1 Chronicles 27
DOYLYChap. XXIX. ver. 1. — Solomon my son, whom God alone hath chosen, &c.] David proceeds to stir the people up to the assistance of his son, by these considerations, that he was a person chosen by God, not by him, for this work; that he was but a youth, and therefore needed their assistance; and that the work was to be of extreme magnificence, being “not for man, but for the Lord God,” who was there to be peculiarly present by the symbol of His glorious majesty. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 27:2
- — gold,] This gold was of Ophir, ver. 4; so that Solomon appears to have been not the first prince who trafficked to Ophir: it is probable that David procured this gold of Ophir by land traffick, not by navigation; for we read nothing of his ships, or of his people being engaged in navigation. By “brass,” which follows, we should probably understand copper, which is a native mineral; brass being formed by mixing two different metals. Script. illustr. Expos. Ind.
— onyx stones,] The word onyx is equivocal, signifying, first, a precious stone or gem, called onyx, in Greek onychion; secondly, a marble, very distinct from the nature of the former, called in Greek onychites. Pliny mentions it as a stone of Carimania. The onyx of the high priest’s pectoral was no doubt the gem onyx; the stone prepared by David was the marble onyx, or rather onychus. Some have thought, that as the pectoral was ornamented with precious stones, so was the temple. It can scarcely be supposed, however, that
1 Chronicles 27:3
- Of the children of Perez] The above-mentioned Jashobeam was of the children of Phares, the son of Judah; which tribe therefore had the honour of having the first chief commander chosen out of it. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 27:5
- — Benaiah, — a chief priest:] Rather, a chief prince
or ruler; for it is certain that neither Benaiah nor his father was either high priest or second priest; but Abiathar and Zadok were in those offices. Bp. Patrick.
- — of all my sons, — he hath chosen Solomon] Thus Before CHRIST about 1015. Or, cattle. Or, cannals. a 2 Sam. 7. 5, 12.
1 Chronicles 27:9
- And thou, Solomon &c.] David instructs his son to “know the God of his father,” that is, to acknowledge and to love Him; also to “serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind,” shewing him thereby that his love was to be expressed by obedience to God, and that entirely and cheerfully, out of choice, and not by constraint; not to gain the good opinion of men, but the favour of God: for hearty piety, and not the outward appearance of it merely, is the surest support of a prince’s power and authority; and will dispose his servants to love and reverence him as sincerely as he does God. David proceeds to press him with two arguments for sincerity in his obedience; the first, because “the Lord searcheth all hearts,” that is, cannot be deceived with external services, but looks into the heart, and discerns the most secret motions there; the second, because “if thou seek
1 Chronicles 27:12
- — the pattern of all that he had by the spirit.] That is, of all things inspired into him by the Spirit of God. As the temple was to be sacred for the worship of the Supreme Being, and for the residence of the symbol of His presence, it was fit that it should not be merely of human but of Divine contrivance as was the tabernacle built by Moses. On this account God suggested to David by His Spirit, as appears from these words, the pattern according to which He would have it constructed in all its parts. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 27:16
16 Furthermore over the tribes] Besides these military commands, there was a principal head over each tribe, who had the chief authority in it, under the king. The tribes are here reckoned up according to the birth-right of the patriarchs, from whom they are named. Pyle.
1 Chronicles 27:18
- — the chariot of the cherubims.] As God is represented in Scripture, as sitting upon the ark, between the cherubim that covered it; and, in some passages, as riding upon the cherubim, Ps. xviii. 10, which is of the same signification with His reigning or ruling in majesty and triumph, Ps. xcix. 1; therefore these cherubim are called His chariot, and are described in Ezek. i. as having wheels. It is possible that the sacred historian may here be alluding to this last description. Pyle. The Hebrew word translated chariot signifies, generally,
David causeth the princes and people to offer willingly. Before CHRIST about 1015.
1 Chronicles 27:19
- All this, — the Lord made me understand in writing] There seems to be no doubt from this expression that God inspired David with the plan of the whole work of the temple, with all its parts, dimensions, and utensils; and there is reason to believe that the Greek and Roman architecture, which is the most perfect that human wisdom, invention, and industry have ever framed, was derived from this Divine source, having the architecture of the temple of Jerusalem for its model. Dr. Delaney.
1 Chronicles 27:20
- — Be strong and of good courage,] David now repeats his earnest advice to Solomon, to prosecute this work with unwearied courage; not to be dismayed by terrours from enemies, either abroad or at home, but to trust in the Divine Providence that all his subjects both ecclesiastical and civil, great and small, would cheerfully unite in their endeavours to carry him through it. Pyle. We still see David’s great zeal for the service of God, in the care he took before his death to give to the rulers of the kingdom, and to Solomon his son, necessary instructions for the building of the temple, and in the provision which he made of gold, silver, and various necessary materials, for the execution of this pious design. Let us all be animated with the same zeal, and contribute according to our station and abilities, to the promoting and establishing of God’s worship and service: and if the nature of that worship which the Gospel teaches us to pay to God, does not require such great expense, we may employ our substance in works of piety still more acceptable in the sight of God; in procuring the edifi-
tion, Solomon my son, whom God alone hath chosen, is yet a young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 27:22
- — of the tribes of Israel.] That is, of the above-mentioned tribes. It is remarkable that the tribes of Gad and Asher are omitted; and of this circumstance no certain account can be given. The most probable explanation is, that they were governed by the ruler of some neighbouring tribe: Asher, being a very small tribe, might be put under the command of either Naphtali or Zebulun, next adjoining to it; and Gad might be under that of Reuben. Bp. Patrick.
David’s several officers. He exhorteth to fear God. Before CHRIST about 1015. about 1017. b Chap. 21. 7.
1 Chronicles 27:23
- — from twenty years old and under:] King David never attempted to get a perfect account of the whole body of the Israelite nation, but only endeavoured to obtain a list of those capable of bearing arms, contenting himself with the knowledge that they were vastly numerous, agreeably to the Divine promise made to Abraham, Gen. xv. 5. Even that muster-roll of his, (see the next verse,) of men of twenty years old and upwards, made by Joab, chap. xxi. was very imperfect; for it was left unfinished “because there fell wrath for it against Israel,” that is, because the Prophet denounced the anger of God on account of it; and there never was any complete register of this kind entered on the publick records of the kingdom. Pyle.
1 Chronicles 27:28
- — over the cellars of oil] Dr. Chandler says, that the modern Greeks keep their oil in large earthen jars sunk in the ground, in the areas before their houses. This custom, it may be thought from this passage, obtained among the Jews. It is certain from Jer. xli. 8, that they buried it sometimes in the earth, in times of danger, for the purpose of concealment. Harmer.
Chap. XXVIII. ver. 2. — and for the footstool of our God,] It should rather be translated, “even for the footstool of our God,” the ark being so called, as being the resting-place of the symbol of His presence. Jos. Mede, Bp. Patrick.