Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Princes of the Twelve Tribes, 1 CHRONICLES XXVIII. David Encouragea Solomon,
—Or Dodo. Here the text seems to require the suppleraent of " Eleazar the son of Dodo" (2 Samuel 23. 9). 7.
2Kings 22. 18); and besides Joab, the commander-in-clilcf of the army, the heroes who had no particular ofiice (eh.
Asaliel—This officer having been slain at the very beginniuj; of David's reign, his name was probably given to this division in honour of his memory, and his son was invested with the command.
11; 2 Samuel 23). This assembly, a very mixed and general one, as appears from the parties invited, was more numerous and entirely different from that mentioned
(ch. 23. 2). 3. Hear me, my brethren—This was the style of address becoming a constitutional king of Israel (Deuteronomy 17. 20; 1 Samuel 30.23; 2 Samuel 5.1). I had it In mine heart—I proposed or designed, to build au house of rest—A solid and permanent temple, for the footstool of our Crod—God seated between the ehernljim. at the two extremities of the ark, might be said to be enthroned in His glory, and the coverlet of the ark to be His footstool, and had made ready for tl»c building The immense treasures wliich David had amassed, and the elaborate preparations-he had made, would have beer, amply sul Bcient for the erection of the temple of which he presented the model to Solomon. 3. tltou hast been a man of war, and hast shed much blood—The church or spiritual state of the world, of which the temple at Jerusalem was to be a type, would be presided over by One who was to be pre-eminently the Prince of Peace, and therefore would be represented not so fitly by David, whose mission had been a preparatory one of battle and conquest, as by his sou, who should reign in unbroken peace. 4, 5. he hath chosen Solomon—The spirit of David's statement is this:—It was not my ambition, iny valour, or my merit that led to the enthronement of myself and family; it was the grace of God which chose the tribe, the family, the person—myself in the first instance, and now Solomon, to whom, as the Lord's anointed, you are all bound to submit. Like that of Ohri.st, of .whom he was a tyi>e, the appointment of Solomon to the kingdom above all his brethren Avas freqtiently pre-intimated
16-24. Princes of the Twelve Tribes. 16. over tlie tribes of Israel: tUe ruler—This is a list of the heredi- 'ary chiefs or rulers of tribes at the time of David's numbering the people. Gad and Asher are not included ; for what reason is unknown. The tribe of Levi had a ])rince
(v. 17), as well as the other tribes; and although it was ecclesiastically subject to the high priest, yet in all civil matters it had a chief or head, possessed of the same authority and power as in the other tribes, only his jurisdiction did not extend to the pi'iests. 18. EHiliu—Probably the same as Eliab (1 Samuel 16. 16). 33. But David took not tlie number of tUein from twenty years old and under—The meaning is, that the census which David ordered did not extend to all the Israelites; for to contemplate such an enumeration would have been to attempt an impossibility (Genesis 28. 14), and besides would have been a daring offence to God. The limitation to a certain age was what had probably quieted David's conscience as to the lawfulness of the measure, while its expediency was strongly pressed upon his mind by the army arrangements he had in view. neitlier -was tUe number put in the account of tlie clironlcles of King David—Either because the uudertakiug was not completed, Levi and Benjamin not having been numbered (ch. 21. 6), or tlie full details in the hands of the enumerating officers were not reported to David, and, consequently, not registered in the public archives, the clironiclcs— Were the daily reconls or annals of the king's reign. No notice was taken of this census in the Historical register, as from tlie public calamity with which
(ch. 17.12; 22.9; 2 Samuel 7.12-14; 12.24,2.); 2 Kings 1. ];3). 7. 1 will establisit I»is kingdom for ever, if Ite be constant to do my commandments—The same condition is set before Solomon by God (1 Kings .'3. 14; 9.4). S. Now
It was associated it would have stood a painful record of tlie Divine judgment against the king and the nation.
over tlie king's treasures—Those ti-easures consisted of gold, silver, precious stones, cedar-wood, Ac; those which lie had i/i Jerusalem as distinguished from others williout the city, tlie storehouses ii» the fields—Grain covered over with layers of straw is frequently preserved in the fields under little earthen mounds, lilie our potato pits. 37. the vineyards—These seem to have been In the vine-growing districts of Judali, and were committed to two men of that quarter, wine-cellars—Stores; the wine is deposited in jars sunlt in the court of the liouse. 38. olive . . . and . . . sycamore trees ... in tl>e low plains— 1. e., tlie Shcphela, the rich low-lying ground between tlie Jlediterraneaii and the mountains of Judah. 39. herds that fed in Sharon—A fertile plain between Ciesarea and Joppa. sheep and camels—Tlu se were probably in the countries east of the .Jordan, and hence an Ishmaelite and Nazarite were appointed to take charge of them. 31. rulers of the substance ttiat was King David's— How and when the king acquired these demesnes and this variety of property — wliether it was partly Ijy conquests, or partly by conflscation, or by his own active cultivation of waste lands— is not said.- It was probably in all these ways. The munagoment of the king's private possessions was divided into twelve parts, like his public atrairs and tlie revenue derived from all these sources mentionol must liave been very largo.
