Ch. 1 Chronicles 28:1-8 (cp. 1 Chronicles 22:17-19). David’s charge to the chief men of Israel concerning the building of the Temple

1. the princes of the tribes] Cp. 1 Chronicles 27:16-22.

the captains of the companies] See 1 Chronicles 27:1-5.

that ministered to] R.V. that served (as in 1 Chronicles 27:1).

the stewards] R.V. the rulers (as 1 Chronicles 27:31). The A.V. has translated the same Hebrew word (sârîm) in this verse by three different English words, viz., princes, captains, and stewards. See 1 Chronicles 27:25-31.

possession.] R.V. possessions, mg. cattle.

officers] R.V. mg. eunuchs; the earlier authorities however for David’s reign (in the books of Samuel) do not mention such officials; and they were perhaps introduced into the Israelite court at a later time. Yet cp. 1 Samuel 8:15.

and with all the valiant men] R.V. even all the mighty men of valour.

2. stood up upon his feet] Kings sometimes made orations sitting; cp. Acts 12:21. Here the king stands to mark the greatness of the occasion.

my brethren] The king is the brother of his subjects; Deuteronomy 17:15; Deuteronomy 17:20; cp. Psalm 45:7.

I had in mine heart] See 1 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Samuel 7:2.

a house of rest] Cp. 1 Chronicles 17:5; 2 Samuel 7:6.

the footstool] Cp. Isaiah 60:13.

and had made ready] R.V. and I had made ready.

3. thou hast been a man of war] R.V. thou art a man of war. See note on 1 Chronicles 22:8.

4. before all the house] R.V. out of all the house. See 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

king … for ever] i.e. the kingdom is to abide with David and his descendants.

ruler] R.V. prince; Hebrew nâgîd. Cp. 1 Chronicles 5:2 (A.V. “chief ruler,” R.V. “prince”).

he liked me] R.V. he took pleasure in me.

5. many sons] Cp. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9.

he hath chosen Solomon] The earlier histories (Samuel, Kings) do not say that God chose Solomon as David’s successor; but compare 2 Samuel 12:24-25; 1 Kings 1:11-14.

the throne of the kingdom of the Lord] Cp. 1 Chronicles 29:23, the throne of the Lord. The Chronicler speaks as one who regards the king as the deputy of the Lord.

6. he shall build my house] Cp. 1 Chronicles 22:10.

7. Moreover I will establish] R.V. And I will establish. Cp. 1 Chronicles 17:11.

if he be constant] Lit. if he be strong; cp. 1 Chronicles 28:10; 1 Chronicles 28:20, be strong (same word in Heb.). Cp. 1 Kings 9:4-5.

8. and seek for] R.V. and seek out. The same Hebrew word is used 1 Chronicles 13:3, we sought not unto it (i.e. the ark) in the days of Saul (R.V.).

that ye may possess this good land] possess = inherit. The Heb. word connotes three different ideas, which may all have been present to the mind of the speaker, viz. (1) continued holding of the land by passing it from father to son (cp. Exodus 20:12), (2) completion of the work of conquest left unfinished by Joshua (cp. Genesis 24:60), (3) enjoyment of the fruits of the land (cp. Psalm 25:13).

9–21. David’s Charge to Solomon

9. know thou the God of thy father] For this use of know cp. Exodus 5:2; Isaiah 1:3; Jeremiah 31:34.

with a perfect heart] i.e. with a single, undivided heart. In 2 Chronicles 15:17 the heart of king Asa is described as perfect, because he took no part in the idolatrous practices which prevailed in his day. Faithfulness to Jehovah, not moral perfection, is implied in phrases of this kind.

the Lord searcheth] Cp. Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord’s detection of secret idolatry (Ezekiel 8).

10. hath chosen thee] See on 1 Chronicles 28:5.

11. the pattern] Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:12; Exodus 25:9. The Temple like the tabernacle is to be constructed according to a pattern or model communicated by inspiration. Cp. Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:3.

of the porch] R.V. of the porch of the temple. The triple-recurring thereof refers to the Temple.

the porch] Cp. 2 Chronicles 3:4; 1 Kings 6:3.

the houses thereof] Cp. 2 Chronicles 34:11. We should expect here a mention of the House itself.

the treasuries] A different Hebrew word from that used in 1 Chronicles 28:12. The inner treasuries mentioned here were for treasure; the outer treasuries (1 Chronicles 28:12) were perhaps rather store-chambers.

upper chambers] R.V. upper rooms. Cp. 1 Kings 6:6 (the Hebrew word however is different).

inner parlours] R.V. inner chambers, probably inner recesses of the Temple itself.

the place of the mercy seat] The Holy of Holies.

12. that he had by the spirit] i.e. that had come to him by revelation and rested with him waiting for realisation. R.V. marg., that he had in his spirit, a less likely translation.

of the courts] The last verse dealt with the Temple itself; this one with the courts and detached buildings.

chambers] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:26, note.

the treasuries] The same Hebrew word as in 1 Chronicles 26:20 (treasures, A.V.); Nehemiah 13:12; Nehemiah 13:15. See note on 1 Chronicles 28:11.

dedicate things] 1 Chronicles 26:26-28; 2 Chronicles 15:18.

13. also for the courses] Render, Also in regard to the courses. 1 Chronicles 28:13-18 hang closely together; cp. the punctuation of the R.V.; and the summarizing phrase All this of 1 Chronicles 28:19.

of the priests and the Levites] Cp. 1 Chronicles 24:1-31.

14. He gave of gold by weight for things of gold] R.V. of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, omitting he gave, because the completion of the sense is reserved (as in 1 Chronicles 28:13) until 1 Chronicles 28:19.

instruments] R.V. vessels.

silver also] R.V. of silver.

15. even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold] R.V. by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold.

of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof] R.V. of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof.

16. by weight he gave gold] R.V. the gold by weight. Cp. R.V. of 1 Chronicles 28:14.

tables of shewbread] Elsewhere only one table for the shewbread is mentioned; cp. 2 Chronicles 29:18; Exodus 35:13; Exodus 37:10; Exodus 40:22.

and likewise silver] R.V. and silver. The silver tables are not mentioned elsewhere; probably they stood in some of the chambers (1 Chronicles 28:12) of the Temple courts for the use of the Levites in their work.

17. also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups] R.V. and the fleshhooks, and the basons, and the cups, of pure gold.

fleshhooks] Exodus 27:3; 1 Samuel 2:13.

bowls] R.V. basons; Hebrew mizrâq. These were used for dashing the blood of a victim against the altar. Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:22.

the cups] Probably the same as the flagons (R.V.) of Exodus 25:29 which were used for pouring out the drink offering (to pour out withal, R.V.).

and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason] R.V. and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl. Cp. R.V. of 1 Chronicles 28:14; 1 Chronicles 28:16.

and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver] R.V. and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl.

18. the altar of incense] 2 Chronicles 26:16; Exodus 30:1-10.

the chariot of the cherubims] R.V. the chariot, even the cherubim. Cp. Ezekiel 1:5-10; Ezekiel 1:15-17.

19. All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern] The “writing” here mentioned probably means not a book, but a plan or series of patterns shewn to him in a vision. Cp. Exodus 25:9.

20. Be strong] God’s help in the planning is a pledge of God’s help in the accomplishment. Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:10, 1 Chronicles 22:13. The work was great, and Solomon young; 1 Chronicles 22:5.

until thou hast finished all the work …] R.V. until all the work … be finished.

21. the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee] R.V. there are the courses of the priests and the Levites.

for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man] R.V. in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill.

also the princes] R.V. also the captains.