1 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, 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 Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 He 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 for ever.
11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents 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.
15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 Is 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 before the LORD, and before his people.
19 Now 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.
1 Then David H1732 said, H559 This is the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 God, H430 and this is the altar H4196 of the burnt offering H5930 for Israel. H3478
2 And David H1732 commanded H559 to gather together H3664 the strangers H1616 that were in the land H776 of Israel; H3478 and he set H5975 masons H2672 to hew H2672 wrought H1496 stones H68 to build H1129 the house H1004 of God. H430
3 And David H1732 prepared H3559 iron H1270 in abundance H7230 for the nails H4548 for the doors H1817 of the gates, H8179 and for the joinings; H4226 and brass H5178 in abundance H7230 without weight; H4948
4 Also cedar H730 trees H6086 in abundance: H369 H4557 for the Zidonians H6722 and they of Tyre H6876 brought H935 much H7230 cedar H730 wood H6086 to David. H1732
5 And David H1732 said, H559 Solomon H8010 my son H1121 is young H5288 and tender, H7390 and the house H1004 that is to be builded H1129 for the LORD H3068 must be exceeding H4605 magnifical, H1431 of fame H8034 and of glory H8597 throughout all countries: H776 I will therefore now make preparation H3559 for it. So David H1732 prepared H3559 abundantly H7230 before H6440 his death. H4194
6 Then he called H7121 for Solomon H8010 his son, H1121 and charged H6680 him to build H1129 an house H1004 for the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
7 And David H1732 said H559 to Solomon, H8010 My son, H1121 as for me, it was in my mind H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 unto the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 my God: H430
8 But the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to me, saying, H559 Thou hast shed H8210 blood H1818 abundantly, H7230 and hast made H6213 great H1419 wars: H4421 thou shalt not build H1129 an house H1004 unto my name, H8034 because thou hast shed H8210 much H7227 blood H1818 upon the earth H776 in my sight. H6440
9 Behold, a son H1121 shall be born H3205 to thee, who shall be a man H376 of rest; H4496 and I will give him rest H5117 from all his enemies H341 round about: H5439 for his name H8034 shall be Solomon, H8010 and I will give H5414 peace H7965 and quietness H8253 unto Israel H3478 in his days. H3117
10 He shall build H1129 an house H1004 for my name; H8034 and he shall be my son, H1121 and I will be his father; H1 and I will establish H3559 the throne H3678 of his kingdom H4438 over Israel H3478 for H5704 ever. H5769
11 Now, my son, H1121 the LORD H3068 be with thee; and prosper H6743 thou, and build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 as he hath said H1696 of thee.
12 Only the LORD H3068 give H5414 thee wisdom H7922 and understanding, H998 and give thee charge H6680 concerning Israel, H3478 that thou mayest keep H8104 the law H8451 of the LORD H3068 thy God. H430
13 Then shalt thou prosper, H6743 if thou takest heed H8104 to fulfil H6213 the statutes H2706 and judgments H4941 which the LORD H3068 charged H6680 Moses H4872 with concerning Israel: H3478 be strong, H2388 and of good courage; H553 dread H3372 not, nor be dismayed. H2865
14 Now, behold, in my trouble H6040 I have prepared H3559 for the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 an hundred H3967 thousand H505 talents H3603 of gold, H2091 and a thousand H505 thousand H505 talents H3603 of silver; H3701 and of brass H5178 and iron H1270 without weight; H4948 for it is in abundance: H7230 timber H6086 also and stone H68 have I prepared; H3559 and thou mayest add H3254 thereto.
15 Moreover there are workmen H6213 H4399 with thee in abundance, H7230 hewers H2672 and workers H2796 of stone H68 and timber, H6086 and all manner of cunning men H2450 for every manner of work. H4399
16 Of the gold, H2091 the silver, H3701 and the brass, H5178 and the iron, H1270 there is no number. H4557 Arise H6965 therefore, and be doing, H6213 and the LORD H3068 be with thee.
17 David H1732 also commanded H6680 all the princes H8269 of Israel H3478 to help H5826 Solomon H8010 his son, H1121 saying,
18 Is not the LORD H3068 your God H430 with you? and hath he not given you rest H5117 on every side? H5439 for he hath given H5414 the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 into mine hand; H3027 and the land H776 is subdued H3533 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and before H6440 his people. H5971
19 Now set H5414 your heart H3824 and your soul H5315 to seek H1875 the LORD H3068 your God; H430 arise H6965 therefore, and build H1129 ye the sanctuary H4720 of the LORD H3068 God, H430 to bring H935 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 and the holy H6944 vessels H3627 of God, H430 into the house H1004 that is to be built H1129 to the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068
1 Then David said, This is the house of Jehovah God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
2 And David commanded to gather together the sojourners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 and cedar-trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-trees in abundance to David.
