Bible Commentaries

CHAPTER 29 The Final Words and Actions of David and His Death

1. The exhortation (1 Chronicles 29:1-5)

2. The response (1 Chronicles 29:6-9)

3. David’s praise and prayer (1 Chronicles 29:10-20)

4. The sacrifices and enthronement of Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:21-25)

5. The reign of David and his death (1 Chronicles 29:26-30)

Then David spoke once more to the assembled princes and captains. What tenderness and concern as well as devotion his words reveal! “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.” Once more the aged king speaks of the vast preparations he had made for the house of God. He would also contribute largely from his own treasures. The gold and silver, precious and glistening stones amounted in value to many million dollars. The gold of Ophir mentioned was the purest and finest known in that day (Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Isaiah 13:12). And all he had done was “because I have set my affection to the house of my God.” He loved it so much and therefore he gave and consecrated such vast treasures. And here we may remember Him who was richer than David, who gave more than David ever could give. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). After he had told of his own devotion he said, “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?” The Hebrew is “to fill his hand today to Jehovah.” It means that whosoever gave willingly, as he himself had done, would fill his hand with a free will offering unto the Lord. Christian giving should always be looked upon in this light. It is giving unto the Lord. And David’s great liberality and example brought a great response. An immense offering was given.

“Drams” is in Hebrew “daric,” a Persian gold coin weighing about 130 grains. The word is found also in Ezra 8:27. It was probably called “daric” after Darius and therefore shows that Chronicles was written after the captivity.

“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.” The joy of giving took hold of all. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). How great must have been the joy of the king as he beheld the fruits of his own devotion in the willingness of his people! And here again we must think once more of our Lord. It is His gracious example in giving Himself for us, His people, which will lead us on to sacrifice, to give, to spend and be spent. And how great His joy if His people follow thus after Him.

It is a great inspired outburst of David which follows. How He praises! Verses 10-13 are one of the greatest outbursts of praise and worship found in the Old Testament. Then what humility! “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 ... all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.” A most beautiful sight is an aged saint whom God hath used and honored and who is humble. Alas! how many become lifted up and walk in pride. Then David prayed for the people and for his son Solomon. “And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the King” (verse 20). All foreshadows that day of which we read in Psalms 110:3, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” That will be when the King, the Prince of Peace, will take His glorious throne, when He begins to rule.

After the large number of sacrifices had been brought and they had eaten before the Lord on that day with great gladness, Solomon was made king the second time, even as his father David passed through the same experience. This double event has no doubt a definite typical meaning in connection with our Lord in as much as both, David and Solomon, are types of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Solomon was made king the first time he was but anointed with oil (1 Kings 1:39) and acclaimed as king, but he did not occupy the kingly throne. But when he was made king the second time he sat upon the throne “and all Israel obeyed him.” “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.” We see therefore (though no commentaries mention it) that these two occasions are typical of the first and the second coming of our Lord. Our Lord was anointed king when He came the first time, but He received not the throne. When He comes the second time He receives the throne and God will bestow upon Him “royal majesty” and “all Israel” will obey Him.

Then follows the record of the reign and death of David. There is no clash between the account of David’s last days in the closing chapters of the second book of Samuel and the opening chapters of First Kings. The record in Chronicles is in fullest keeping with the purpose and object of this book. Blessing and grace is manifested to the end, and David’s failings are passed over.