5 For I have not dwelt in H3427 an house H1004 since the day H3117 that I brought up H5927 Israel H3478 unto this day; H3117 but have gone from tent H168 to tent, H168 and from one tabernacle H4908 to another.
On the first H7223 day H3117 of the first H259 month H2320 shalt thou set up H6965 the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation. H4150 And thou shalt put H7760 therein H8033 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and cover H5526 the ark H727 with the vail. H6532
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 The heaven H8064 is my throne, H3678 and the earth H776 is my footstool: H7272 H1916 where is the house H1004 that ye build H1129 unto me? and where is the place H4725 of my rest? H4496 For all those things hath mine hand H3027 made, H6213 and all those things have been, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 but to this man will I look, H5027 even to him that is poor H6041 and of a contrite H5223 spirit, H7307 and trembleth H2730 at my word. H1697
Our G2257 fathers G3962 had G2258 the tabernacle G4633 of witness G3142 G1722 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 as G2531 he had appointed, G1299 speaking G2980 unto Moses, G3475 that he should make G4160 it G846 according G2596 to the fashion G5179 that G3739 he had seen. G3708 Which G3739 also G2532 our G2257 fathers G3962 that came G1237 after brought in G1521 with G3326 Jesus G2424 into G1722 the possession G2697 of the Gentiles, G1484 whom G3739 God G2316 drave out G1856 before G575 the face G4383 of our G2257 fathers, G3962 unto G2193 the days G2250 of David; G1138 Who G3739 found G2147 favour G5485 before G1799 God, G2316 and G2532 desired G154 to find G2147 a tabernacle G4638 for the God G2316 of Jacob. G2384 But G1161 Solomon G4672 built G3618 him G846 an house. G3624 Howbeit G235 the most High G5310 dwelleth G2730 not G3756 in G1722 temples G3485 made with hands; G5499 as G2531 saith G3004 the prophet, G4396 Heaven G3772 is my G3427 throne, G2362 and G1161 earth G1093 is my G3450 footstool: G4228 G5286 what G4169 house G3624 will ye build G3618 me? G3427 saith G3004 the Lord: G2962 or G2228 what G5101 is the place G5117 of my G3450 rest? G2663 Hath G4160 not G3780 my G3450 hand G5495 made G4160 all G3956 these things? G5023
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 17
This chapter contains an account of David's intention to build an house for God, which, he signified to Nathan the prophet, who first encouraged him to it; but afterwards was sent by the Lord to him with an order to desist from it, assuring him, at the same time, that his son should build it, and that his own house and kingdom should be established for ever; for which David expressed great thankfulness, the whole of which is related in 2 Samuel 7:1 with some little variation, see the notes there; only one thing has since occurred, which I would just take notice of, that here, 1 Chronicles 17:5 as there also, it is said by the Lord, that he had "not dwelt in an house since the day he brought up Israel out of Egypt"; which seems to suggest that he had dwelt in one before, as has been hinted on 2 Samuel 7:6 even while the people of Israel were in Egypt, though it is nowhere mentioned by Moses, or any other writer; yet it is not unreasonable to suppose it; for as the ancestors of the Israelites, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when only travellers from place to place, built altars for God wherever they came; so their posterity, it is highly probable, not only did the same, but when they found themselves settled in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, might build places of worship; and when we consider the wealth of Joseph, and his family, and indeed of all Israel, who enjoyed for many years great plenty, prosperity, and liberty, before their servitude, the vast numbers they increased to and the long continuance of them in Egypt, more than two hundred years; it will not seem strange that they should build houses for religious worship, and even one grand and splendid for public service, to which also they might be led by the example of the Egyptians; who, as Herodotus saysF9 , were the first that erected altars, images, and temples to the gods, and who in the times of Joseph had one at On, where his father-in-law officiated as priest, Genesis 41:45 or rather to this they might be directed by some hints and instructions of their father Jacob before his death, who it is certain had a notion of a Bethel, an house for the public worship of God, Genesis 28:17 and I find a learned manF11Dickinson. Physic. vet. & vera, c. 19. sect. 24. of our own nation of this opinion, and which he founds upon this passage; and he supposes the house God dwelt in, in Egypt, was not a tent of goats' hair, as in the wilderness, but a structure of stones or bricks, a firm and stable house, such an one as Abraham built at Damascus when settled there; which continued to the times of Augustus Caesar, as related by Nicholas of DamascusF12Apud. Joseph. Antiqu. l. 1. c. 7. sect. 2. . See 2 Samuel 7:1.cf13 (i) Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 4.
See Chapter Introduction