1Solomon finished all the work for the Lord’s temple. Then he brought in the things his father David had set apart for the Lord. They included the silver and gold and all the objects for God’s temple. Solomon placed them there with the other treasures.
The Ark Is Brought to the Temple
2Then Solomon sent for the elders of Israel. He told them to come to Jerusalem. They included all the leaders of the tribes. They also included the chiefs of the families of Israel. Solomon wanted them to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion. Zion was the City of David. 3All the Israelites came together to where the king was. It was at the time of the Feast of Booths. The feast was held in the seventh month.
4All the elders of Israel arrived. Then the Levites picked up the ark and carried it. 5They brought up the ark. They also brought up the tent of meeting and all the sacred things in the tent. The priests, who were Levites, carried up everything. 6The entire community of Israel had gathered around King Solomon. All of them were in front of the ark. They sacrificed huge numbers of sheep and cattle. There were so many animals that they couldn’t be recorded. In fact, they couldn’t even be counted.
7The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the Most Holy Room of the temple. They put it under the wings of the cherubim. 8The cherubim’s wings were spread out over the place where the ark was. They covered the ark. They also covered the poles used to carry it. 9The poles reached out from the ark. They were so long that their ends could be seen from in front of the Most Holy Room. But they couldn’t be seen from outside the Holy Room. They are still there to this day. 10There wasn’t anything in the ark except the two tablets. Moses had placed them in it at Mount Horeb. That’s where the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelites. He made it after they came out of Egypt.
11The priests left the Holy Room. All the priests who were there had set themselves apart to the Lord. It didn’t matter what group they were in. 12All the Levites who played music stood near the east side of the altar. They included Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives. They were dressed in fine linen. They were playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were joined by 120 priests who were blowing trumpets. 13The trumpet players and other musicians played their instruments together. They praised the Lord and gave thanks to him. The singers sang to the music of the trumpets, cymbals and other instruments. They sang in praise to the Lord,
“The Lord is good.
His faithful love continues forever.”
Then a cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 14The priests couldn’t do their work. That’s because the cloud of the Lord’s glory filled God’s temple.
15:1 1Fal 6:14; 2Sam 8:11; 1Nya 26:26-28; 22:14Hivyo Solomoni alipomaliza kazi ya Hekalu la Bwana, akaviingiza ndani vile vitu ambavyo Daudi baba yake alikuwa ameviweka wakfu: yaani, fedha, dhahabu na samani; kisha akaviweka katika hazina za Hekalu la Mungu.
Sanduku La Agano Laletwa Hekaluni
(1 Wafalme 8:1-9)
25:2 2Sam 6:12; 1Nya 15:25; 1Fal 8:1; 1Nya 29:1Kisha Solomoni akawaita huko Yerusalemu wazee wa Israeli, viongozi wote wa makabila na wakuu wa jamaa za Waisraeli, ili walilete Sanduku la Agano la Bwana kutoka Sayuni, Mji wa Daudi. 35:3 2Nya 7:8-10; 1Fal 8:2Nao wanaume wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika kwa mfalme wakati wa sikukuu mwezi wa saba.
45:4 Yos 3:6Wazee wote wa Israeli walipofika, Walawi wakajitwika Sanduku la Agano, 55:5 Hes 3:31; 1Nya 15:2nao wakalipandisha Sanduku na Hema la Kukutania pamoja na vyombo vyote vitakatifu vilivyokuwa ndani yake. Makuhani, waliokuwa Walawi, walivibeba vitu hivyo, 6naye Mfalme Solomoni na kusanyiko lote la Israeli waliokusanyika kumzunguka walikuwa mbele ya hilo Sanduku, nao wakatoa dhabihu nyingi za kondoo na ngʼombe ambao idadi yao haikuwezekana kuandikwa au kuhesabiwa.
75:7 Ufu 11:19Makuhani wakalileta Sanduku la Agano la Bwana hadi mahali pake ndani ya sehemu takatifu ndani ya Hekalu, yaani Patakatifu pa Patakatifu, na kuliweka chini ya mabawa ya makerubi. 85:8 Mwa 3:24Makerubi yalitandaza mabawa yao juu ya mahali pa Sanduku la Agano na kufunika Sanduku na mipiko yake ya kubebea. 95:9 1Fal 8:8Mipiko hiyo ilikuwa mirefu sana kiasi kwamba ncha zake zilizojitokeza kutoka kwenye Sanduku, nazo zilionekana ukiwa mbele ya Patakatifu pa Patakatifu, lakini sio nje ya Mahali Patakatifu. Hiyo mipiko ipo hata leo. 105:10 Ebr 9:4; Kum 10:2; Kut 16:34; 2Nya 6:11Ndani ya Sanduku hapakuwepo kitu kingine chochote isipokuwa zile mbao mbili ambazo Mose alikuwa ameziweka ndani yake huko Horebu, mahali ambapo Bwana alifanya Agano na Waisraeli baada ya kutoka Misri.
115:11 1Nya 24:1Basi makuhani wakaondoka hapo Mahali Patakatifu. Makuhani wote waliokuwa huko walikuwa wamejiweka wakfu, bila kujali migawanyo yao. 125:12 1Nya 15:16-24; 9:33Walawi wote waliokuwa waimbaji, yaani, Asafu, Hemani, Yeduthuni, wana wa ndugu zao, walisimama upande wa mashariki wa madhabahu, wakiwa wamevaa kitani safi huku wakipiga matoazi, vinubi na zeze. Walikuwa pamoja na makuhani 120 wakipiga tarumbeta. 135:13 1Nya 16:34; Yer 33:11; Za 106:1; 2Nya 7:3; Za 136:1-6Wapiga tarumbeta na waimbaji wakaungana katika sauti linganifu, ikawa kama vile ni sauti moja, wakimsifu na kumshukuru Bwana, nao alipoinua sauti zao pamoja na tarumbeta na matoazi na vyombo vingine vya uimbaji, wakamsifu Bwana wakisema:
“Yeye ni mwema;
upendo wake unadumu milele.”
Ndipo Hekalu la Bwana likajazwa na wingu, 145:14 Kut 40:35; 19:16; 2Nya 7:2-3; Ufu 15:8; Hes 19:5; Isa 6:4; Eze 43:4; Hag 2:7; 2Kor 3:11nao makuhani hawakuweza kufanya huduma yao kwa sababu ya lile wingu, kwa kuwa utukufu wa Bwana ulijaza Hekalu la Mungu.
