1 Chronicles 22

1 Chronicles 22:1

1. Then] The word refers back to 1 Chronicles 21:28, At that time. David said] The king acts in conformity with the law contained in Deuteronomy 12:5-6.

1 Chronicles 22:2

2–5. David’s Preparations for Building the Temple 2. the strangers] Cp. 2 Chronicles 2:17; 2 Chronicles 8:7 … 9 (R.V.). Hewing of stone was regarded as task-work unit for free men. wrought stones] All the stone used for the building of the Temple was previously cut to the right size; cp. 1 Kings 6:7.

1 Chronicles 22:3

3. the joinings] R.V. the couplings.

1 Chronicles 22:4

4. the Zidonians and they of Tyre] Cp. 1 Kings 5:1-6 (15–20, Heb.).

1 Chronicles 22:5

5. exceeding magnifical] The Temple took seven years in building, and it was richly overlaid with gold, but its proportions were small, viz., about 90 ft. × 45 ft. × 30 ft. Some have regarded it as merely the king’s private chapel, but its small proportions do not of themselves prove this view to be correct. In any case the “House” was not intended to contain the congregation; the courts must be large to accommodate those who came up for the three great feasts, but the Temple itself need only be large enough to hold its furniture.

1 Chronicles 22:7

6–16. David’s Charge to Solomon 7. said to Solomon, My son] R.V. said to Solomon his son (so C’thîb); A.V. follows the K’rî.unto the name] Cp. Deuteronomy 12:5; 2 Samuel 7:13.

1 Chronicles 22:8

8. Thou hast shed blood abundantly] Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:3; in 1 Kings 5:3 Solomon tells Hiram that David wished to build a temple, but was hindered from his design by war.

1 Chronicles 22:9

9. I will give him rest] Cp. 1 Kings 5:4. The promise here made is of a period of peace sufficiently long for the work of Temple-building. Solomon’s reign was not wholly peaceful; cp. 1 Kings 11:14; 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Kings 11:26.

1 Chronicles 22:10

10. for ever] Cp. 2 Samuel 7:13-16.

1 Chronicles 22:12

12. wisdom] R.V. discretion.

1 Chronicles 22:13

13. be strong, and of good courage] Cp. Joshua 1:9.

1 Chronicles 22:14

14. in my trouble] Render with R.V. marg. in my low estate. LXX. κατὰτὴνπτωχείανμου. an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver] This sum is incredibly large. In 1 Kings 10:14 it is told in illustration of the wealth of Solomon—a wealthier king than David—that he received in one year 666 talents of gold, but even at this rate David would have amassed only 26,640 talents in forty years. The tradition from which the Chronicler drew expresses itself here in round and exaggerated numbers.

1 Chronicles 22:15

15. all manner of cunning men for every manner of work] R.V. all men that are cunning in any manner of work.

1 Chronicles 22:16

16. Arise therefore] R.V. omits therefore.

1 Chronicles 22:18

17–19. David’s Charge to the Princes 18. the inhabitants of the land] Cp. 1 Chronicles 11:4, the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. The remnant of the earlier inhabitants of Canaan is meant.

1 Chronicles 22:19

19. and the holy vessels of God] Cp. 1 Kings 8:4. CHAPTER 23 Ch. 1 Chronicles 23:1. Solomon made King The summary statement of the Chronicler ignores the struggle between the party of Solomon and the party of Adonijah for the throne. Cp. 1 Chronicles 29:22-24; 1 Kings 1:5-53.