Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. 1. Then] The word refers back to 1 Chronicles 21:28, At that time.David said] The king acts in conformity with the law contained in Deuteronomy 12:5-6. 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. 2–5. David’s Preparations for Building the Temple2. the strangers] Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:17; 2 Chronicles 8:7 … 9 (R.V.). Hewing of stone was regarded as task-work unit for free men. wrought stones] All the stone used for the building of the Temple was previously cut to the right size; cp. 1 Kings 6:7. 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; 3. the joinings] R.V. the couplings.Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 4. the Zidonians and they of Tyre] Cp. 1 Kings 5:1-6 (15–20, Heb.).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. 5. exceeding magnifical] The Temple took seven years in building, and it was richly overlaid with gold, but its proportions were small, viz., about 90 ft. × 45 ft. × 30 ft. Some have regarded it as merely the king’s private chapel, but its small proportions do not of themselves prove this view to be correct. In any case the “House” was not intended to contain the congregation; the courts must be large to accommodate those who came up for the three great feasts, but the Temple itself need only be large enough to hold its furniture.Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
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: 6–16. David’s Charge to Solomon7. said to Solomon, My son] R.V. said to Solomon his son (so C’thîb); A.V. follows the K’rî. unto the name] Cp. Deuteronomy 12:5; 2 Samuel 7:13. 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. 8. Thou hast shed blood abundantly] Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:3; in 1 Kings 5:3 Solomon tells Hiram that David wished to build a temple, but was hindered from his design by war.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. 9. I will give him rest] Cp. 1 Kings 5:4. The promise here made is of a period of peace sufficiently long for the work of Temple-building. Solomon’s reign was not wholly peaceful; cp. 1 Kings 11:14; 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Kings 11:26.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. 10. for ever] Cp. 2 Samuel 7:13-16.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.
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. 12. wisdom] R.V. discretion.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. 13. be strong, and of good courage] Cp. Joshua 1:9.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. 14. in my trouble] Render with R.V. marg. in my low estate. LXX. κατὰ τὴν πτωχείαν μου.an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver] This sum is incredibly large. In 1 Kings 10:14 it is told in illustration of the wealth of Solomon—a wealthier king than David—that he received in one year 666 talents of gold, but even at this rate David would have amassed only 26,640 talents in forty years. The tradition from which the Chronicler drew expresses itself here in round and exaggerated numbers. 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. 15. all manner of cunning men for every manner of work] R.V. all men that are cunning in any manner of work.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. 16. Arise therefore] R.V. omits therefore.David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
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. 17–19. David’s Charge to the Princes18. the inhabitants of the land] Cp. 1 Chronicles 11:4, the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. The remnant of the earlier inhabitants of Canaan is meant. 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. 19. and the holy vessels of God] Cp. 1 Kings 8:4.CHAPTER 23 Ch. 1 Chronicles 23:1. Solomon made King The summary statement of the Chronicler ignores the struggle between the party of Solomon and the party of Adonijah for the throne. Cp. 1 Chronicles 29:22-24; 1 Kings 1:5-53. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
    |