1David in a solemn assembly, having declared God's especial favour toward him, and the promises made to his son Solomon, exhorteth all in general to the fear of God. 9His particular charge to Solomon to serve the Lord, and to build the temple. 11He giveth him patterns for the form, and gold and silver for the materials. 20He encourageth him with assurances of divine and human assistance.
1AND1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and 2the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and 3of his sons, with 4the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
1 In this chapter the writer of this book returns to the history which he had begun in 1 Chronicles 22.
2 See likewise of the same in 1 Chron. 27:1, etc.
3 Other, his sons.
4 See the annotation on Gen. 37:36.
2Then David the king 5stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build 6an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the 7footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
5 By his standing up he did signify the honor that he bare to the Word of God, which he had received from God, and intended to declare the same before the congregation. Compare Judges 3:20.
6 Namely, the temple, in which the ark might safely rest, without being anymore removed or carried from one place to another, as heretofore often happened. See 2 Sam. 7:1.
7 Thus the Ark of the Covenant is called, forasmuch as the Lord did dwell upon it between the cherubims, 2 Sam. 6:2, and gave answer.
3Buta God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed 8blood.
a 2 Sam. 7:5; 1 Kings 5:3; 1 Chron. 22:8.
8 Hebr. bloods.
4Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel 9for ever: for he hath chosen 10Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me tob make me king over all Israel:
9 That is, my life-time, as long as I live, for, that is the time period of men, but in respect of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, it is an everlasting Kingdom, which shall never end, Luke 1:33. See 2 Sam. 7:13.
10 That is, the tribe of Judah. See Gen. 49:8; 1 Chron. 5:2.
b 1 Sam. 16:12.
5And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6And hec said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and Id will be his father.
c 2 Sam. 7:13; 2 Chron. 1:9.
d 2 Sam. 7:14.
7Moreover I will establish his kingdom 11for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, 12as at this day.
11 See verse 4.
12 That is, as unto this day he has been instructed, and hitherto, according to the good instruction, has been carefully diligent in keeping My commandments.
8Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, 13keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
13 For seek and keep; that is, give diligence to seek and to maintain.
9¶And thou, Solomon my son, know thou 14the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for thee LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth 15all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
14 That is, of this God, Who took pleasure in me (as verse 4), and Whom I have served faithfully.
e 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 29:17; Psalm 7:9; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Rev. 2:23.
15 That is, all what men are able to think or imagine.
10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, 16and do it.
16 That is, perfect it, finish it.
11¶Then David gave to Solomon his son the 17pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parloursf thereof, and of the place 18of the mercy seat,
17 Compare Exod. 25 on verse 40.
f rooms
18 This was the covering that lay upon the Ark of the Covenant, upon which the cherubims stood, and was as the throne or chair of God. But by the mercy seat he understands the Ark of the Covenant itself, which was to be put into the most holy place of the temple.
12And the pattern of all that 19he had 20by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, 21of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
19 That is, in his mind.
20 Namely, by the Holy Spirit, Who revealed unto David how all these things were to be made in the temple, verse 19, as God had formerly revealed unto Moses also the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all other things that he was to make besides, and showed and declared unto him all things upon the mount. See Exod. 31:3.
21 Namely, to keep in treasures. Other, of the treasures, understanding a type or pattern of the places wherein the treasures were to be kept, or a pattern of the treasures themselves.
13Also 22for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.
22 See of these courses in the chapters 24; 25; 26.
14He gave of 23gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments 24of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments 25of every kind of service:
23 The vessels and instruments of gold were used in the temple, in the place which was called the holy; but the vessels or instruments of silver were used in the court of the priests. Other, of the gold according to the weight of gold; understanding that here is continued the type or pattern of all things.
24 Hebr. of service, and of service; that is, as well of the service that was done in the sanctuary as of what was done in the court.
25 The same as in annotation #24.
15Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and 26for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
26 Hebr. of the candlestick, of the candlestick. And so here below.
16And by weight he gave gold 27for the tables of shewbread, 28for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
27 Namely, upon which the showbread was set in order according to God’s command given by Moses.
28 Hebr. for table and table.
17Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and 29the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight 30for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
29 Wherein they received the blood of the sacrifices, and wherewith they sprinkled the altar in the sacrifices. See Exod. 24:6.
30 Hebr. for cup and cup.
18And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern 31of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
31 As such he calls the cherubims, because, by the special tokens of His presences, the Lord is said to dwell between the cherubims. See 1 Sam. 4:4. And they are said to be His chariot. See Psalm 18:10; Ezek. 1:24, 25, 26; 10:13, 16.
19All this, said David, 32the LORD made me understand 33in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
32 Or, He (namely, the LORD) gave me to understand, etc.
33 Thus then did David not act here out of an absolute royal power, ordaining the service of God according to his own fancy and imagination, but he did this as a prophet of God, 2 Chron. 8:14, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as verse 12, and also by Gad and Nathan, 2 Chron. 29:25. Thus God also showed a type or pattern unto Moses of all things that he should make, Exod. 25:40; 26:30; Heb. 8:5.
20And David said to Solomon his son, Beg strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
g Deut. 31:7, 8; Joshua 1:7.
21And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy 34commandment.
34 Or, words, or, works.