to David’s son, Solomon. The finishing of the temple completed the centralizing of religious authority in Jerusalem. The construction work is described in 2 Chronicles 1–4, probably during the years 959–952 B.C. Chapter five describes the entrance of the ark of the covenant into the temple and the praise of the priests, Levites, and all the people, whereupon the building was filled with a cloud, “for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” (2 Chr 5:14). Solomon’s response to this is recorded