5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Jehovah must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Jehovah, the God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.
8 But the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, 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 Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days:
10 he shall build a 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 for ever.
11 Now, my son, Jehovah be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken concerning thee.
12 Only Jehovah give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of Jehovah thy God.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred thousand talents 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.
15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all men that are skilful in every manner of work:
16 of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Jehovah be with thee.
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, `saying',
18 Is not Jehovah your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Jehovah, and before his people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.
1 And David saith, `This is the house of Jehovah God, and this the altar for burnt-offering for Israel.'
2 And David saith to gather the sojourners who `are' in the land of Israel, and appointeth hewers to hew hewn-stones to build a house of God.
3 And iron in abundance for nails for leaves of the gates, and for couplings, hath David prepared, and brass in abundance -- there is no weighing.
4 And cedar-trees even without number, for the Zidonians and the Tyrians brought in cedar-trees in abundance to David.
5 And David saith, `Solomon my son `is' a youth and tender, and the house to be built to Jehovah `is' to be made exceedingly great, for name and for beauty to all the lands; let me prepare, I pray Thee, for it;' and David prepareth in abundance before his death.
6 And he calleth for Solomon his son, and chargeth him to build a house to Jehovah, God of Israel,
7 and David saith to Solomon his son, `As for me, it hath been with my heart to build a house to the name of Jehovah my God,
8 and the word of Jehovah `is' against me, saying, Blood in abundance thou hast shed, and great wars thou hast made: thou dost not build a house to My name, for much blood thou hast shed to the earth before Me.
9 `Lo, a son is born to thee; he is a man of rest, and I have given rest to him from all his enemies round about, for Solomon is his name, and peace and quietness I give unto Israel in his days;
10 he doth build a house to My name, and he is to Me for a son, and I `am' to him for a father, and I have established the throne of his kingdom over Israel unto the age.
11 `Now, my son, Jehovah is with thee, and thou hast prospered, and hast built the house of Jehovah thy God, as He spake concerning thee.
12 Only, Jehovah give to thee wisdom and understanding, and charge thee concerning Israel, even to keep the law of Jehovah thy God;
13 then thou dost prosper, if thou dost observe to do the statutes and the judgments that Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel; be strong and courageous; do not fear, nor be cast down.
14 `And lo, in mine affliction, I have prepared for the house of Jehovah of gold talents a hundred thousand, and of silver a thousand thousand talents; and of brass and of iron there is no weighing, for in abundance it hath been, and wood and stones I have prepared, and to them thou dost add.
15 `And with thee in abundance `are' workmen, hewers and artificers of stone and of wood, and every skilful man for every work.
16 To the gold, to the silver, and to the brass, and to the iron, there is no number; arise and do, and Jehovah is with thee.'
17 And David giveth charge to all heads of Israel to give help to Solomon his son,
18 `Is not Jehovah your God with you? yea, He hath given rest to you round about, for He hath given into my hand the inhabitants of the land, and subdued hath been the land before His people.
19 `Now, give your heart and your soul to seek to Jehovah your God, and rise and build the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, to the house that is built to the name of Jehovah.'
1 And David said, This is the house of Jehovah Elohim, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
2 And David commanded to collect the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joists, and brass in abundance without weight;
4 and cedar-trees innumerable; for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-wood in abundance to David.
5 For David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Jehovah must be exceeding great in fame and in beauty in all lands: I will therefore make preparation for it. And David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 And he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Jehovah the God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, As for me, my son, I was minded to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.
8 But the word of Jehovah came to me saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, for thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, 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 Solomon, and in his days I will give peace and quietness unto Israel.
10 He shall build a house unto 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 for ever.
11 Now, my son, Jehovah be with thee, that thou mayest prosper, and build the house of Jehovah thy God, as he has said of thee.
12 Only, Jehovah give thee wisdom and understanding, and place thee over Israel, and to keep the law of Jehovah thy God.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to perform the statutes and ordinances which Jehovah commanded Moses for Israel: be strong and courageous; fear not, neither be dismayed.
14 And behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance; and timber and stone have I prepared; and thou shalt add to it.
15 And there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of skilful men for every kind of work.
16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing and Jehovah be with thee.
