Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 1. Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen.] And therefore ye ought to accept, since fatherly affection hath not miscarried me, as once it did Isaac toward Esau, to set him above the rest of my sons upon the throne; but God, in whose will ye ought to rest satisfied, hath done it.

Is yet young and tender.] Puellus est et tenellus. Married he was, as appeareth by Rehoboam’s age, [1 Kings 12:13] but not yet come to man’s estate: and young in comparison of some other of my sons, who are older than he: young also to undertake so great a work, &c. He was much about eighteen, at which age every Jew at this day is bound to marry, else he is accounted as one that liveth in sin. ^(a)

And the work is great.] See 1 Chronicles 22:5.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 2. Now I have prepared.] This he speaketh not of vainglory, but to God’s glory, [1 Chronicles 29:10] and for the good example of his princes and people. Of Vespasian it is said that he was imperio maximus, exemplo maior, and that he did segnes exemplo incitare saepius quam coercere, ^(a) prevail with his subjects most of all by his own good practice. David did so much more; he knew well that examples are the best lectures, and virtue the best example.

Onyx stones.] These are white stones, like the white of a man’s nail, whence also they have their name.

Glistering stones.] Heb., Stones of ornament: lapides fuci, Vatablus rendereth it: qui scilicet intuentibus fucum facerent, saith A Lapide, stones that deceive the beholders with seeming shows: such as are agates: you would think that there were in them the pictures of trees, of birds, of swimming islands, &c. Stones "of fair colours" such stones are called in Isaiah 54:11.

And all manner of precious stones.] Whereof see Exodus 28:17-21, Ezekiel 28:13; Plin. Nat. Hist. passim, Rueum de Gemmis, &c.

And marble stones in abundance.] The Vulgate hath it, Et marmor Parium abundantissime. Paros is an island - one of the Cyclades - that yieldeth the best marble: no question but David had provided the very best of the best for this use, to be foundation stones. [1 Kings 5:17]

1 Chronicles 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,

Ver. 3. The house of my God.] His interest in God, and love to his house, made him thus liberal. He could have found in his heart to have done as Tithonus and his son Memnon are said by Cassiodorus ^(a) to have done, in building of the city Susa in Persia: they joined the stones together with gold.

I have of mine own proper good.] Ex meo peculio, Out of my cabinet cash.

Which I have given.] Love is liberal: woe to Church robbers.

1 Chronicles 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]:

Ver. 4. To overlay the walls.] Ad in crastandos parietes. The walls of the temple were overlaid with gold, and the walls of the other buildings adjoining to the temple, with silver.

1 Chronicles 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?

Ver. 5. And who then is willing?] For Virtus nolentium nulla est. See Exodus 35:5. God careth not for that which is given with grudging. [2 Corinthians 9:7]

To consecrate his service.] Heb., To fill his hand, viz., with gold and other gifts.

1 Chronicles 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,

Ver. 6. Offered willingly.] Liberales se exhibuerunt operas et opes sponte conferentes, Their obedience was prompt and present, their contribution large and liberal.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 7. And ten thousand drams.] Shillings, some render it: the Rabbis say the word signifieth a piece of silver money, the value whereof is now not known; the Septuagint render it drams both here and in Ezra 8:27. The word here used, saith one, signifieth to do some great work, for it is Adarchon, which cometh of Adar, strong or mighty, and Con, to prepare; because money is the monarch of the world, and bears most mastery: but others, with more likelihood, say that Adarchon is made of the Greek Dραχμη, quales sunt nonnullae vocis Chaldaicae et Syracae.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 8. Precious stones.] Whereof see twelve distinct kinds set down in Exodus 28:17-21.

By the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.] This Jehiel, of the posterity of Moses, took a note of each man’s gift.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 9. Because with perfect heart.] Void of hypocrisy or vain glory; and such, for the most part, have a habitual cheerfulness, as shaping their course by the chart of God’s word, and approving their hearts and lives to him in "simplicity and godly sincerity," which is the mother of serenity and joy.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 10. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation.] Though he was neither priest nor Levite. It is no disparagement to the greatest to perform service to the Most High in the great congregation.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory.] David beginneth somewhat like as the Lord’s Prayer endeth: and here we have a pattern of a larger prayer, as there of a short. All these excellencies and all others are in God originally, essentially, eminently, transcendently. Of him we are to think as of one not to be thought of.

