1 Chronicles Chapter 22
1 Then David said, "This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel."
2 David gave orders to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to cut dressed stones to build God's house.
3 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and bronze in abundance without weight;
4 and cedar trees without number, for the Sidonians and the people of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
5 David said, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it." So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.
7 David said to Solomon his son, "As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.
8 But the LORD's word came to me, saying, 'You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
10 He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and prosper you, and build the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
12 May the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
13 Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid, and don't be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD's house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them.
15 There are also workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of men who are skilful in every kind of work;
16 of the gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may the LORD be with you."
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 "Isn't the LORD your God with you? Hasn't he given you rest on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to follow the LORD your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the LORD's covenant and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the LORD's name."
Footnotes
- Verse 14 (Talent)
- A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 100,000 talents is about 3 metric tonnes
- Verse 14 (one million Talents)
- about 30,000 metric tonnes
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1 Chronicles Chapter 22 Guide
In the place where the mercy of God operated in staying the plague resulting from his sin, David chose to build the house of his God. The threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite was chosen as the site of the Temple. The days were rapidly passing, and the end of David's life was not far off. During these latter days his underlying desire became the supreme matter. In perfect acquiescence with the will of God, he gave up all thought of building, and set himself to preparing everything for another hand to carry out. "So David prepared abundantly before his death." His charge to his son is very beautiful. He frankly told him how God had refused to permit him to build, and named the reason. He was careful to teach Solomon that his appointment to build was of God, and thereby created a solemn sense of responsibility in the matter. Out of personal experience both of failure and of realization, David told his son that the condition of success in the enterprises of God is observance of the statutes and judgments of the Lord. He expressed his conviction, moreover, that the house of God must be "exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries."
This is a picture of a man who through stress and storm had found his way into the quiet calm assurance of his place in the divine economy. The heats and passions of earlier years were under perfect control, and burned to co-operation with the purpose of God, wholly within the limits of the divine will. It is a condition of peace and power.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Chronicles Chapter 22 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David's preparations for the temple. -- (1-5)
- David's instructions to Solomon. -- (6-16)
- The prices commanded to assist. -- (17-19)
Verses 1-5
On occasion of the terrible judgment inflicted on Israel for the sin of David, God pointed out the place where he would have the temple built; upon which, David was excited to make preparations for the great work. David must not build, but he would do all he could; he prepared abundantly before his death. What our hands find to do for God, and our souls, and those round us, let us do it with all our might, before our death; for after death there is no device nor working. And when the Lord refuses to employ us in those services which we desired, we must not be discouraged or idle, but do what we can, though in a humbler sphere.
Verses 6-16
David gives Solomon the reason why he should build the temple. Because God named him. Nothing is more powerful to engage us in any service for God, than to know that we are appointed thereto. Because he would have leisure and opportunity to do it. He should have peace and quietness. Where God gives rest, he expects work. Because God had promised to establish his kingdom. God's gracious promises should quicken and strengthen our religious service. David delivered to Solomon an account of the vast preparations he had made for this building; not from pride and vain-glory, but to encourage Solomon to engage cheerfully in the great work. He must not think, by building the temple, to purchase a dispensation to sin; on the contrary, his doing that would not be accepted, if he did not take heed to fulfil the statutes of the Lord. In our spiritual work, as well as in our spiritual warfare, we have need of courage and resolution. (1Ch 22:17-19)
Verses 17-19
Whatever is done towards rendering the word of God generally known and attended to, is like bringing a stone, or an ingot of gold, towards erecting the temple. This should encourage us when we grieve that we do not see more fruit of our labours; much good may appear after our death, which we never thought of. Let us not then be weary of well doing. The work is in the hands of the Prince of peace. As he, the Author and Finisher of the work, is pleased to employ us as his instruments, let us arise and be doing, encouraging and helping one another; working by his rule, after his example, in dependence on his grace, assured that he will be with us, and that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.