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while in the Book of Chronicles, which views events primarily in their theocratic
bearing, they are recorded after another of greatest importance for the religious
welfare of the new kingdom.^268 For the same reason also, the Book of Chronicles
adds details not recorded in that of Samuel, about David's consultation with his
chiefs, and the participation of the priests and Levites in what related to the removal
of the ark of the Lord.
About seventy years had passed since the ark of Jehovah had stood in the
Tabernacle,^269 according to the express ordinance of God.
And now that Israel was once more united, not only in a political, but in the best and
highest sense, and its God, appointed capital had at last been won, it was surely time
to restore the ancient worship which had been so sadly disturbed. Nor could there be
any question as to the location of the Ark. No other place fit for it but the capital of
the land. For was it not the "ark of God" over which the Lord specially manifested
His Presence and His glory to His people? - or, in the language of Holy Scripture^270
(2 Samuel 6:2): "over which is called the Name, the NAME of Jehovah Zevaoth,
Who throneth upon the cherubim." Much, indeed, had still to be left in a merely
provisional state.
We cannot doubt that David from the first contemplated a time when the Lord would
no longer dwell, so to speak, in tents, but when a stable form would be given to the
national worship by the erection of a central sanctuary. But for the present it must
remain - if in Jerusalem - yet in a "tabernacle." Nay, more than that, the tent which
David would prepare would not be the tabernacle which Moses had made. This was
in Gibeah, and there, since the murder of the priests at Nob, Zadok officiated, while
Abiathar acted as high-priest with David. Neither of these two could be deposed; and
so there must be two tabernacles, till God Himself should set right what the sin of
men had made wrong. And for this, as we believe, David looked forward to the
building of a house for the God of Israel. An undertaking of such solemn national
importance as the transference of the Ark to Jerusalem must be that of the whole
people, and not of David alone. Accordingly representatives from the whole land
assembled to the number of thirty thousand, with whom he went to bring in solemn
procession the Ark from^271 Baalah of Judah, as Kirjath-Jearim ("the city of the
woods.") also used to be called^272 (Joshua 15:9; 1 Chronicles 13:6; comp. also
Psalm 132:6).
One thing only David had omitted, but its consequences proved fatal. The act of
David and of Israel was evidently intended as a return to the Lord, and as submission
to His revealed ordinances. But if so, the obedience must be complete in every
particular. Viewed symbolically and typically, all these ordinances formed one
complete whole, of which not the smallest detail could be altered without disturbing
(^)