1Ch 22:1 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
This is the house of the Lord God - The double miracle - that of the angelic appearance and that of the fire from heaven - had convinced David that here he had found the destined site of that “house” which it had been told him that his son should build 1Ch_22:10. This is the house of the Lord God; the place where the temple was to be built, hinted at in Deu_12:5 But you shall seek to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, even to His dwelling place you shall seek, and there you shall come.
With this chapter commences the second section of the history of David's kingship, viz., the account of the preparations, dispositions, and arrangements which he made in the last years of his reign for the establishment of his kingdom in the future under his successors. All these preparations and dispositions had reference to the firm establishment of the public worship of the Lord, in which Israel, as the people and congregation of the Lord, might show its faithfulness to the covenant, so as to become partakers of the divine protection, and the blessing which was promised. To build the temple-this desire the Lord had not indeed granted the fulfilment of to David, but He had given him the promise that his son should carry out that work. The grey-haired king accordingly made preparations, after the site of the house of God which should be built had been pointed out to him, such as would facilitate the execution of the work by his successor. Of these preparations our chapter treats, and in it we have an account how David provided the necessary labour and materials for the building of the temple (1Ch_22:2-5), committed the execution of the work in a solemn way to his son Solomon (1Ch_22:6-16), and called upon the chiefs of the people to give him their support in the work
1Ch 22:2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
The strangers that were in the land - Those who had become proselytes to the Jewish religion, at least so far as to renounce idolatry, and keep what were called the seven Noahic precepts. These were to be employed in the more servile and difficult parts of the work, in building the temple, and making preparations for it. Chiefly this was for the sake of a mystery in it, denoting that the Gentiles would be concerned in building the spiritual house and church of God, the temple was a type and figure of Zec_6:15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
The strangers that were in the land - the strangers, are the descendants of the Canaanites whom the Israelites had not destroyed when they took possession of the land, but had reduced to bondage. Partly the descendants of the old Canaanites (2Ch_8:7-10), from whom was exacted a tribute of bond service, and partly war captives (2Ch_2:7), reserved for the great work he contemplated.
masons to hew wrought stones - to dig them out of the quarries, and fit them for the building.
Workmen and materials for the building of the temple - In order to procure the necessary workmen, David commanded that the strangers in the land of Israel should be gathered together, and, as seen in 2Ch_2:16, also numbered.
1Ch 22:3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
For the joinings - the girders, or cramps - pieces of iron to be used in joining beams or stones together.
1Ch 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
Also cedar trees in abundance - To be sawed into boards and planks for the cieling, wainscotting, and flooring of the temple, and other things:
for the Zidonians, and they of Tyre - from Mount Lebanon, which was chiefly in their possession; and which they did either of themselves as a free gift and present to him, or at his request, for which he paid them; and this is another thing prefiguring the help of the Gentiles in building up the church of Christ in Gospel times. When Solomon began to build the temple, he made a regular treaty with Hiram king of Tyre about the delivery of the necessary cedar wood, 1Ki_5.
1Ch 22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Young and tender - The exact age of Solomon at this time is uncertain; but it cannot have been more than 24 or 25. It may have been as little as 14 or 15. One scholar supposes he was about twelve years of age, though he observes that the same word is used of Joshua when forty two years of age; one commentator thinks it is probable Solomon might be now about twenty:
Prepared abundantly before his death - And good reason, because it was intended for the honor of the great God, and was to be a type of Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, and in whom are hid all treasures.
1Ch 22:6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
and charged him to build an house for the Lord God -
David gives Solomon the reason why he should build the temple. Because God named him. Nothing is more powerful to engage us in any service for God, than to know that we are appointed thereto. David delivered to Solomon an account of the vast preparations he had made for this building; not from pride and vain-glory, but to encourage Solomon to engage cheerfully in the great work. He must not think, by building the temple, to purchase a dispensation to sin; on the contrary, his doing that would not be accepted, if he did not take heed to fulfill the statutes of the Lord.
Then he called for Solomon — The earnestness and solemnity of this address creates an impression that it was given a little before the old king’s decease. He unfolded his great and long cherished plan, enjoined the building of God’s house as a sacred duty on him as his son and successor, and described the resources that were at command for carrying on the work. The vast amount of personal property he had accumulated in the precious metals [1Ch_22:14] must have been spoil taken from the people he had conquered, and the cities he had sacked.
