1 Chronicles 28

Davids last charge to the Princes, v.1.&c. and to Salomon, Concerning the keeping of all Gods commandments, and in particular the building of the Temple. 9. He giveth Salomon a pattern of the whole building, ad likewise of all the vessels thereunto appertaining, 14. A short repetition of Davids exhortation to Salomon, 20.

1. Then David assembled at Jerusalem all the chief of Israel, the chief of the tribes, and the chief of the divisions ministering to the king, and the Commanders of thousands, and the Commanders of hundreds, and the Rulers of all the Kings substance and cattle, and of his sons, [Oth. And his sons] with the chamberlains, [see the annotate. On Gen.31.v.36.] and the champions , yea all (or every) valiant champion. [in this chapter the writer of this book returneth to the history, which he had begun above chap.22.]

2. And King David stood upon his feet, [By his standing up he did signify the honor that he bare to the word of God, which he had received from God, ad intended to declared the same before the Congregation. Compare Judg.3.20.] and he said, hear me, my brethren and my people, I had in my heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, [to wit, the temple wherein the ark might safely rest, without being any more removed or carried from one place to another, as here to fore often happened. See 2 Sam.7.1.] and for the foot-stock of our God, [Thus is the Ark of the covenant called, for as much as the Lord did sit upon it between the Cherubims, 2 Sam.6.2. and gave answer] and I have made preparation for to build.

3. But God said unto me, thou shalt not build an house unto my name: For thou art a man of war, and thou hast shed much blood. [Hebr. bloods.]

4. Now the LORD the God of Israel chose me out of all my Fathers house, that I should be king over Israel for ever: [That is, my life-time, as long as I live: for that is the ever or eternity of men: But in respect of our LORD Jesus Christ the son of David, is it an everlasting kingdom, which shall never end, Luke 1:33. see 2 Sam.7.13.] for he hath chosen Juda [That is, the tribe of Juda] (to be) a leader, [see Gen.49.8. and 1 Chron.5.2.] and my Fathers house in the house of Juda: And among the sons of my Father he hath had pleasure in me, to make me King over Israel.

5. And of all my sons (for the LORD hath given me many sons) he hath chosen Salomon my son, to sit upon the throne of the Kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

6. And he said unto me, Salomon thy son, he shall build mine house, and my courts; For I have chosen him (to be) a son unto me, and I will be unto him a Fathers.

7. And I will establish his Kingdom for ever: [See ver.4.] If he shall be strong to do my Commandments and my judgements, as at this day. [That is, as unto this day he hath been instructed, and hitherto, according to the good instruction, hath been carefully diligent in keeping my commandments.]

8. Now then before the eyes of all Israel, the Congregation of the LORD, and before the ears of our God, keep and seek [For, seek and keep, that is, give diligence to seek and keep] all the commandments of the LORD your God, that ye may hereditarily possess that good land, and cause your children after you to inherited it for ever.

9. And thou Salomon my son, know thou the God of thy Father, [that is, that God, that took in me pleasure (as v.4.) and whom I have faithfully served] and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing soul: For the LORD searcheth all hearts, and he understandeth all the imagination of the thoughts; [that is, all that men are able to think or imagine] if thou seek him, he will be found of thee: But if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

10. Take heed now, for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: Be strong, and do it. [That is, perfect it, finish it.]

11. And David gave unto Salomon his son a type of the porch, [See Exod.25.on vers.40.] with the housings thereof, and the treasures thereof, and the upper chambers thereof, and the inner chambers thereof, and the house of the expiatory-covering. [this was the covering that lay upon the ark of the covenant, upon which the Cherubims stood, and was as it were the throne or chair of God. But by the expiatory-coverled he understandeth the ark of the covenant it self, which was to be put into the most holy place of the Temple.]

12. And a type of all that was with him [That is, in his mind] by the spirit, [To wit, by the holy Ghost, who revealed unto David, how all these things were to be made in the Temple, v.19. as God had formerly revealed unto Moses the pattern of the Tabernacle, and of all other things that he was to make besides, and shewed & declared unto him all things upon the mount. See Exod.31.3.] (namely) of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about; for the treasures of the house of God, and the treasures of the holy things. [to wit, to keep treasures in. Oth. Of the treasures, etc. meaning a type or pattern of the places, wherein the treasures were to be kept, or a pattern of the treasures themselves.]

13. And of the divisions of the Priests and of the Levites, [See of these divisions above in chapters 24, 25,26.] ad of all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and of all the vessels of the service of the house of the LORD.

14. (He gave) gold according to the weight of Gold for all the vessels of each service: [Hebr. of service, and of service; that is, as well of the service that was done in the sanctuary, as of that which was done in the court] (likewise silver) for all vessels of silver according to weight, for all the vessels of each service. [the vessels and instruments of gold were used in the temple, in the place which was called the holy: but the vessels or instruments of silver were used in the court of the Priests. Oth. Of gold according to the weight of gold etc. Meaning that here is prosecuted the type or pattern of all things.]

15. And the weight for the golden candlesticks, and their golden Lamps, according to the weight of every Candlestick, [Heb. of the Candlestick, of the Candlestick. And so here below] and the Lamps thereof: Likewise for the silver Candlestick according to the weight of a Candlestick, and the Lamps thereof, according to the service of every Candlestick.

16. Also (he gave) gold by weight for the Tables of ordering, [To wit, upon which the shew bread was set in order according to Gods command given by Moseh] for every table: and silver for the silver tables.

17. And pure gold for the gold for the flesh-hooks, and the sprinkling-basins, [Wherein they received the blood of the sacrifice, and wherewith they sprinkled the altar in the sacrifices. See Exod.24.6.] and for the dishes: And for the golden cups, the weight for every cup: [Heb. for cup ad cup] likewise for silver cups, the weight for every cup.

18. And for the altar of incense refined gold in weight: And gold for the type of the charet, [So he calleth the Cherubims, because the LORD by the special tokens of his presence is said to sit between the Cherubims. See 1 Sam.4.4. ad they are said to be his charet, Psa.18.11. Ezek.1.24,25,26. And chapter 10.13,16.] (to wit) of the Cherubims, that should spread out (their wings), and cover the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19. All this (said David) they [Or, be to wit, the LORD] gave me to understand in writing by the hand of the LORD, (to wit) all the works of this type. [Thus then David did not act here out of an absolute royal power, ordaining the service of God according to his own fancy and good liking, but he did this as a Prophet of God, 2 Chron.8.14. by the instinct and suggestion of the holy Ghost, as here v.12. appeareth, and also by the instigation and persuasion of Gad and Nathan, 2 Chap.29.25. Thus God also shewed a type or pattern unto Moses of all things that he should make, Exod.25.40. and 26.30. and Heb.8.5.]

20. And David said unto Salomon his son, be strong, and of good courage, and do it, fear not, nor be dismayed: For the LORD God, my God, will be with thee, he will not leave thee, neither will he forsake thee, until thou shalt have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

21. And behold, there be all the divisions of the Priests and Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with thee (there) be for all (manner of) work, all manner of willing (men, endued) with wisdom for all kind of service, likewise the Princes, and all the people, (ready) for all thy commands. [or, words or, works.]