hill where the Temple was built was north of the Zion ridge. The ark had been brought to the City of David from the home of Obed-edom (2 Sam. 6:12, 16; 1 Chron. 15).