1Ch 22:7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
1Ch 22:8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
The word of the Lord came to me – Perhaps not by Nathan, but on some other occasion 1Ch_28:3 But God said to me, You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.
thou shall not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight - an intimation this, that the church of God, of which this house was a type, was to be built by Christ, the Prince of peace, and to be supported and maintained not by force of arms, and by spilling of blood, but by the preaching of the Gospel of peace.
Shed blood - Not that wars are simply unlawful, but to teach us that the church (whereof the temple was an illustrious type) should be built by Christ, the prince of peace, Isa_9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. and that it should be gathered and built up, not by might or power but by God's spirit, Zec_4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. and by the preaching the Gospel of peace. David therefore was less fit for that service, than one who had not been called to such bloody work. Likewise by setting him aside for this reason, God showed how precious human life is to him.
1Ch 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
His name shall be Solomon - Shelomoh, from shalam, he was peaceable; and therefore, says the Lord, alluding to the name, I will give Peace, Shalom, in his days. Solomon; which signifies peace. This was said to David before the birth of Solomon, 2Sa_7:12. He is one of the six persons that had their names given them before they were born.
1Ch 22:10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
he shall be my son, and I will be his father - 2Sa_7:13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. and which is applied to Christ, Heb_1:5 For to which of the angels did He say at any time, "You are My Son, this day I have begotten You?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?"
I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever - that is, for a long time in his posterity; and which will have its fulfillment in Christ, his antitype, in the utmost sense of the expression, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his throne for ever and ever, Luk_1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.
1Ch 22:11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
May the Lord be with thee - After David had so committed to his son Solomon the building of the temple, as task reserved and destined for him by the divine counsel, he wishes him the help of the Lord to carry out the work. Above all, however, he wishes him right understanding and insight from God and that God may establish him over Israel, furnish him with might and wisdom to rule over the people Israel.
1Ch 22:12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding - To manage and conduct an affair of such importance, as well as to govern the people.
1Ch 22:13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
Then shall thou prosper - 1Ki_2:2-3 where the same things are said as here: which shows that this was spoken by David a little before his death.
Be strong - David adopts the words of Moses to the Israelites. The condition of obtaining the result is the faithful observing of the commands of the Lord. The speech is filled with reminiscences of the law, Deu_7:11 And you shall keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which I command you today, to do them. Deu_11:32 And you shall be careful to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you today. and for the exhortation to be strong and of good courage, Deu_31:6 Be strong and of a good courage. Do not fear nor be afraid of them. For the LORD your God is He who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Jos_1:7 Only be strong and very courageous so that you may be careful to do according to all the law which My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may act wisely wherever you go. Jos_1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed. For the LORD your God is with you in all places where you go.
1Ch 22:14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
In my trouble - David refers to the manifold troubles of his reign, which had prevented him from accumulating very much treasure.
brass and iron without weight - for it is in abundance; there was so much of both, that it was too much trouble to take the weight and value of them:
1Ch 22:15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
1Ch 22:16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
arise therefore, and be doing - not that he should set about and begin the building the temple directly; but as soon as he could after he came to the throne, and not neglect and delay it:
1Ch 22:17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
1Ch 22:18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
Hath he not given you rest on every side - David at this time was not only king of Judea, but had also subdued most of the surrounding nations. Thus Solomon came to the Jewish throne with every possible advantage. Had he made a proper use of his state and of his talents, he would have been the greatest as well as the wisest of sovereigns. He began with an unlawful matrimonial connection; this led him to a commerce that was positively forbidden by the law of God: he then multiplied his matrimonial connections with heathen women; they turned his heart away from God, and the once wise and holy Solomon died a fool and an idolater.
1Ch 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord - His honor and glory, most sincerely and cordially, and to the utmost of their power:
to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord - which was now in a tent of David's erecting and pitching:
the holy vessels of God - which were in the tabernacle at Gibeon: into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord: that so they might be together, and made use of; which in times past had been separated, and much neglected.
