1 Chronicles 29:29

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) Now the acts of David the king, first and last.—Literally, And the words (dibrê) of David the king, the former and the latter, behold they are written in “the words of Samuel the seer “(rô-eh), and in “the words of Nathan the prophet,” and in “the words of Gad the seer” (hôzeh). For “written in” the Hebrews said “written on.” (See Exodus 34:1; Isaiah 8:1.)

The acts of David.—Or, the matters, history of David. The Heb. dābār is (1) a word, (2) something spoken about, a matter, transaction, or event. (Comp. 1Chronicles 16:37; 2Kings 17:11; Genesis 15:1; 2Samuel 11:18-19.) Gesenius renders here: Et res gestae regis David . . . ecce eae scriptae in libro cui titulus, Res Samuĕlis (Thesaur., p. 722). As to the sources apparently cited by the chronicler in this passage, see the remarks in the Introduction.

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:29. They are written in the book of Samuel the seer — In the two books of Samuel, as they are now called, which were written in part by Samuel while he lived, and continued after his death by Nathan and Gad. And in the book of Nathan, and the book of Gad — In the public registers, or chronicles of the kingdom, which were written by Nathan and Gad, who were not only prophets, but historiographers, out of which, either they or some other prophets took, by the direction of God’s Spirit, such passages as were most important and useful for the churches in succeeding ages.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

This great assembly joined with David in adoring God. Whoever is the mouth of the congregation, those only have the benefit who join him, not by bowing down the head, so much as by lifting up the soul. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord. Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the character of the works alluded to, see Introduction to Chronicles.

Gad the seer - Gad is not given here the same title as Samuel. Samuel's title is one, apparently, of higher dignity, applied only to him and to Hanani 2 Chronicles 16:7, 2 Chronicles 16:10. Gad's is a far commoner title; it is applied to his contemporaries Asaph 2 Chronicles 29:30, Heman 1 Chronicles 25:5, and Jeduthun 2 Chronicles 35:15, to Iddo 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15, to Jehu, the son of Hanani 2 Chronicles 19:2, and to the prophet Amos Amo 7:12. When "seers" are spoken of in the plural, it is the term almost universally used, only one instance Isaiah 30:10 occurring to the contrary.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1Ch 29:26-30. His Reign and Death.

26. Thus David … reigned—(See 1Ki 2:11).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Either in the two Books of Samuel, as they are now called, which were written part by Samuel, and part by Nathan and Gad; or in the annals or chronicles of that kingdom, which were written by Nathan and Gad, who were not only prophets, but historiographers or annalists; out of which they or some other prophets took, by the direction of God’s Spirit, such passages as were most important and useful to the church and to the world in succeeding ages.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Now the acts of David the king, first and last,.... All that he did that was memorable, both before he was king, and when king in Hebron, and then in Jerusalem:

behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer; which were journals of his life and actions, begun by Samuel, and carried on by Nathan and Gad; out of which what is recorded in canonical Scripture was taken by divine direction, and preserved, while other writings are lost; or rather the book of Samuel designs the first book of Samuel, and the books of Nathan and Gad the second book of Samuel, by whom it was written.

Geneva Study Bible

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of {o} Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

(o) The books of Nathan and Gad are thought to have been lost in the captivity.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29. they are written] See Introduction, § 5, The Sources.

in the book] R.V. in the history, lit. words. The Book of Chronicles itself is called in Hebrew, The words (or the acts) of the days.

Samuel the seer] Cp. 1 Samuel 9:9; 1 Samuel 9:19.

Nathan the prophet] See 2 Samuel 7:2 (= 1 Chronicles 17:1); 2 Samuel 12:1; 1 Kings 1:8-39.

Gad the seer] See 2 Samuel 24:11 (= 1 Chronicles 21:9) Gad the prophet, David’s seer.

In the Hebrew Samuel is rôeh (seer), Nathan, nâbî (prophet), and Gad ḥôzeh (seer).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - The Hebrew word here translated acts is identical with the words translated three times afterwards in this verse book. A uniform rendering for all might be found in the general word "history" or "acts." The question as to the probable nature of these works, and whether identical with our Books of Samuel, has been treated of in the Introduction. The Hebrew word for "seer," applied in this verse to Samuel, is הָרֹאֶה. And that applied to Gad, though the Authorized Version has the same translation, "seer," is הָחזֶה. There can be no doubt that the word applied to Samuel would, under any circumstances, stand as the higher of the two names, were there any comparison intended between them. This is confirmed by the fact that it is found used only of him (1 Samuel 9:9, 11, 18, 19; 2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 26:28; 1 Chronicles 29:29) and of Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:7, 10), whereas the word applied to Gad in this verse is the generic name for seers, and is used several times in the Books of Chronicles of other persons than Gad. At the same time, the parenthesis in 1 Samuel 9:9, to the effect that the word here used of Samuel as seer (הָרֹאֶה) was superseded in later times (as, for instance, at the time of the writing of the Books of Samuel) by the word prophet (נֶבִיא), compared with Isaiah 30:10, points in a somewhat different direction. In the first place, it would indicate that our Authorized Version in Isaiah 30:10 should rather stand, "Which say to the prophets, Prophesy not, and to the seers," etc. While for our present passage it would indicate that no insidious comparison is possible between Samuel and Gad as seers, but rather that Samuel retains the old honoured name by which he had been wont to be called, and that to Nathan is with equal naturalness attached the more modern name - the functions represented being essentially the same, or at least analogous. 1 Chronicles 29:29

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

On the authorities cited see the Introduction. וגו כּל־מלכוּתו עם goes with כּתוּבים הנּם: the acts of David ... are written ... together with his whole reign and his power, and the times which went over him. העתּים, the times, with their joys and sorrows, as in Psalm 31:16; Job 24:1. The kingdoms of the lands (cf. 2 Chronicles 12:8; 2 Chronicles 17:10; 2 Chronicles 20:29) are the kingdoms with which the Israelites under David came into contact-Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Aram.