3 But God H430 said H559 unto me, Thou shalt not build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 because thou hast been a man H376 of war, H4421 and hast shed H8210 blood. H1818
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
Thou knowest H3045 how that David H1732 my father H1 could H3201 not build H1129 an house H1004 unto the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 his God H430 for H6440 the wars H4421 which were about him on every side, H5437 until the LORD H3068 put H5414 them under the soles H3709 of his feet. H7272
Go H3212 and tell H559 my servant H5650 David, H1732 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Shalt thou build H1129 me an house H1004 for me to dwell in? H3427 Whereas I have not dwelt H3427 in any house H1004 since the time H3117 that I brought up H5927 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of Egypt, H4714 even to this day, H3117 but have walked H1980 in a tent H168 and in a tabernacle. H4908 In all the places wherein I have walked H1980 with all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 spake H1696 I a word H1697 with any H259 of the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 whom I commanded H6680 to feed H7462 my people H5971 Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Why build H1129 ye not me an house H1004 of cedar? H730 Now therefore so shalt thou say H559 unto my servant H5650 David, H1732 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 I took H3947 thee from the sheepcote, H5116 from following H310 the sheep, H6629 to be ruler H5057 over my people, H5971 over Israel: H3478 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, H1980 and have cut off H3772 all thine enemies H341 out of thy sight, H6440 and have made H6213 thee a great H1419 name, H8034 like unto the name H8034 of the great H1419 men that are in the earth. H776 Moreover I will appoint H7760 a place H4725 for my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and will plant H5193 them, that they may dwell H7931 in a place of their own, and move H7264 no more; neither shall the children H1121 of wickedness H5766 afflict H6031 them any more, H3254 as beforetime, H7223 And as since the time H3117 that I commanded H6680 judges H8199 to be over my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and have caused thee to rest H5117 from all thine enemies. H341 Also the LORD H3068 telleth H5046 thee that he will make H6213 thee an house. H1004 And when thy days H3117 be fulfilled, H4390 and thou shalt sleep H7901 with thy fathers, H1 I will set up H6965 thy seed H2233 after H310 thee, which shall proceed H3318 out of thy bowels, H4578 and I will establish H3559 his kingdom. H4467 He shall build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 and I will stablish H3559 the throne H3678 of his kingdom H4467 for H5704 ever. H5769
But the LORD H3068 said H559 to David H1732 my father, H1 Forasmuch as it was in thine heart H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 thou didst well H2895 in that it was in thine heart: H3824 Notwithstanding H7535 thou shalt not build H1129 the house; H1004 but thy son H1121 which shall come forth H3318 out of thy loins, H2504 he shall build H1129 the house H1004 for my name. H8034
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 28
1Ch 28:1-8. David Exhorts the People to Fear God.
1. David assembled all the princes of Israel—that is, the representatives of the people, the leading men of the kingdom, who are enumerated in this verse according to their respective rank or degree of authority.
princes of the tribes—(1Ch 27:16-22). Those patriarchal chiefs are mentioned first as being the highest in rank—a sort of hereditary noblesse.
the captains of the companies—the twelve generals mentioned (1Ch 27:1-15).
the stewards, &c.—(1Ch 27:25-31).
the officers—Hebrew, "eunuchs," or attendants on the court (1Sa 8:15; 1Ki 22:9; 2Ki 22:18); and besides Joab, the commander-in-chief of the army, the heroes who had no particular office (1Ch 11:10-12:40; 2Sa 23:8-39). This assembly, a very mixed and general one, as appears from the parties invited, was more numerous and entirely different from that mentioned (1Ch 23:2).
2. Hear me, my brethren, and my people—This was the style of address becoming a constitutional king of Israel (De 17:20; 1Sa 30:23; 2Sa 5:1).
I had in mine heart—I proposed, or designed.
to build an house of rest—a solid and permanent temple.
for the footstool of our God—God seated between the cherubim, at the two extremities of the ark, might be said to be enthroned in His glory, and the coverlet of the ark to be His footstool.
and had made ready for the building—The immense treasures which David had amassed and the elaborate preparations he had made, would have been amply sufficient for the erection of the temple of which he presented the model to Solomon.
3. thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood—The church or spiritual state of the world, of which the temple at Jerusalem was to be a type, would be presided over by One who was to be pre-eminently the Prince of Peace, and therefore would be represented not so fitly by David, whose mission had been a preparatory one of battle and conquest, as by his son, who should reign in unbroken peace.
4, 5. he hath chosen Solomon—The spirit of David's statement is this:—It was not my ambition, my valor, or my merit that led to the enthronement of myself and family; it was the grace of God which chose the tribe, the family, the person—myself in the first instance, and now Solomon, to whom, as the Lord's anointed, you are all bound to submit. Like that of Christ, of whom he was a type, the appointment of Solomon to the kingdom above all his brethren was frequently pre-intimated (1Ch 17:12; 22:9; 2Sa 7:12-14; 12:24, 25; 1Ki 1:13).
7. I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments—The same condition is set before Solomon by God (1Ki 3:14; 9:4).
8. Now … in the sight of all Israel, … keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord, &c.—This solemn and earnest exhortation to those present, and to all Israel through their representatives, to continue faithful in observing the divine law as essential to their national prosperity and permanence, is similar to that of Moses (De 30:15-20).
1Ch 28:9-20. He Encourages Solomon to Build the Temple.
9, 10. And thou, Solomon my son—The royal speaker now turns to Solomon, and in a most impressive manner presses upon him the importance of sincere and practical piety.
know thou—He did not mean head knowledge, for Solomon possessed that already, but that experimental acquaintance with God which is only to be obtained by loving and serving Him.
11. Then David gave to Solomon … the pattern—He now put into the hands of his son and successor the plan or model of the temple, with the elevations, measurements, apartments, and chief articles of furniture, all of which were designed according to the pattern given him by divine revelation (1Ch 28:19).
12. the pattern of all that he had by the spirit—rather, "with him in spirit"; that is, was floating in his mind.
15, 16. the candlesticks of silver—Solomon made them all of gold—in this and a few minor particulars departing from the letter of his father's instructions, where he had the means of executing them in a more splendid style. There was only one candlestick and one table in the tabernacle, but ten in the temple.
18, 19. the chariot of the cherubim—The expanded wings of the cherubim formed what was figuratively styled the throne of God, and as they were emblematical of rapid motion, the throne or seat was spoken of as a chariot (Ps 18:10; 99:1). It is quite clear that in all these directions David was not guided by his own taste, or by a desire for taking any existing model of architecture, but solely by a regard to the express revelation of the divine will. In a vision, or trance, the whole edifice, with its appurtenances, had been placed before his eyes so vividly and permanently, that he had been able to take a sketch of them in the models delivered to Solomon.
20. Be strong and of good courage—The address begun in 1Ch 28:9 is resumed and concluded in the same strain.
21. behold, the courses of the priests and Levites—They were, most probably, represented in this assembly though they are not named.
also the princes and all the people—that is, as well the skilful, expert, and zealous artisan, as the workman who needs to be directed in all his labors.