1 Chronicles 22

1 Chronicles 22:1

THis is the house] This threshing-floor (Chap. 21. 18.) is the place where God will have his house to be built, and his altar to be erected.

1 Chronicles 22:2

the strangers] Such as are mentioned, 2 King. 9. 20, 21.

wrought stones] Heb. stones of cutting. See the Notes on 1 Kings 5:17.

1 Chronicles 22:3

without weight] It would have been too great a task to have weighed all, and too great a charge to have been accountable for all by weight: see 1 Kings 7:47. 2 Kings 25:16.

1 Chronicles 22:4

Zidonians] See the Notes on 1 Kings 5:6.

Tyre] See the Notes on 1 Kings 5:1.

1 Chronicles 22:5

Solomon my son, &c.] Chap. 29. 1.

young] See the Notes on 1 Kings 3:7.

magnificall] In the fabrick it self, and in the ornaments appertaining thereto: it was one of the worlds wonders.

1 Chronicles 22:7

it was in my minde] See 2 Sam. 7. 2, &c.

unto the Name, &c.] See the Notes on 1 Kings 8:16.

1 Chronicles 22:8

the word of the Lord] By the ministery of Nathan 2 Sam. 7. 5, &c.

Thou hast shed, &c.] Chap. 28. 3. Though this reason be not expressed, yet it is implied, 2 Samuel 7:9. And it sheweth, that, albeit just war, and just execution of death on capitall malefactors be lawfull, yet shedding of blood indefinitely, is in Gods account a strange work, Isaiah 28:23.

because thou hst shed, &c.] Hereby is implied, That a man of war who sheddeth much blood, is not, in that respect, so fit a type of him who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14.) and the chief builder of the Christian Church, as a man of peace making peace. See verse 9.

1 Chronicles 22:9

Solomon] That is peaceable; and therein a fit type of the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6.) and the more fit to build so fair and sumptuous an house as the temple was, because he had much rest and leasure.

1 Chronicles 22:10

He shall build, &c.] 2 Samuel 7:13. See the Notes there.

I will establish] See the Notes on 1 Kings 9:5.

1 Chronicles 22:11

be with thee] By his gracious assistance.

prosper] A prayer for good successe.

build the house] This may be taken as an exhortation to Solomon, to do his best: or, as a promise of Gods enabling him to do it.

1 Chronicles 22:12

wisedom, &c.] Hereby Solomon learned to ask what he did ask, of God, 1 Kings 3. 9.

give thee charge] Furnish with such counsell, as may enable thee to instruct and direct all Israel.

1 Chronicles 22:13

Then shalt thou prosper] This is the onely course of procuttng good successe: see 1 Kings 2. 3.

be strong, and of good courage] These two words imply a setled and undaunted resolution, very requisite for undertaking and going thorow with a weighty work. See Joshua 1:7.

dread not, &c.] These are contrary to the two former great hinderances to worthy atchievements, Deuteronomy 20:8.

1 Chronicles 22:14

in my trouble] Or, in my poverty. Notwithstanding the mean stock and store I had at my first beginning, and the many troubles I have had all my days.

an hundred thousand talents] Because all estimation must be according to the shekel of the sanctuary (Leviticus 27:25.) the shekel is fittest to be the rule of all other accounts: our English word scale, seems to be thence derived. Shekel, in Hebrew, signifieth, to weigh. Many make two kindes of shekels, one sacred, the other common; the sacred as much more as the common: the sacred is, for the most part, meant in sacred Scripture. The shekel contained two bekah’s, Exodus 38:2. for bekah signifieth half a shekel. A bekah weighed an hundred and threescore barley-corns: a shekel, three hundred and twenty; which answereth to our half ounce of troy-weight: in worth, two shillings and six pence. A talent containeth three thousand shekels, which may be collected from Exodus 38:25-26. where six hundred thousand, and three thousand, and five hundred and fifty men, are taxed by the poll at so many bekahs, or half shekels, a bekah for a man; which are half so many shekels, namely, three hundred thousand, and one thousand, and seven hundred threescore and fifteen.

Put three thousand shekels to one talent, and the sum there mentioned will thence arise, namely, an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred threescore and fifteen shekels. Thus it appears, that three thousand shekels made a tlent. A shekel then being half an ounce, three thousand shekels produce three hundred seventy and five pound sterling, at five shillings per ounce, in silver; which is the value of a talent in silver. The Hebrews valued gold ten for one of silver; that is, one talent of gold, the value of ten talents of silver; after which rate, a talent of gold was three thousand seven hundred and fifty pound: which proportion of ten for one is evident in this verse; for the hundred thousand talents of gold, and the thousand thousand talents of silver, are ten for one, and both of one value, namely, three hundred seventy five millions, or three hundred seventy five times an hundred thousand pounds: and both sums, of silver and gold together, amount to seven hundred and fifty millions. Gold is now in Christendom at a higher rate; after which if the talent should be reckoned, the sum would be so much the greater.

weight] As verse 3.

1 Chronicles 22:15

workers of stne and timber] That is, masons and carpenters.

1 Chronicles 22:16

Arise] A phrase of quickning, 1 Kings 14:2.

1 Chronicles 22:18

Is not the Lord] These interrogations are strong affirmations.

1 Chronicles 22:19

to seek the Lord] In generall, to learn and do his will; in particular, to pray for his grace and aid.

the sanctuary] The temple, which was an holy place, Chap. 28. 1.

to bring the ark] See 2 Samuel 7:2. 1 Kings 8:4.

to the Name, &c.] See the Notes on 1 Kings 8:16.