Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord's covenant from Zion, the City of David.

Other Translations of 1 Kings 8:1

King James Version

Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief chief: Heb. princes of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

English Standard Version

Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.

The Message

Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Bringing all this to a climax, King Solomon called in the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the family patriarchs, to bring up the Chest of the Covenant of God from Zion, the City of David.

New King James Version

Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.

New Living Translation

Solomon Brings the Ark into the Temple

81 Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes-the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord 's Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:1

Commentary on 1 Kings 8:1-11

(Read 1 Kings 8:1-11)

The bringing in the ark, is the end which must crown the work: this was 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 were 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 that 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 glory 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.