1Ch 29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
The palace - The original word here used is the Hebrew form of a Persian word, and generally designates the residence of the Persian monarch Est_1:2, Est_1:5; Est_2:3, Est_2:8; Neh_1:1; Dan_8:2. It is only here and in 1Ch_29:19 that it is applied to the temple.
What is done in works of piety and charity, should be done willingly, not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. David set a good example. This David offered, not from constraint, or for show; but because he had set his affection to the house of God.
1Ch 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
Glistering stones - Rather, “colored stones;” or, “dark stones” - stones of a hue like that of the antimony wherewith women painted their eyes.
Marble stones - or “white stones” which is found near Damascus. Josephus says that the temple was built of large blocks of white marble, beautifully polished, so as to produce a most splendid appearance. These were used for pillars, tables, and pavement; this was Parian marble, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; the whitest of marble, found the island of Paros.
1Ch 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
Of mine own proper good - from his own private estate. He makes the offering publicly in order to provoke others by his example 1Ch_29:5.
because I have set my affection to the house of my God - Had a good will to it, and was earnestly desirous of having it built, and that in a grand manner:
1Ch 29:4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
1Ch 29:5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
To consecrate his service - Hebrew, “fill his hand” to give largely and liberally towards building an house for the service and worship, honor and glory, of God; The words contain an appeal to the assembly for voluntary offerings.
1Ch 29:6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,
1Ch 29:7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
Dram - The word here translated “dram” is regarded by most critics as the Hebrew equivalent of the Persian “daric,” or ordinary gold coin.
1Ch 29:8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite – who with his sons, had the care of that treasury, 1Ch_27:21.
1Ch 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord - not grudgingly, but cheerfully; not pressed and urged to it; not by constraint, but freely, and that with a pure view to the honor and glory of God:
1Ch 29:10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
Lord God of Israel our Father - the phrase, "our father", does not belong to the God of Israel, their father by covenant and adoption, but to Israel, or Jacob, the ancestor of the Jewish nation; who is made mention of on this occasion, he being the first that spoke of building an house for God, as some Jewish writers, Jarchi and Kimchi, observe, see Gen_28:22.
1 Chronicles 29:10-19
Wherefore David blessed the Lord — This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervor of devotional feeling - in the ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to the care and blessing of God.
1Ch 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine - they are both made by him, and all that is in them, and therefore he has the sole right unto them:
thine is the kingdom, O Lord - of nature and Providence; he has the sole dominion over all creatures, and the sovereign disposal of all things:
thou art exalted as head above all - men on earth, and angels in heaven.
1Ch 29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
1Ch 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
1Ch 29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
But who am I - Originally dust and ashes, a sinful creature, unworthy to receive anything from God, and of having the honor of doing anything for him:
what is my people - subject to him, the least of all people, separated from the nations round about them, and despised by them:
that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort - that they, who were a poor people, some years ago brought out of Egyptian bondage, should now be possessed of such an affluence, and have such a generous heart and liberal spirit given them, as to contribute in so large and liberal a manner as they had done; all was owing to the goodness of God to them, and the efficacy of his grace upon them:
1Ch 29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
our days on the earth are as a shadow - man's life is expressed by days, not months and years, being so short; and by days on earth, in distinction from the days of heaven, or eternity; and these said to be as a shadow, of a short continuance, empty, mutable, and uncertain, dark and obscure, quickly gone, like the shadow of the sun; and not only like that, but, as the Targum states, of a bird that is flying, which passes away at once. This sentiment is expressed in Isaiah and the New Testament. Isaiah 40:6-8 The voice said, Cry! And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the beauty of it is as the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the Spirit of the LORD blows on it; surely the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God shall stand forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.
For we are strangers - Heb_11:13 These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
1Ch 29:16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
All thine own - In like manner we ought to acknowledge God in all spiritual things: referring every good thought, good desire, and good work to his grace.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
1Ch 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people - let the same disposition of mind always continue in them to serve the Lord their God:
prepare their heart unto thee - incline and dispose their minds always to fear the Lord, and obey his will.