. . . in the sigitt of all Isi-ael, . . . keep, and seek for all tlic commandiiients of the Lord, Ac.—This solemn and earnest exhortation to those present, and toall Israel through their representatives, to continue faitliful in observing tlie Divine law as essential to their nation.-il prosperity and permanence, is similar to that of Moses (Deuteronomy ;3U. 1.5-20).
9-20. He Encourages Soi.omon to Build the Temple.
9, 10. And thou, Solomon my son—The royal speaker now turns lo Solomon, and in a most iiii|)ressive nianiier presses upon him the liuixirtance of sincere and practical piety, know tliou— lie did not mean head-knowledge, for Solomon possessed that already, but tliat experimental acquaintance with (Jod which is only to be ()l>tained liy loving and serving Ilim. 11. Then David gave to Solomon . . . the pattern—He now put into tlie hands of his.son and successor the plan or model of the temple, wltli the elevations, measurements, apartments, and chief articles of furniture, all of wliicli were designed according to the pattern given him liy Divine revelation (v. 19). 13. the pattei-n of all that he Itnd by the spirit Iviither, with hliu in spirit; i.e., was tli>atlng in his mind. 1.1, 10.
candlesticks of silver—Solomon made t'.iem all of gold—In this ami a tew minor partlculais departing I'roni the letter of liis father's instructions, whiM'e lie had tlio means of executing them in a more splendid style. There was only one candl(>st Ick ami one table in (he tal>ernacle, but ten in tli<> temple, is. the cliariot of tine cherubim —The exp Miided wings ot llie cherubim loriiied wliat was figuratively styled the throne of (iod, and as they wei'O emblematical of rapid mution, the throne or seat was spoken of as a chariot (IVnlm IS. 10; 99. 1). It Is quite clear that In all tiies(> directions David was not guided by his own taste, or by a iK'sIn' for taking iiily existing model of architecture, hut solely by a regard to the express revelation of the Divine will. In a vision, or trance, the whole edifice, with Itsappiirtcnances, had been placed before his eyes so vividly and permanently, that he hud be(>n able to take a sUetcli of them in the models delivered to Solomon. 30. He strong an«lof good courage—The ttii-
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Vcr. 1-8. Davit) ICxiioirrs the Peoi'i.e to Fp.ar Goi>. 1. Uavifl assembled all the princes of Israel i.e., tlie representatives of the people, the leading men of the kingdom, who are enumerated in this verse according to their respective rank or degree of autliority. princes of tl»e tribes—(Ch. 27. 16-22.) Thosi! jiat riarclial (rlilefs are mentioned first as being tlio lilghest in rank—a sort of iieredltary noblesse, tlie captains of tl«e companies— The twelve generals mentioned (ch. 27.1-1,")). the stewarils, it('.—(Ch. 27. 2.')-:Jl.) tile olticers—y/(7;rc«', eiUUtclls, or attendants on the court (1 Samuel 8. lo; 1 Kings 22.U; 2G4
Offerings for the Temple, 1 CHKONICLES XXIX. l)(ivid's Thanksgimng,
10-25. His Thanksgiivino. 10. Wlierefore David blessed the I/ord—This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing witli gratitude and deliglil at seeing the warm and widespread interest tliat was now taken in forwarding the favourite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervour of devotional feeling—in dress begun v. 9 is resumed and concluded in the same fitraiu, 21. beliold the courses of the prtcsts and Ijc-vltes —They were, most probably, represented in this assembly, though they are not named, also the princes and all the people—t. e., as well the skilful, expert, and zealous artisan, as the workman who needs to be directed in tlie ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for tiie continuance of this happy disposition among tlie people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to tlie care and blessing of God. 16. All this store that we have prepared—It maybe useful to exhibit a tabular view of the treasure laid up, and contriljutions stated by the historian as alreadj' made towards the erection of the proposed temple. Omitting the brass and iron, and precious stones, which, tliougli speciall bis labours.
CHAPTEE XXIX.