17 And David commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying,]
18 Is not Jehovah your God with you? and has he [not] given you rest on every side? for he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Jehovah, and before his people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek Jehovah your God; and arise and build the sanctuary of Jehovah Elohim, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the vessels of the sanctuary of God into the house that is to be built unto the name of Jehovah.
1 Then David said, This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
2 David commanded to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew worked stones to build the house of God.
3 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 and cedar trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
5 David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
7 David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God.
8 But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars: you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days:
10 he shall build a 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 for ever.
11 Now, my son, Yahweh be with you; and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
12 May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God.
13 Then shall you prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong, and of good courage. Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Yahweh one hundred thousand talents of gold, and one 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 you may add to them.
15 There are also workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of men who are skillful in every kind of work:
16 of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Yahweh be with you.
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying],
18 Isn't Yahweh your God with you? Hasn't he given you rest on every side? for he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Yahweh, and before his people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Yahweh your God; arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Yahweh.
1 Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar for Israel's burned offerings.
2 And David gave orders to get together all the men from strange lands who were in the land of Israel; and he put stone-cutters to work, cutting stones for building the house of God.
3 And he got together a great store of iron, for the nails for the doors and for the joins; and brass, more in weight than might be measured;
4 And cedar-trees without number, for the Zidonians and the men of Tyre came with a great amount of cedar-trees for David.
5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and untested, and the house which is to be put up for the Lord is to be very great, a thing of wonder and glory through all countries; so I will make ready what is needed for it. So David got ready a great store of material before his death.
6 Then he sent for his son Solomon, and gave him orders for the building of a house for the Lord, the God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, it was my desire to put up a house for the name of the Lord my God.
8 But the word of the Lord came to me saying, You have taken lives without number and made great wars; I will not let you be the builder of a house for my name, because of the lives you have taken on the earth before my eyes.
9 But you will have a son who will be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from wars on every side. His name will be Solomon, and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet;
10 He will be the builder of a house for my name; he will be to me a son, and I will be to him a father; and I will make the seat of his rule over Israel certain for ever.
11 Now, my son, may the Lord be with you; and may you do well, and put up the house of the Lord your God, as he has said of you.
12 Only may the Lord give you wisdom, and knowledge of his orders for Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
13 And all will go well for you, if you take care to keep the laws and the rules which the Lord gave to Moses for Israel: be strong and take heart; have no fear and do not be troubled.
14 Now see, poor though I am, I have got ready for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver; and a weight of brass and iron greater than may be measured; and wood and stone have I made ready, and you may put more to it.
15 And you have a great number of workmen, cutters and workers of stone and wood, and experts in every sort of work,
16 In gold and silver and brass and iron more than may be numbered. Up! then, and to work; and may the Lord be with you.
17 Then David gave orders to all the chiefs of Israel to give their help to Solomon his son, saying,
18 Is not the Lord your God with you? and has he not given you rest on every side? for the Lord has given the people of the land into my hands, and the land is overcome before the Lord and before his people.
19 Now give your heart and soul to the worship of the Lord your God; and get to work on the building of the holy place of the Lord God, so that you may put the ark of the Lord's agreement and the holy vessels of God in the house which is to be made for the name of the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 22
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 22 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 22
In this chapter we read of the place David pitched upon by divine direction for building the temple on, 1 Chronicles 22:1, the preparation he made of artificers to build it, and of matter to build it of, as iron, brass, and wood, 1 Chronicles 22:2, the charge and instructions he gave to Solomon to set about it, 1 Chronicles 22:6 and to the princes of Israel to assist him in it, 1 Chronicles 22:7.
Then David said,.... Within himself, or to some principal persons about him:
this is the house of the Lord God; the place where the temple was to be built, hinted at in Deuteronomy 12:5 and elsewhere; the meaning is, here, or in "this" place, shall be the house of God, so NoldiusF15Ebr. Concord. Part. p. 352. No. 1257. , for as yet there were none; but it was now made known to David that here it should be built, and so the words in 2 Chronicles 3:1 should be rendered:
then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, which was shown to David his father, which he prepared in the place of David, that which he bought in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite: and this is the altar for the burnt offering for Israel; not which he had built here; but this is the place where one should be built for the people of Israel to bring their offerings to, and to be here offered for them by the priests: this he said by a divine impulse upon his mind, or which he concluded from the acceptance of his sacrifice here, signified by fire that came down from heaven and consumed it; and this being in the threshingfloor of the Jebusites, might prefigure the church of God to be built up among the Gentiles.
