1 Chronicles 21
DOYLY1 Chronicles 21:2
- — the strangers that were in the land] The proselytes to the Jewish religion, who were probably better skilled in the arts and works which follow, than the Israelites themselves. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 21:3
- Now the Levites were numbered] It was appointed by law, Numb. iv. 3; viii. 24, &c. that the Levites were to be called up to enter on their duties at the age
Before CHRIST about 1017.
1 Chronicles 21:5
- — Solomon my son &c.] It hence appears, that it was well known he intended Solomon for his successor. Bp. Patrick. The main considerations which, as David here states, determined him to make this early provision for the building of the temple, were, the great magnificence of the intended structure, and the uncommon care which would be required to accomplish it properly; which he concluded would be too weighty a concern for so young a prince as Solomon would be at his accession to the throne. Pyle.
1 Chronicles 21:8
- — because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth] Though this reason for David’s being forbidden to build the house of God is not mentioned in the book of Samuel, (see 2 Sam. vii. 12, &c.) yet it is recorded here, to shew perhaps that, although the wars of David were warranted by God, and succeeded through His gracious aid in an extraordinary manner, yet it did not so well accord with the majesty of God, to have a temple built by one who had shed so much blood, as by one whose reign passed in quietness and peace. Bp. Patrick. There is a particular reflection to be made on God’s not approving of David’s building the temple at Jerusalem, because he had been a man of war, and had shed much blood. We may hence conclude, that God, who is a God of peace, does not delight in blood; that even just and necessary wars are a great evil; and that by peace and tranquillity, rather than by confusion and trouble, His kingdom is promoted and advanced. Osterwald.
1 Chronicles 21:10
- — I will establish the throne — for ever.] In the proper and full sense of the words, this can only belong to Christ: for Solomon reigned only forty years; and, after that, his kingdom was torn to pieces. Ac-
1 Chronicles 21:13
- Then shalt thou prosper, &c.] David here gives to his son the truly valuable instruction to improve his happy advantages, and to be discouraged by no difficulties in doing his duty; and always to remember that his own, and the kingdom’s prosperity, depended solely and entirely on the piety and justice of his government, and upon his and their scrupulous regard to the laws of their religion. Pyle.
1 Chronicles 21:14
- — in my trouble] In my reign, which has been full of various troubles. Dr. Wells.
— an hundred thousand talents of gold, &c.] This sum, when added to those of chap. xxix. 3—5, &c. is so prodigious, that many judicious writers have come to the conclusion, either that the talents here spoken of were another sort of talent, of far less value than those mentioned by Moses, or else that some error as to the numbers may have been introduced into the text; for these sums amount to no less than 800 millions sterling of our money. Pyle.
The Hebrew word for “talent,” signifies a cake or mass of metal. The account here given of the vast wealth prepared by David appears incredible, if we allow the talent mentioned to be that of which Moses speaks, and to be of the value which is commonly supposed. As to an error in the numbers, it should be mentioned that Josephus, the Jewish historian, states them at 10,000 talents of gold, and 100,000 talents of silver, which is a tenth part of what we read in our
present copies of this text. The Arabic version says, “Gold a thousand talents, and silver a thousand talents.” At the same time we should remember, that, in an age when princes were accustomed to hoard up vast quantities of gold and silver, as Eastern princes do still, it is by no means improbable that David, in his many successful wars with various great nations, might amass a quantity of treasure which to us appears prodigious. Parkhurst.
Chap. XXIII. ver. 2. And he gathered together all the princes] He called together a general assembly of the heads of the nation, to whom he gave the scheme he had been formerly projecting for the regular courses of the priests and Levites in the temple service, as a method of preventing the inconveniences he had observed in the usual manner of performing it. Pyle.
David was well aware of what vast consequence the establishment of the publick worship of God, in true piety and purity, was to the virtue and happiness of a people; inasmuch as all religion depends upon it, and would without it absolutely fail amongst men, in the space of a few years. He therefore judged it advisable to allure men to it, by all the advantages of a graceful, solemn, and delightful magnificence; as the sacred writer proceeds to describe in this and the following chapters. Dr. Delaney.