What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 1:3? And Solomon and the whole assembly • Solomon gathers “all Israel—the commanders of thousands and hundreds, the judges, and every leader” (cf. 2 Chronicles 1:2; 1 Chronicles 28:1). • His first public act as king is corporate worship. The united assembly underscores national solidarity under God, much like Joshua convened the tribes at Shechem (Joshua 24:1). • Leadership that begins in worship models Psalm 95:6, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” went to the high place at Gibeon • 1 Kings 3:4 confirms, “The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the principal high place.” • Unlike later illicit “high places” (2 Kings 17:9-11), Gibeon’s site was divinely endorsed because the tabernacle stood there (1 Chronicles 16:39-40). • Gibeon lies about six miles northwest of Jerusalem—accessible yet distinct from the political center—reminding Israel that worship stands above politics. because it was the location of God’s Tent of Meeting • The tabernacle represented God’s throne among His people (Exodus 25:8). Even after the ark had been moved to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17), the sanctuary furniture and altar remained at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 21:29). • By choosing Gibeon, Solomon honors established worship order, echoing Deuteronomy 12:5’s command to seek “the place the LORD your God will choose.” • This obedience sets the stage for the divine encounter that follows; God meets us on His terms, not ours (James 4:8). which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness • Exodus 40 recounts Moses erecting the tabernacle exactly as God prescribed, illustrating Hebrews 3:5—“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house.” • The continuity from Moses to Solomon highlights God’s unbroken covenant story: wilderness tent, Gibeon high place, soon-to-be Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). • The phrase “servant of the LORD” dignifies humble, obedient leadership; Jesus later embodies the perfect Servant (Philippians 2:7-8), fulfilling every shadow cast by the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:23-24). summary 2 Chronicles 1:3 shows Solomon, backed by the whole nation, purposefully traveling to the sanctioned high place at Gibeon where the original wilderness tabernacle still stood. By honoring the God-given worship center crafted by Moses, Solomon demonstrates national unity, continuity with covenant history, and submission to divine order. This act prepares the ground for God’s appearance to him that night, proving that when leaders and people seek the Lord together at the place He appoints, heaven responds with wisdom and blessing. |
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