2 Chronicles 5 10

2 Chronicles 5:10 kjv

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 5:10 nkjv

Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they had come out of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 5:10 niv

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 5:10 esv

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 5:10 nlt

Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.

2 Chronicles 5 verses

2 Chronicles 5 10 Meaning

The verse 2 Chronicles 5:10 states that when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Solomon's Temple, its only contents were the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. These tablets were placed there by Moses at Horeb (Mount Sinai), commemorating the covenant the Lord established with the people of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. This highlights the foundational importance of God's Law and covenant relationship as represented by the Ark.

2 Chronicles 5 10 Context

2 Chronicles 5:10 is situated during the pivotal event of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Solomon's newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 5 begins with Solomon completing the Temple and assembling all the sacred articles. The priests then carry the Ark from the City of David (Zion) up to the Temple. This entire event signifies the culmination of centuries of anticipation, as the permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people is established. The verse specifically details the contents of the Ark, setting the stage for the dramatic display of the Lord's glory (Shekinah) filling the Temple, indicating divine approval and presence (2 Chr 5:13-14). Historically, this period marked the height of the united monarchy of Israel, demonstrating the unique covenant relationship between YHWH and His chosen nation. For the original audience, this emphasized the centrality and unchanging nature of God's covenant with Israel, serving as a powerful counter-narrative to the idolatry of surrounding nations where divine presence was tied to cult images rather than the divine word.

2 Chronicles 5 10 Word analysis

• Nothing: This emphasizes the singularity of the contents. The Hebrew phrase "Ein-bo lo' khol davar" (אֵין־בּוֹ לֹא כֹל־דָּבָר) explicitly states the complete absence of anything else. This clarity focuses attention solely on the tablets.
• in the ark: Referring to the 'Aron (אֲרוֹן) in Hebrew, the sacred chest which served as the throne and footstool of God's invisible presence among Israel.
• except the two tablets: Hebrew: "ki im shnei luchot" (כִּי אִם שְׁנֵי הַלֻּחוֹת). "Luach" (לוּחַ) refers to a flat tablet, typically made of stone. This underscores that the foundational revelation of God's will was paramount.
• that Moses put there: Directly links the contents to God's chosen prophet and law-giver, authenticating their divine origin and placement.
• at Horeb: Hebrew: "b'Chorev" (בְּחֹרֵב). This is an alternative name for Mount Sinai, specifying the sacred location where the covenant was originally established and the Law received (Deut 4:10, Exod 3:1).
• when the Lord made a covenant: Hebrew: "b'chirot Adonai Berit" (בִּכְרוֹת יְהוָה בְּרִית). "Berit" (בְּרִית) means "covenant," a binding agreement between God and His people, demonstrating His initiative and faithfulness.
• with the people of Israel: This emphasizes the collective, national scope of God's unique relationship.
• when they came out of Egypt: Links the covenant directly to God's redemptive act of liberation, grounding the Law in His prior salvation and grace.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets": This specific exclusion draws a theological point: by this time (Solomon's Temple), other symbolic items sometimes associated with the Ark's vicinity (like the pot of manna or Aaron's rod mentioned in Hebrews 9:4) were no longer within it. This signifies that, above all, the written covenant – God's eternal Law – was the singular and enduring testimony within the Ark, reinforcing its perpetual significance as the core of the relationship between God and Israel. It represents the unchangeable word of God.
• "that Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel": This phrase links the physical contents (tablets) directly to their historical and theological origins: divine authorship and transmission through Moses, established at the pivotal moment of the covenant at Sinai/Horeb with the entire nation. It solidifies the tablets' authority and role as the foundation of Israelite faith and law.
• "when they came out of Egypt": This highlights that the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant were not arbitrary but were a direct consequence of God's prior act of salvation and deliverance, demonstrating that grace precedes and undergirds the demands of the Law. It frames the covenant as a response to God's redemptive work.

2 Chronicles 5 10 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory detail in Hebrews 9:4, which states that the Ark also contained the golden urn of manna and Aaron's rod that budded, is an interesting point for biblical scholars. One widely accepted reconciliation is that these items (manna pot, Aaron's rod) were likely placed before the Ark, as commanded (Exod 16:34, Num 17:10), or perhaps placed within it only temporarily at an earlier period. By the time of Solomon's Temple dedication, however, the Chronicler's specific declaration that "nothing was in the ark except the two tablets" signifies the enduring, ultimate, and solitary significance of the foundational covenant Law. This underscores a clear theological message: while God provided miraculously (manna) and attested to leadership (Aaron's rod), His eternal Word and established covenant were the absolute, permanent centerpiece of His relationship with His people, preserved uniquely within the holiest artifact. It also implies a historical process where only the tablets remained within the ark by Solomon's time, or it is a theological statement prioritizing the Law.

2 Chronicles 5 10 Commentary

2 Chronicles 5:10, by explicitly stating the Ark contained only the two tablets of the Law at the time of the Temple dedication, makes a profound theological declaration. It emphasizes that the true essence of God's dwelling among His people was intrinsically tied to His revealed word and covenant. Unlike pagan worship which focused on tangible idols, YHWH's presence was symbolized by the written, authoritative Law—a standard for justice and a basis for relationship. This underscored the unchanging nature of God's requirements and His commitment to His covenant. It signified that Israel's identity and privilege stemmed from their unique role as keepers of this divine standard. This focus foreshadows the New Covenant where God’s law is not just on stone but written on human hearts by His Spirit (Jer 31:33, 2 Cor 3:3).