Bible Commentaries

This chapter, which consists entirely of new matter, helps to fill up the gap which had been left by the earlier authors between 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Kings 1.

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 1 Chronicles 22:10. Hence, this public announcement.

The strangers - i. e., the aliens the non-Israelite population of the land. Compare 2 Chronicles 2:17.

For the joinings - i. e., the girders, or cramps - pieces of iron to be used in joining beams or stones together.

See the marginal references and notes; 1 Chronicles 14:1.

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. Compare the 1 Kings 2:2 note.

The word of the Lord came to me … - Not by Nathan 1 Chronicles 17:4-15, but on some other occasion 1 Chronicles 28:3. On the bloody character of David‘s wars, see 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Samuel 8:5; 2 Samuel 10:18; 2 Samuel 12:31; and 1 Kings 11:16.

For the names of Solomon, compare 2 Samuel 12:24 note. The former name prevailed, probably on account of this prophecy, which attached to the name the promise of a blessing.

Be strong … - David adopts the words of Moses to the Israelites (compare the marginal references) and to Joshua.

In my trouble - See the margin. David refers to the manifold troubles of his reign, which had prevented him from accumulating very much treasure.

An hundred thousand talents of gold … - We do not know the value of the Hebrew talent at this period, and therefore these numbers may be sound. But in that case we must suppose an enormous difference between the pre-Babylonian and the post-Babylonian talents. According to the value of the post-Babylonian Hebrew talent, the gold here spoken of would be worth more than 1 billion of our British pounds sterling, while the silver would be worth ahove 400 million pounds. Accumulations to anything like this amount are inconceivable under the circumstances, and we must therefore either suppose the talents of David‘s time to have been little more than the 100th part of the later talents, or regard the numbers of this verse as augmentcd at least a hundredfold by corruption. Of the two the latter is certainly the more probable supposition.