Ver. 1-9. David Causes the Princes and People to Offer for the House of God. 1. Solomon ... Is yet young and tender—Though Solomon was very young when he was raised to the sovereign power, his kingdom escaped the woe pronounced (Ecclesiastes 10. 10). Mere childhood in a prince is not always a misfortune to a nation, as there are instances of the government being wisely administered during a minority, and Solomon himself is a most illustrious proof tluit a young prince may prove a great blessing ; for when he was but a mere fied partly {v. 7), Is represented in other portions as "without weight" (ch. 22. 3, 14), we shall give in this table only tlie amount of gold and silver; and taking tlie talent of gold as worth £.5475 (the talent being 125 lbs. in weight), tlie value of the gold will be about 73s. per oz. The talent of silver is given at £342 3s. 9d., or 4s. 4a(l. per oz. The total amount of the contributions will be : child, with respect to his age, no nation was happier. His father, however, made this address before Solomon was endowed with the Divine gift of wisdom, and David's reference to his son's extreme youth, in connection witli the great national undertaking he had been di v inely appointed to execute, was to apologize to this assembly of the estates —or, rather, to assign the reason of his elaborate preparations for the work. 3, 4. Moreover ... I have of mine own proper good, &c.—In addition to the immense amount of gold and silver treasure wliich David had already bequeathed for various uses in tlie service of the temple, he now made an additional contribution destined to a specific purpose—that of overlaying the walls of the house. This voluntary gift was from the private fortune of the royal donor, and had been selected with the greatest care. Tlie gold was "the gold of Ophir," tlien esteemed
Sum accumulated, and in the public) gold, £-547,500,(100 treasury (ch. 22. 41) / silver, 342,187,500
Contributed by David from his pri-lgold, 16,425,000 vate resources /silver, . 2,395,312
Contributed by the assembled rulers "|'°>J'8?1
Thougli it has been the common practice of Eastern monarchs to hoard vast sums for the accomplishment of any contemplated project, this amount so far exceeds not only every Oriental collection on record, but even the bounds of probaljility, that it is very generally allowed that either there is a corruption of the text in ch. 22. 14, or tliat the reckoning of the historian was by the Babylonian, which was only a half, or the Syrian, which was only a fifth part, of the Hebrew talent. This would bring the Scripture account more into accordance with the statements of Joseplius, as well as within the range of crediliility. 80. All the congregation worshipped tlie Lord, and the king—Tliougli the external attitude might be the same, the sentiments of which it was expressive were very ditt'erent in tlie two cases—of Divine worship in tlie one, of civil homage in the other. 31, 23. they sacrificed . . . And did eat and drink After the business of the assembly was over, the people, under the exciting influence of the occasion, still remained, and nejct day engaged in the performance of solemn rites, and afterwards feasted <m the remainder of the sacrifices, before the Lord—either in tlie immediate vicinity of the ark, or, perhaps, ratlier in a religious and devout spirit, as partaking of a sacrificial meal, made Solomon . . . king the second time—In reference to the first time, which was done precipitately on Adoiiijah's conspiracy (1 Kings 1. 35). they . . . anointed . . . Zadok—The statement implies tliat his appointment met the popular approval. His elevation as sole liigli priest was on the disgrace of Abiathar, one of Adonijali's accomplices. 33. Solomon sat on the throne of tlic Lord—Aa king of Israel, he was the Lord's vicegerent, at. submitted themselves Hcb., put their hands under Solo-, mon, according to the custom still practised in tlie East, of putting a hand under the king's extended hand, anil kissing tlie back of it (2 Kings 10. 15).
tlie purest and finest in the world (Job 22. 24; 28. 16; Isaiah
13. 12). The amount was 3000 talents of gold, and 7000 talents of refined silver. 5. who then is willing to consecrate his service Hcb., fill his hand; i. e., make an offering (Exodus 32. 29; Leviticus 8. 33; 1 Kings 13. 33). The meaning is, that whoever would contribute voluntarily, as he had done, would be offering a free-will offering to the Lord. It was a sacrifice which every one of them could make, and in presenting which the offerer himself would be the priest. David, in asking free-will offerings for the temple, imitated the conduct of Moses in reference to the tabernacle (Exodus 2.). 1-S). 6-8. Then the chief of the fathers—Or heads of tlie lathers (cli. 24. 31 ; 27. 1). princes of the tribes-(cll. 27. 1&-22). the rulers of the king's work— Tliose who had charge of the royal demesnes and other possessions (ch. 27. 25-31). offered willingly —Influenced by the persuasive address and example of the king, they acted according to their several abilities, and their united contributions amounted to the gross sum
—of gold 5000 talents and 10,000 drams; and of silver, 10,000 talents, besides brass and iron, drams—Rather, darics.
A. Persian coin, witli which the Jews from the time of the captivity became familinr, and which was afterwards extensively circulated in tlie countries of Western Asia. It Is estimated as equal in value to 25s. of British currency. 7. of brass eighteen thousand taleitts, and one hundred thousa:id talents of iroji—In Scripture, iron is always referred to as an article of comparatively low value, and of greater abundance and cheaper than bronze. [Napier.] 8. and tJiey with whom precious stones were found—Ratlier, " whatever was found along with it of precious stones they gave." [Beutheau.] These gifts M'ere deposited in the liands of Jehiell, wliose family were charged with the treasures of the house of the Lord (ch. 26.21).
26-30. His Reign and Death. 30. Thus David reigned —(See 1 Kings 2. 11.)