John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place , etc.] 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 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - The bringing in the ark, is the end which must crown the work: this wa done with great solemnity. The ark was fixed in the place appointed for its rest in the inner part of the house, whence they expected God to speak to them, even in the most holy place. The staves of the ark wer drawn out, so as to direct the high priest to the mercy-seat over the ark, when he went in, once a year, to sprinkle the blood there; so tha they continued of use, though there was no longer occasion to carry it by them. The glory of God appearing in a cloud may signify, 1. The darkness of that dispensation, in comparison with the light of the gospel, by which, with open face, we behold, as in a glass, the glor of the Lord. 2. The darkness of our present state, in comparison with the sight of God, which will be the happiness of heaven, where the Divine glory is unveiled.
Original Hebrew ויבאו935 הכהנים3548 את853 ארון727 ברית1285 יהוה3068 אל413 מקומו4725 אל413 דביר1687 הבית1004 אל413 קדשׁ6944 הקדשׁים6944 אל413 תחת8478 כנפי3671 הכרובים׃3742
