This verse underscores that the core of the ark—and worship itself—is centered on God’s revealed covenant.
In 2 Chronicles 5:10, the chronicler states, “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt” (2 Chronicles 5:10). These words occur during the account of Solomon bringing the ark of the covenant into the newly built temple in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, around 957 BC. The verse emphasizes that by this stage, the only items remaining inside the ark were the two stone tablets Moses received from the LORD, underscoring the ark’s central function in preserving the written testimony of God’s covenant with Israel. The term “Horeb” is another name for Mount Sinai, where Moses received these commands, and it lies either in the Sinai Peninsula or the surrounding region. This verse highlights how the LORD’s covenant with His people had tangible representation through these stone tablets.
Solomon’s temple, often referred to as the magnificent “house of the LORD,” included a special innermost chamber called the Holy of Holies, where the ark was placed. The ark itself, a wooden chest overlaid with gold, once held additional articles such as a jar of manna and Aaron’s rod, but by Solomon’s time, only the stone tablets of the covenant remained (see commentary_DEU_31_24.json and commentary_HEB_9_1.json). The presence of the ark in this holiest place symbolized God’s holiness dwelling in the midst of the nation, and the two tablets reminded Israel of the terms of their relationship with Him. In the ancient Near East context, such tablets of a covenant-keeping Suzerain were often safeguarded in the temple of the vassal, further representing the throne or presence of the divine King among His people.
The significance of 2 Chronicles 5:10 is to illustrate that what mattered most in the ark was not relics but the covenant itself, written by the finger of God for His people’s guidance. By situating these tablets in the temple’s core, Israel was given a constant reminder that the heart of true worship lies in acknowledging and obeying God’s commandments, rather than simply admiring sacred objects. Believers in Christ can see a foreshadowing of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the true presence of God among humanity (John 1:14), indicating that a temple is not merely a structure, but a meeting place between the divine and the faithful.
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2 Chronicles 5:10 meaning
In 2 Chronicles 5:10, the chronicler states, “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt” (2 Chronicles 5:10). These words occur during the account of Solomon bringing the ark of the covenant into the newly built temple in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, around 957 BC. The verse emphasizes that by this stage, the only items remaining inside the ark were the two stone tablets Moses received from the LORD, underscoring the ark’s central function in preserving the written testimony of God’s covenant with Israel. The term “Horeb” is another name for Mount Sinai, where Moses received these commands, and it lies either in the Sinai Peninsula or the surrounding region. This verse highlights how the LORD’s covenant with His people had tangible representation through these stone tablets.
Solomon’s temple, often referred to as the magnificent “house of the LORD,” included a special innermost chamber called the Holy of Holies, where the ark was placed. The ark itself, a wooden chest overlaid with gold, once held additional articles such as a jar of manna and Aaron’s rod, but by Solomon’s time, only the stone tablets of the covenant remained (see commentary_DEU_31_24.json and commentary_HEB_9_1.json). The presence of the ark in this holiest place symbolized God’s holiness dwelling in the midst of the nation, and the two tablets reminded Israel of the terms of their relationship with Him. In the ancient Near East context, such tablets of a covenant-keeping Suzerain were often safeguarded in the temple of the vassal, further representing the throne or presence of the divine King among His people.
The significance of 2 Chronicles 5:10 is to illustrate that what mattered most in the ark was not relics but the covenant itself, written by the finger of God for His people’s guidance. By situating these tablets in the temple’s core, Israel was given a constant reminder that the heart of true worship lies in acknowledging and obeying God’s commandments, rather than simply admiring sacred objects. Believers in Christ can see a foreshadowing of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the true presence of God among humanity (John 1:14), indicating that a temple is not merely a structure, but a meeting place between the divine and the faithful.