1David foreknowing the place of the temple, maketh large preparations for the building of it. 6He instructeth Solomon in the promises made to him by God, and chargeth him with his duty in building the house. 17He chargeth the princes of Israel to assist his son in the work.
1THEN David said, 1This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
1 Other, Here is the house; namely, where the threshingfloor was of Ornan the Jebusite. As if David said: I perceive now that God has made choice of this place, that He will dwell there, and that we must ordinarily serve Him there, forasmuch as He has now answered me by fire from heaven, 1 Chron. 21 :26. See Deut. 12:5, 6, 7.
2And David commanded to gather together the 2strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew 3wrought stones to build the house of God.
2 These strangers were men who dwelt among the people of Israel and served as hirelings. See 2 Chron. 2:17; 8:7.
3 Hebr. stones of hewing; that is, which are suitable to be hewed and cut.
3And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings;a and brass in abundance 4without weight;
a clamps, fittings
4 That is, so much that it could not be weighed or counted. Also verse 4.
4Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
5And David said, Solomon my son is 5young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical,b6of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
5 That is, he is yet but a young man; yet he had a wife at that time, as may be reckoned from Rehoboam’s age, 2 Chron. 12:13.
b magnificent
6 That is, that it shall become famous and renowned in all the world by reason of its beauty and costliness.
6¶Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
7And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, 7it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
7 That is, I intended, or purposed.
8But the word of the LORD 8came to me, saying, 9Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, becausec thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
8 Namely, by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. 7:17.
9 This is not so to be understood as if just wars, which are made upon good grounds, were forbidden by God, but because the temple was to be a type and figure of the church, whereof Christ is the Head, Who is the Prince of Peace, and has made peace between God and us. Therefore His Kingdom, which is a Kingdom of Peace, is likewise typified by Solomon, who reigned in peace.
c 1 Chron. 28:3.
9Behold, 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 10Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 That is, peaceful, or peaceable.
10Hed 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 11for ever.
d 2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Kings 5:5.
11 This promise of an everlasting kingdom is properly made good in Christ Jesus, Luke 1:33, whereof Solomon’s transitory kingdom was a type.
11Now, my son, 12the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Other, the LORD shall be with thee, etc.
12Only the LORD give thee 13wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 Or, understanding and reason; or, courage and ingenuity.
13Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: bee strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
e Deut. 31:7, 8; Joshua 1:7.
14Now, behold, 14in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand 15talents 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 That is, during the troubles and miseries of the combats and wars, which I have waged.
15 See Exod. 25 on verse 39.
15Moreover there are 16workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Hebr. doers of the work.
16Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and 17the LORD be with thee.
17 Other, the Lord shall be with thee.
17¶David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18Is 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 18before the LORD, and before his people.
18 That is, to the service of God, and to the use and benefit of the people of Israel.
19Now 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.