דברי הימים ב, פרק ה׳, פסוק ב׳

With the construction of the Temple finally complete, the moment arrived to bring the Ark of the Covenant to its permanent home. King Solomon initiated this historic event by gathering the nation's leadership to transfer the Ark from its temporary location in the City of David to the newly built Temple on Mount Moriah [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The invitation was specifically directed at the tribal leaders and the heads of the prominent families [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Choosing to assemble the elders rather than the entire populace reflected an act of wise leadership. While his father, King David, would traditionally gather young men for national events, Solomon deliberately focused his summons on the nation's elders [רש״י]. This specific gathering served a dual purpose: it allowed the Temple to be properly sanctified under the authority of the high court, and it bestowed exceptional honor upon the Ark itself [מלבי״ם].

Although Solomon officially summoned only the leadership, the general public arrived on their own, driven by a deep love for the occasion. The sheer volume of people necessitated a practical arrangement for the procession. The elders were given the privilege of walking directly alongside the Ark. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation waited in Jerusalem for the Ark to arrive, at which point they all joined together for a massive offering of sacrifices [חומת אנך].