And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel,.... The proselytes, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; that is, proselytes of the gate, who submitted to the seven precepts of Noah, were admitted to dwell in the Cities of Israel, see Genesis 9:4 and these were ordered to be got together to be employed in building the temple, and making preparations for it; and that partly because they were better artificers than the Israelites, who were chiefly employed in husbandry and cattle, and partly that the Israelites, who were freemen, might not be put to hard service; but chiefly this was for the sake of a mystery in it, denoting that the Gentiles would be concerned in building the spiritual house and church of God, the temple was a type and figure of, see Zechariah 6:15.
and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God; to dig them out of the quarries, and fit them for the building.
And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings,.... Great plenty of iron to make nails of for joining the boards together, of which the doors and gates were to be made, and for the fastening of the hinges of them:
and brass in abundance without weight; for making the altar of brass, and the laver of brass, and other vessels. Brass was much used by the Heathens in sacred things, as MacrobiusF16Saturnal. l. 5. c. 19. observes.
Also cedar trees in abundance,.... To be sawed into boards and planks for the cieling, wainscotting, and flooring of the temple, and other things:
for the Zidonians, and they of Tyre, brought much cedar wood to David; from Mount Lebanon, which was chiefly in their possession; and which they did either of themselves as a free gift and present to him, or at his request, for which he paid them; and this is another thing prefiguring the help of the Gentiles in building up the church of Christ in Gospel times.
And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender,.... Jarchi supposes he was about twelve years of age, though he observes that the same word is used of Joshua when forty two years of age; it is probable Solomon might be now about twenty:
and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: and such was the temple built by Solomon; it was renowned throughout the whole earth; never was there a temple equal to it, no, not the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, built by the assistance of many kings, and at the expense of all Asia, and was two hundred years in building:
I will therefore now, make preparation for it; seeing his son was so young, and this building to be so magnificent, though he himself was not admitted to build it:
so David prepared abundantly before his death; of which we have an after account in this chapter, and more largely in 1 Chronicles 28:1.
Then he called for Solomon his son,.... To be brought before him:
and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel; which charge was given a little before his death, after he had made great preparations for this work, as appears from 1 Chronicles 22:5.
And David said to Solomon,.... When brought into his presence:
my son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God; he was disposed and inclined to it, and was once determined upon it, see 2 Samuel 7:2.
But the word of the Lord came to me,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum, by the mouth of Nathan the prophet:
saying; as follows, which though not expressed in the book of Samuel before referred to, is here recorded by divine inspiration:
thou hast shed blood abundantly; Kimchi thinks this refers to the blood of Uriah, and those gallant men that were slain with him, and to the priests slain by the order of Saul, which David was the occasion of, or accidental cause of, 1 Samuel 22:22 and to many good men among the Gentiles; though it was the intention of the Lord to consume the wicked among them, that they might not prevail over Israel:
and hast made great wars: with the Philistines, Moabites, &c.
thou shall not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight; an intimation this, that the church of God, of which this house was a type, was to be built by Christ, the Prince of peace, and to be supported and maintained not by force of arms, and by spilling of blood, as the religion of Mahomet, but by the preaching of the Gospel of peace.
Behold, a son shall be born to thee,.... For this was said to David before the birth of Solomon, see 2 Samuel 7:12.
who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: and so should be at leisure for such a work, and his people enjoy great prosperity and riches, and so be capable of contributing largely and liberally to it:
for his name shall be Solomon; which signifies peace, and is one of the six persons that had their names given them before they were born, as the Jews observeF17Pirke Eliezer, c. 32. :
and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days; and so a proper time to begin and carry on such a work; of the fulfilment of this prophecy, see 1 Kings 4:24.
He shall build an house for my name,.... For the worship of God, and for his honour and glory:
and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; see 2 Samuel 7:13 and which is applied to Christ, Hebrews 1:5.
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever; that is, for a long time in his posterity; and which will have its fulfilment in Christ, his antitype, in the utmost sense of the expression, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his throne for ever and ever, Luke 1:32.
Now, my son, the Lord be with thee, &c. Or "shall be with thee"F18יהי "erit", Pagninus, Montanus; "futurus est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , as some; and if it be as a prayer, it was no doubt a prayer of faith; the Targum is,"may the Word of the Lord be thine help:"
and prosper thee; may success attend thee:
and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee; foretold he should, and therefore would assist him to do it, which was an encouragement to go about it.
Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding,.... To manage and conduct an affair of such importance, as well as to govern the people, as follows:
and give thee charge concerning Israel; or, when he gives, commits the charge of them to thee, sets thee king over them:
that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God; have wisdom and understanding to do that, and make that the rule of all thine actions, private and public, in thine own house, in the house of God, and in all things relative to that, and in the government of the nation.