And thou art exalted as head above all.] Tu superemines omnibus veluti omnium caput.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee.] See Proverbs 10:22, Psalms 75:6-7. {See Trapp on "Proverbs 10:22"} {See Trapp on "Psalms 75:6"} {See Trapp on "Psalms 75:7"}

1 Chronicles 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

Ver. 13. And praise thy glorious name.] With our hearts, lips, and offerings, even the best of our substance, professing that we could esteem thee yet more and better if it were in our power. A thankful man is worth his weight in gold; he giveth the glory of all that he enjoyeth to God alone, like as solid bodies reflect the sun’s heat.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 14. But who am I, and what is my people?] This question showeth that David had a low mind in a lofty conversation, ^(a) which is a high commendation.

That we should be able to offer so willingly.] "It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do," [Philippians 2:13] and he can easily put into the hearts of his richer servants to relieve the poorer; yea, to hold it an honour, as here, that they may be so employed as almoners to the Most High.

And of thine own have we given thee.] Tα σα εκ των σων, as that good emperor wrote about his rich communion table in the temple of Sophia in Constantinople, dedicated to Jesus Christ; that is, Thine own things, and of thine own, do we thy servants Justinian and Theodora present unto thee, O thou Son and Word of God, who wast incarnated and crucified for us, beseeching thee graciously to accept the same, &c. ^(b) Bernard reporteth of Pope Eugenius, that meeting with a poor but honest bishop, he secretly gave him certain rich jewels wherewith he might present him. In like sort dealeth God by his poor servants, crowning his own graces in them, and accepting them for his own "comeliness," which himself hath "put upon them." [Ezekiel 16:14]

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 15. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners.] How, then, can we do better than deposit what we have in thy hands, and lay up treasure in heaven by laying it (lavishing, some may think it) out upon thy holy house, and so laying hold on eternal life; [1 Timothy 6:19] for here, alas, we have no abiding place, [Hebrews 13:14] and, as strangers, we are tenuis admodum fortunae, little worth.

As were all our fathers.] Who freely acknowledged it, [Genesis 47:9 Hebrews 11:13] and carried themselves accordingly.

Our days on the earth are as a shadow.] A shadow of smoke, ^(a) a dream of a shadow, ^(b) as the heathen could say. A shadow seemeth to be something, when indeed it is nothing; so is man’s life: and the longer this shadow seemeth to be, the nearer their sun is to setting, who put far away from them the thoughts of death.

And there is none abiding.] Heb., Expectation of long life, or good days on earth.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 16. And is all thine own.] See on 1 Chronicles 29:14.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 17. I know … that thou triest the heart.] see Proverbs 17:3, {See Trapp on "Proverbs 17:3"} It was David’s comfort that he had to do with a heart searching God: for though the "sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness surprise the hypocrites," neither are they able to "dwell with devouring fire," that is, to stand before the holy God, yet "he that walketh uprightly and speaketh righteously shall dwell on high," [Isaiah 33:14-16] shall look God in the face with everlasting comfort, and dare appeal unto him, as here, for the uprightness of his heart - as touching the main - in performance of his service.

And hast pleasure in uprightness.] See on Psalms 51:6.

In the uprightness of my heart.] Sincero, recto et candido corde, I can boldly and safely say it.

1 Chronicles 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:

Ver. 18. Keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people.] David finding in them that float of good affections, that heat and height, he prays heartily that God would, porro fovere, keep up their hearts in that holy temper, fix their quicksilver, fire up their spirits more and more to a holy contention in godliness, and give them "with full purpose of heart to cleave" to himself, as Barnabas expresseth it. [Acts 11:23] Lo, this is David’s remarkable prayer - as one well styleth it - for his people; and this should be our continual request unto God for ourselves and others. For it is with holy affections, saith a grave divine, as with exotic noble plants; this country is not so kindly for them, being but a stepmother to them: therefore they must be much watered and cherished by prayer, and all good endeavour.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 19. To keep thy commandments.] To yield unto thee "the obedience of faith." Learn here what to pray for in the behalf of our children. A child of many such prayers cannot easily miscarry.