1Ch 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
Give unto Solomon a perfect heart - This he did, but Solomon abused his mercies.
to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes - All the laws of God, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, even to observe them cordially and sincerely:
1Ch 29:20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.
worshipped the Lord, and the king —of divine worship in the one, of civil homage in the other. . Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.
1Ch 29:21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:
With their drink-offerings - The Targum says a thousand drink-offerings, making these libations equal in number to the other offerings.
And sacrifices - These were peace-offerings, offered for the people, and on the flesh of which they feasted.
1Ch 29:22 And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.
And did eat and drink — After the business of the assembly was over, the people, under the exciting influence of the occasion, still remained, and next day engaged in the performance of solemn rites, and afterwards feasted on the remainder of the sacrifices.
King the second time - Solomon’s first appointment was at the time of Adonijah’s rebellion. As that appointment was hurried and, comparatively speaking, private, David now thought it best formally to invest Solomon a second time with the sovereignty, in the face of all Israel. For a similar reason a second and public appointment of Zadok alone to the high priest’s office took place. Abiathar was not as yet absolutely thrust out; but it may be doubtful whether he was ever allowed to perform high priestly functions after his rebellion 1Ki_1:7; 1Ki_2:27.
King the second time - The first time of his being anointed and proclaimed king was when his brother Adonijah affected the throne; and Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah anointed and proclaimed him in a hurry, and without pomp. 1Ki_1:39.
Zadok to be priest - high priest; which office yet he did not exercise till after the death of David, when Abiathar was thrust out by Solomon. This action of theirs, the anointing Zadok, did not, actually constitute him high - priest, but only settled the reversion of it upon him and his line after Abiathar's death; even as David's making Solomon king, and their anointing Solomon to be the chief governor here, did not put him into actual possession of the kingdom, but only gave him a right to it after the present king's death: hence, notwithstanding this anointing, Abiathar continued to exercise his office 'till Solomon thrust him out, 1Ki_2:27.
1Ch 29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord - The throne of David is called here “the throne of the Lord,” as in 1Ch_28:5 it is called “the throne of the kingdom of the Lord,” because God had set it up and had promised to establish it.
the throne of the Lord - which is the throne of Israel, so called because the Lord himself was in a peculiar manner the king and governor of Israel. He had the founding, he had the filling of their throne, by immediate direction.
all Israel obeyed him - at once; whereas it was some time, even years, before all Israel obeyed David.
The remarks on Solomon's accession and reign contained in these verses are necessary to the complete conclusion of a history of David's reign, for they show how David's wishes for his son Solomon, whom the Lord chose to be his successor, were fulfilled.
1Ch 29:24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.
1Ch 29:25 And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly before all Israel - By giving him such a large share of wisdom and understanding in government:
bestowed upon him such royal majesty - not only such wealth and riches, but such honor and reverence:
1Ch 29:26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
The writer having mentioned the anointing of Solomon and upon that occasion proceeded to give a farther account of Solomon's actual settlement in his kingdom, returns to his main business, to give an account of the close of David's reign and life.
1Ch 29:27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
1Ch 29:28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
And he died in a good old age - Being seventy years of age:
1Ch 29:29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
The acts of David - All that he did that was memorable, both before he was king, and when king in Hebron, and then in Jerusalem: Those which concerned him in private life, as well as those which grew out of his regal government. All these were written by three eminent men, personally acquainted with him through the principal part of his life; these were Samuel and Gad the seers, and Nathan the prophet. These writings are all lost, except the particulars interspersed in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, none of which are the records mentioned here.
behold, they are written in the books - of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer; which were journals of his life and actions, begun by Samuel, and carried on by Nathan and Gad; out of which what is recorded in canonical Scripture was taken by divine direction, and preserved, while other writings are lost.
1Ch 29:30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
The times that went over him - The transactions of his reign, and the occurrences and vicissitudes in his own kingdom, as well as those which were over all the kingdoms of the countries, i.e., in the surrounding nations, in most of which David had a share during his forty years’ reign.