Then shall thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes,.... See 1 Kings 2:2 where the same things are said as here: which shows that this was spoken by David a little before his death.
Now, behold, in my trouble,.... Or affliction, which had attended him, through the greater part of his reign, partly through wars abroad, and partly through rebellions and insurrections at home: or:
in my povertyF1בעניי "in paupertate mea", V. L. ; living in a frugal way, as if he had been a poor man, in order to lay up money for this purpose:
I have prepared for the house of the Lord; for the building of it, and for things to be used in it:
an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; a prodigious sum, be it reckoned as it will; the gold, according to ScheuchzerF2Physica Sacra, vol. 4. p. 631. was answerable to 1,222,000,000 ducats of gold; according to WaserusF3De Antiqu. Num. Heb. l. 2. c. 13. the talents of gold made six hundred millions of Hungarian pieces of gold, or 6000 tons of gold; our BrerewoodF4De Pond. & Pret. Vet. Num. c. 5. makes them to amount to 450,000,000 pounds; but this being a sum so excessive large as what exceeds the riches of any monarch read of in history, he thinksF5De Pond. & Pret. Vet. Num. c. 6. the word "kikkar" signifies a mass or cake of gold of an uncertain value; or that this talent was of a lesser value than the Mosaic one, as there were small talents in the times of HomerF6Vid. Suidam in voce ταλαντον. , as he observes, and some of different worth in various countries. The silver, taking gold to be in proportion to silver as ten to one, as it formerly was, is just of the same value with the gold; but Brerewood, who takes it to be as twelve to one, computes it at 375,000,000 pounds; but the proportion of gold to silver is now grown, as Bishop Cumberland observesF7Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 4. p. 121. , to above fourteen to one. According to Scheuchzer the silver talents amounted to 4,500,000,000 imperials or rix dollars; according to WitsiusF8Miscell. Sacr. 2. Exercit. 10. sect. 17. the gold and silver both amounted to 3000 and nine hundred millions of pieces of gold; but JosephusF9Antiqu. l. 7. c. 14. sect. 2. has reduced these sums very much, making them to be 10,000 talents of gold, and 100,000 of silver. Dr. PrideauxF11Connection, part 1. p. 6. says that what is said to be given by David here, and in 1 Chronicles 29:3 and by his princes, 1 Chronicles 29:6 if valued by the Mosaic talent, exceeded the value of eight hundred million of our money, which was enough to have built the whole temple of solid silver:
and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance; there was so much of both, that it was too much trouble to take the weight and value of them:
timber also and stone have I prepared; see 1 Chronicles 22:2.
and thou mayest add thereunto; which might easily be obtained, there being not a sufficiency of either of them prepared for the work.
Moreover, there are workmen with thee in abundance,.... All the strangers in the land being gathered by the order of David, 1 Chronicles 22:2 who were skilled in all manner of work, as follows:
hewers and workers of stone and timber; masons and carpenters:
and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work; joiners, carvers, &c.
Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron,.... That is, the cunning artificers were skilful to work in each of these, some in gold and silver, others in brass and iron:
there is no number; either of the workmen, or of these materials; which yet must be restrained to the brass and iron, for the gold and silver are numbered, but not the brass and iron, 1 Chronicles 22:14,
arise therefore, and be doing: not that he should set about and begin the building the temple directly; but as soon as he could after he came to the throne, and not neglect and delay it:
and the Lord be with thee; as in 1 Chronicles 22:11 and here, as there, the Targum is,"may the Word of the Lord be thy help.'
David also commanded all the princes of Israel,.... His courtiers and nobles that were about him:
to help Solomon his son; by their advice, and with their purses, should he need them, and by overlooking the workmen, directing and encouraging them:
saying; as follows.
Is not the Lord your God with you?.... Blessing them with wealth and riches:
and hath he not given you rest on every side? from all enemies within and without; so that they had peace and quietness, and leisure to attend the service he recommended to them:
for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; meaning the rest of the Canaanites, who before were unsubdued, as even the Jebusites in Jerusalem:
and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people; and the extent of it carried to its utmost bounds, as God had promised.
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God,.... His honour and glory, most sincerely and cordially, and to the utmost of their power:
arise ye, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God; assist therein, and encourage the work as much as they were able, without delay:
to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord; which was now in a tent of David's erecting and pitching:
and the holy vessels of God: which were in the tabernacle at Gibeon: into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord: that so they might be together, and made use of; which in times past had been separated, and much neglected.