2 Chronicles 5:9 - Exposition

They drew out ; i.e. the staves projected. A similar intransitive occurs in Exodus 20:12 . Were seen from the ark . The words, "from the ark," are here probably by misposition, and should follow the words, the staves projected ; while the parallel tells us what should be in their place here, namely, "from the holy place" ( 1 Kings 8:8 ). The confusion and omission will merely lie with some copyists, for five manuscripts show the words "from the holy place." There it is unto this day. The parallel ( 1 Kings 8:8 )reads, " there they are unto this day ," i.e. the staves. In either case, whether the ark or the staves were spoken of, the memorandum is exceedingly interesting and noteworthy, as a patent bare copy of an old record dating before the destruction of the temple, on the part of whether the writer of Kings or Chronicles. Plainly the historian touches ground, and shows us that we do also; for it is evident that, far from cunningly devised fable, he has before him in either case an original document.