1 Chronicles 22

1 Chronicles 22:1

/ HEN David said, Tliis is the house of the Lord GodJ. He seems to have been inspired by God with this thought, that here he would have his temple to be built. At least, he concluded this, because the angel bade him build an altar here, which was for sacrifice: and here God testified his presence, as he did at the erection of the first altar, Lev. ix. 24. He seems to have respect to the words of Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 1G, 17. And this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel:’] That is, here all their sacrifices shall be offered, when the temple is built. From which words Maimonides concludes, it was utterly unlawful to build God a house any where else, or to offer sacrifice in any other place but this. Vcr. 2. And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel.] That is, those they called proselytes, who perhaps were better skilled in. such works, as here follow, than the children of Israel. Or, as R.Solomon Jarchi thinks, these being servile works, he would not employ the free people of Israel therein: which example Solomon afterward followed, (1 Kings v. 15. ix. 22. 2 Chron. ii. 1. viii. 7.) But we must not from hence infer, as some have done, that proselytes were not as free as other subjects: for they did not settle among the Jews upon any condition of being under any kind of servitude. And he set masons to hetv wrought stones to build the house of God.] Though God had forbidden him to build him a house, yet he thought hemight prepare materials for the building: which God so much approved, that he was pleased to shew him a model of such a house as he* would have, as we read chap, xxviii. 19.

1 Chronicles 22:4

Also cedar-trees in abundance: for the Zidonians, and they of Tyre, brought muck cedar-wood to David. There being great friendship between them and David.

1 Chronicles 22:5

And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnificat, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.] He considered with himself these two things, the youth of Solomon, (of which see 1 Kings iii.7.) and then the magnificence of the structure that was to be built; both which he thought required his care, to make what preparation he could for such an undertaking. For young men.arc wont to be careless, and arc rarely capable of great designs. Learned men have observed, that this temple was so stately andTich, that it exceeded all others in the world: the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, being not to be compared with it. (See Dr. Spenecr, lib. iii. do Leg. Hebr. cap. 2. dissert. C.)

1 Chronicles 22:6

Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an altar for the Lord God of Israel. By this it was apparent, and, I suppose, well known, that he intended him for his successor: which made the crime of Adonijah the greater, who endeavoured to put him by.

1 Chronicles 22:7

And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was m my mind to build a house jinto the name of the Lord my God. See in 2 Sam. vii. 1, 2.

1 Chronicles 22:8

And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight.* The word which we translate joinings, the Targum translates hinges. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thouhast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shall not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.] This reason is not mentioned in the book of Samuel, but here is recorded to shew, that though David’s wars were warranted, and succeeded by God in an extraordinary manner, yet it did not suit so well with the Divine Majesty, to have a house huilthim by one who had shed so much blood, ashy ono that reigned in peaco and quietness: that he might be an emblem of the King of peace, the Lord of the church, who was prefigured in all such great transactions. There may be respect also here to* the blood of Uriah, and those worthy men slain together with him, by the contrivance of David: which made him unworthy to be honoured with such an undertaking as this. David himself takes notice of this blood-guiltiness, as a thing which was always in God’s eye, Psal. Ii. 4. where he saith, J have done this evil in thy sight: as God here saith, Thou hast shed blood in my sight. (See more below, chap, xxviii. 3.)

1 Chronicles 22:9

Behold, a so7i shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and* quietness tinto Israel in his days.~] Here are two reasons, why his son should have this honour: because God would give him rest from all his enemies, and Israel should live in peace and quietness in his days. Which made his reign a proper season for this great work.

1 Chronicles 22:10

He shall build a house for my mame; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. This can belong to none, in the proper and full sense of the word, but Christ alone. For Solomon reigned but forty years, and after that his kingdom was torn in pieces: therefore to Christ tho author to the Hebrews applies them, (Heb. i; 5.)

1 Chronicles 22:11

Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee. He would not have him doubt, but be as confident as he was, that God would prosper him in this work; because he ordered him to undertake it.

1 Chronicles 22:12

Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thoumayest keep the laiv of the Lord thy God. When he committed Israelto his care. Vcr. 13. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments’ which the Lord charged Moses ivith concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not) nor be dismayed.] Nothing gives a man such an undaunted courage as a conscience of well-doing; in exact obedience to God’s commands. *

1 Chronicles 22:14

Now, behold, in my trouble.* In a tumultuous reign, full of various troubles. CHAP. XXII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. * I have ^prepared for the house of the. Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of Silver; and of brass and iron without weight (for it is in abundance); timber also and. stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.] His heart was so bent to shew his gratitude to God, that he would have done a great deal more for him, if he had been able. Though this was such a vast treasure which he amassed (not out of covetousness, but purely for the honour and service of God), that it hath seemed to some incredible. For if we take this to be meant of the greater talent, it makes such an immense sum, that it exceeds the riches of any of the Roman emperors, or other former monarchs. For in the time of Trajan, when that empire was largest, the money that was. in his treasury did not exceed seventy-three thousand talents, as Bodinus observes in his book de Republ. lib. vi. cap. 2. But a better man than he, our Brerewood, hath computed these talents to make so many millions, that he thinks the word kikkar should not be translated talent in this place; but only a mass, or cake of gold and silver. And so Guil. Budasus observes in his book De Asse, that there was in Homer’s time a talent of lesser value: for he speaks of two talents, which were given, with other things, as a reward of a victory obtained in some exercises..Such talents, he thinks, we are to understand in this place: for David reigned about the time of the kingdom of the Assyrians, which was near the time. of -Homer. (See Beckius upon the Targum in this place.) Of the same opinion is Jacobus Capcllus, and Junius, and Trcmellius, as appears by the sum to whichthey make these talents to amount, viz. five hundred. thousand dollars of gold, and as much of silver. And more lately Herraannus Witsius hath computed, that half so many talents of the sanctuary, (as some call them) amounts to twenty thousand five hundred eighty T five tons of gold: which he shews David had opportunity to heap together, in his Mis cell. Sacra, torn. ii. exerc. x. sect. 17, 18.

1 Chronicles 22:15

Moreover, there are workmen with theein abundance, hewers andworkers of stone and timber, and all maivner of cunning men for every manner of work. Who were all to be paid, as well as the labourers, and carriers of burdens, out of this money; which required a very great sum. Ver. 1G. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number.^ The meaning is, the quantity of ■ brass and iron was not numbered, as that of the gold and silver was. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.] He would not have him now go about the work, but begin it when he was settled on his throne: nothing doubting the Lord would prosper it.

1 Chronicles 22:17

David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying. By advising him, and encouraging the people in their labours.

1 Chronicles 22:18

Is not tlte Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side?. What God had already done for them, was a ground of hope he would further them in this work; which was for his service.* For he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, andbef ore his people.] For God was the author of allthoso wars, and gave them alltheir victories.

1 Chronicles 22:19

Now, set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God: arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord your God, to bring the ark of the covenant of. the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into tlie house tltat is to be built to the name of the Lord.] He beseeches thefri not to neglect this opportunity, which he spake of in the foregoing verse; viz. the time of peace which God had given them, which.was fit for such a work. Strigelius compares these words with those of Christ, " While ye have the light, walk in the light." And, indeed, the ark and the tabernacle had been too long separated, and therefore such preparation being made -for it, it was time to bring the ark, with all the holy vessels, in the tabernacle, together into a settled place, by building the sanctuary for them.