And to do all these things.] Potius sabaudiendium alia, saith Vatablus, To do all other things given him in charge.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 20. Now bless the Lord your God.] David was excellent at this, viz., stirring up others to join with him in praising God. See on Psalms 34:3; Psalms 103:20.

And worshipped the Lord.] With a religious worship.

And the king.] With a civil reverence.

1 Chronicles 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:

Ver. 21. A thousand bullocks.] This was beyond those heathenish hecatombs, ^(a) for which some are so renowned in histories.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 22. And did eat and drink before the Lord.] So should we in all our feasts and merry meetings: to feed without fear is a foul fault.

With great gladness.] For they had also that continual feast of a good conscience. [Proverbs 15:15]

And they made Solomon … king the second time.] For the first time [1 Kings 1:38-39] it was done hastily, suddenly, and in a manner tumultuarily, by reason of Adonijah’s sedition; but this here was done with good respite and great solemnity, but whether before or after David’s death is questionable.

And Zadok to be priest.] Abiathar being deposed, and the house of Eli cashiered, as that man of God had foretold. [1 Samuel 2:27-36]

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 23. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord.] Every royal throne is the Lord’s; for he is King of kings, and all kings are a Deo aut missi, aut permissi, God’s substitutes. But the throne of Israel was the Lord’s by a specialty. Josephus calleth that commonwealth a Theocracy, or God government; and the people were called Judge; as Prosper conceiteth - because they received ius Dei, a law given by God, who himself was sovereign Lord and law giver. Solomon also, sitting upon this throne, was a lively type of the Lord Christ and his kingdom. [Luke 1:32]

And prospered.] This was the fruit of his father’s fervent prayers for him. [1 Chronicles 22:11]

1 Chronicles 29:24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

Ver. 24. And all the sons likewise of king David.] This was much, since some of them were his elder brethren, and came of more noble mothers; but David had so clearly convinced them of God’s will that Solomon should succeed him, and God in addition so wrought their hearts, that after Adonijah’s death they all submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. Heb., Gave the hand under Solomon the king; haply they laid their hand under his thigh - that ancient ceremony, [Genesis 24:2; Genesis 47:29] - and sware to be faithful to him.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 25. And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly.] Summe; Heb., Sursum; setting him aloft.

As had not been on any king before him in Israel.] God had done the like - but not in like mercy - for Nebuchadnezzar, [Daniel 2:37-38; Daniel 5:18-21] but especially for Trajan, who raised the Roman empire unto the very highest pitch of glory, and spread the power of their command into the largest circuit that ever before or since hath been possessed.

1 Chronicles 29:26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

Ver. 26. Thus David the son of Jesse reigned.] Albeit he swam to the throne through a sea of sorrows; and so must all saints to the kingdom of heaven, which is such as all the sufferings of this life present are in no comparison worthy of. [Romans 8:18]

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 27. And the time, &c.] See on 1 Kings 2:11.

1 Chronicles 29:28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

Ver. 28. And he died in a good old age.] Heb., With a good gray head; εν τη ευγηρια; where met happily γηρας and γερας, old age and honour. Having lived a fruitful and gracious life, he closed up all with a happy and blessed death, having his faith at his finger ends, and an abundant entrance into heaven. [2 Peter 1:10-11]

Full of days, riches, and honour.] So that, if he might have had more of these, and longer time to enjoy them, he would not. As willing he was to leave the world, as ever he was to rise from the board when he had well dined.

In the book of Samuel the seer, &c.] In the two books of Samuel composed by these three prophets.

1 Chronicles 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.

Ver. 30. And the times that went over him.] The good and evil occurrents; for the prosperity of the best, like checker work, is interwoven with crosses, and David had his part of both.

Soli Deo Gloria