2 Chronicles 1 4

2 Chronicles 1:4 kjv

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1:4 nkjv

But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1:4 niv

Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1:4 esv

(But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.)

2 Chronicles 1:4 nlt

David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1 verses

2 Chronicles 1 4 Meaning

This verse serves as an important clarification within the narrative, specifying that while the Tent of Meeting and the bronze altar were located at Gibeon, the most sacred artifact, the Ark of God, had been brought by King David to Jerusalem. It emphasizes David's prior initiative in preparing a dedicated, albeit temporary, place—a tent—for the Ark in the capital city. This distinction is crucial, establishing Jerusalem as the intended focal point of divine presence and worship, laying the groundwork for Solomon's subsequent Temple construction that would finally unite these sacred elements.

2 Chronicles 1 4 Context

2 Chronicles begins by introducing Solomon's reign and his journey to Gibeon where the Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting of God, and the bronze altar crafted by Bezalel (2 Chr 1:3) were located. This immediate context is critical as it sets up a seeming theological tension: if the Tabernacle and its altar—symbols of God's presence and atonement—were at Gibeon, why did Solomon's major cultic act occur there, instead of Jerusalem where his father David had already established a worship center? Verse 4 immediately resolves this by clarifying the distinct location of the Ark of God. The Chronicler emphasizes that the Ark, the most holy artifact representing Yahweh's actual presence among His people, was not at Gibeon but already in Jerusalem, placed in a temporary tent David had specially prepared. This distinction highlights Jerusalem's spiritual priority as God's chosen dwelling place, initiated by David, and prepares the reader for the coming narrative of Solomon's construction of the Jerusalem Temple, which would ultimately consolidate all sacred elements into one central sanctuary, unifying the dispersed places of worship. This verse affirms David's foundational role in preparing for the Temple and emphasizes the Chronicler's Jerusalem-centric and Temple-centric perspective.

2 Chronicles 1 4 Word analysis

• But (אךְ 'akh): This adversative conjunction serves as a strong contrasting marker. It signals a crucial distinction, clarifying that the Ark's location was entirely separate from the Tent of Meeting in Gibeon, despite the latter's religious significance. It underscores the unique status and fate of the Ark in David's plans.

• the ark of God (ארון האלוהים 'aron ha'Elohim):

  • Ark (ארון 'aron): A sacred chest, God's footstool, where His presence dwelt between the cherubim. It held the tablets of the Covenant, Manna, and Aaron's rod. It represented God's covenant with Israel and His active presence among His people.
  • of God (האלוהים ha'Elohim): Emphasizes its divine ownership and sacredness, underscoring that this was not merely a ceremonial object but bore the divine presence.

• had David brought up (הֶעֱלָה דָּוִד he'elah David):

  • brought up (הֶעֱלָה he'elah): From the root עָלָה ('alah), meaning "to go up, ascend, bring up." This term often carries cultic connotations, signifying bringing offerings or leading people up to a holy place or mountain. Here, it denotes David's intentional and sacred act of transporting the Ark to its designated, elevated spiritual home in Jerusalem. It was a momentous, deliberate undertaking, involving much ceremony and sacrifice, detailed elsewhere in Chronicles (1 Chr 15).
  • David (דָּוִד David): The Chronicler often highlights David's devotion and role in establishing the cultic order, not just his political achievements. His initiative in securing the Ark's place in Jerusalem underscores his piety and prophetic foresight regarding God's chosen city and sanctuary.

• from Kirjath-jearim (מקּריית יערים miQiryah Ye'arim):

  • from (מִ mi): Preposition indicating origin.
  • Kirjath-jearim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים Qiryah Ye'arim): Literally "city of forests." This was the Philistine border town where the Ark resided for 20 years or more after its return from Philistine captivity, specifically in the house of Abinadab (1 Sam 7:1-2). Mentioning this location firmly roots the narrative in the historical timeline of the Ark's journey.

• to the place that David had prepared for it (למקּום הכּין לו דויד l'maqom hekhin lo David):

  • to the place (למקּום l'maqom): Specifies the destination as a divinely sanctioned location. The choice of "the place" (המקום Ha-Makom) sometimes refers to the designated sacred site chosen by God Himself, echoing Deut 12.
  • prepared (הכּין hekhin): From the root כּוּן (kun), "to establish, prepare, make firm." This indicates David's purposeful, careful, and thorough preparation for the Ark's dwelling. It was not a hasty arrangement but a well-considered foundation for its future. This proactive preparation underscores David's spiritual vision and commitment to the sacred.

• for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem (כּי אהל לוֹ מטּה בירושלם ki ohel lo mattah biYerushalaim):

  • for (כּי ki): A causal conjunction, providing the reason for "the place prepared." The specific preparation was pitching a tent.
  • pitched a tent (אהל לוֹ מטּה ohel lo mattah): "Tent" (אֹהֶל 'ohel) is a temporary dwelling. "Pitched" (מָטָה matah) signifies stretching out or setting up. This distinguishes it from the portable wilderness Tabernacle, which was far grander. David's tent for the Ark was specifically built for this purpose, a prelude to the permanent Temple. Its temporary nature signifies the anticipation of a future, greater dwelling.
  • at Jerusalem (בירושלם biYerushalaim): The chosen city of God, David's capital. Its selection for the Ark cemented Jerusalem's role not only as Israel's political heart but definitively as its spiritual center, replacing earlier fragmented worship sites.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But the ark of God had David brought up": This phrase highlights David's proactive and significant role in relocating the Ark, drawing a distinct separation from its long residence in Kirjath-jearim. It underscores his zeal for God's presence in his capital, even prior to the Temple.
  • "to the place that David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem": This detailed explanation emphasizes David's intentionality and the foundational work he laid. The preparation wasn't abstract; it culminated in the immediate establishment of a tent in Jerusalem, making it the de facto religious capital, a crucial step before the building of the permanent Temple. This "tent of David" became a specific, venerated site of worship distinct from the Mosaic Tabernacle.

2 Chronicles 1 4 Bonus section

• The chronicler places significant theological emphasis on David's zeal for the Ark and the preparatory work for the Temple. This narrative highlights a sustained divine plan culminating in Jerusalem as God's chosen abode.
• The existence of two distinct worship centers—the Tabernacle at Gibeon and the Ark's tent in Jerusalem—posed a unique, though temporary, dual focus for Israel's religious life. This was remedied by Solomon's unification efforts.
• David's tent for the Ark (often called the Tabernacle of David, distinct from Moses' Tabernacle) allowed for different liturgical practices, particularly more open, spontaneous, and musically-focused worship, as implied by David's appointments of Levites for singing and praise before the Ark (1 Chr 16:4-6).

2 Chronicles 1 4 Commentary

2 Chronicles 1:4 provides essential context by disambiguating the locations of key sacred objects at the start of Solomon's reign. It underscores David's pivotal role in establishing Jerusalem as Israel's spiritual capital by personally overseeing the relocation of the Ark of God from Kirjath-jearim to a specially prepared tent there. This was a deliberate act of worship and nation-building, highlighting David's understanding that God's dwelling, represented by the Ark, was foundational to the kingdom. While the wilderness Tabernacle and its altar remained at Gibeon, preserving their Mosaic heritage, the Ark's presence in Jerusalem infused the city with immediate spiritual significance and consecrated it as God's chosen dwelling place, prefiguring the glorious Temple to come. This subtle clarification by the Chronicler legitimizes Solomon's journey to Gibeon for initial sacrifice, while simultaneously affirming Jerusalem's ultimate destiny as the exclusive center of worship chosen by Yahweh.