30. camels--These were probably in the countries east of the Jordan, and hence an Ishmaelite and Nazarite were appointed to take charge of them.
31. rulers of the substance that was king David's--How and when the king acquired these demesnes and this variety of property--whether it was partly by conquests, or partly by confiscation, or by his own active cultivation of waste lands--is not said. It was probably in all these ways. The management of the king's private possessions was divided into twelve parts, like his public affairs and the revenue derived from all these sources mentioned must have been very large.
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]; ; 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]; ).
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 ([Psa 18:10]; ). 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.
Chapter 29
[1Ch 29:1-9]. David Causes the Princes and People to Offer for the House of God.
1-2. Solomon ... is yet young and tender--Though Solomon was very young when he was raised to the sovereign power, his kingdom escaped the woe pronounced ([Ec 10:16]). Mere childhood in a prince is not always a misfortune to a nation, as there are instances of the government being wisely administered during a minority. Solomon himself is a most illustrious proof that a young prince may prove a great blessing; for when he was but a mere child, with respect to his age, no nation was happier. His father, however, made this address before Solomon was endowed with the divine gift of wisdom, and David's reference to his son's extreme youth, in connection with the great national undertaking he had been divinely appointed to execute, was to apologize to this assembly of the estates--or, rather, to assign the reason of his elaborate preparations for the work.
3-4. Moreover ... I have of mine own proper good, &c.--In addition to the immense amount of gold and silver treasure which David had already bequeathed for various uses in the service of the temple, he now made an additional contribution destined to a specific purpose--that of overlaying the walls of the house. This voluntary gift was from the private fortune of the royal donor, and had been selected with the greatest care. The gold was "the gold of Ophir," then esteemed the purest and finest in the world ([Job 22:24]; ; [Is 13:12]). The amount was three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver.
5. who then is willing to consecrate his service--Hebrew, "fill his hand"; that is, make an offering ([Ex 32:29]; [Le 8:33]; [1Ki 13:33]). The meaning is, that whoever would contribute voluntarily, as he had done, would be offering a freewill offering to the Lord. It was a sacrifice which every one of them could make, and in presenting which the offerer himself would be the priest. David, in asking freewill offerings for the temple, imitated the conduct of Moses in reference to the tabernacle ([Ex 25:1-8]).
6-8. Then the chief of the fathers--or heads of the fathers ([1Ch 24:31]; ).
princes of the tribes--([1Ch 27:16-22]).
rulers of the king's work--those who had charge of the royal demesnes and other possessions ([1Ch 27:25-31]).
offered willingly--Influenced by the persuasive address and example of the king, they acted according to their several abilities, and their united contributions amounted to the gross sum--of gold 5,000 talents and 10,000 drams; and of silver, 10,000 talents, besides brass and iron.
10-19. Wherefore David blessed the Lord--This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervor of devotional feeling--in the ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to the care and blessing of God.
20. all the congregation ... worshipped the Lord, and the king--Though the external attitude might be the same, the sentiments of which it was expressive were very different in the two cases--of divine worship in the one, of civil homage in the other.
21-22. they sacrificed ... And did eat and drink--After the business of the assembly was over, the people, under the exciting influence of the occasion, still remained, and next day engaged in the performance of solemn rites, and afterwards feasted on the remainder of the sacrifices.
23. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord--As king of Israel, he was the Lord's vicegerent.
24. submitted themselves--Hebrew, "put their hands under Solomon," according to the custom still practised in the East of putting a hand under the king's extended hand and kissing the back of it ([2Ki 10:15]).
[1Ch 29:26-30]. His Reign and Death.
26. Thus David ... reigned--(See [1Ki 2:11]).