1 Chronicles Chapter 29
1 David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, of various colours, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
3 In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
4 even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;
5 of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to the LORD?"
6 Then the princes of the fathers' households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king's work, offered willingly;
7 and they gave for the service of God's house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents.
8 People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the LORD's house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said, "You are blessed, LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all!
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own.
15 For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining.
16 LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own.
17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.
18 LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you;
19 and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision."
20 Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God!" All the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king.
21 They sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings to the LORD, on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
22 and ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before the LORD to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.
23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
24 All the princes, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
25 The LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and gave to him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
26 Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
28 He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,
30 with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
Footnotes
- Verse 4 (Talent)
- A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 3000 talents is about 90 metric tonnes
- Verse 4 (Talent)
- A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 7000 talents is about 210 metric tonnes
- Verse 7 (Talent)
- A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 5000 talents is about 150 metric tonnes
- Verse 7 (Darlic)
- a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.
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1 Chronicles Chapter 29 Guide
This is the account of the final stage in the greatest work of David's life, namely, his preparation for building the Temple. The king had a treasure of his own, over and above what he had gathered for the house of God.
Because of his affection for the work of God, this treasure also he dedicated thereto. This is illuminative, showing the true method of giving. It is when "my affection" is set on the work of "my God" that "my treasure" is at His Disposal. And yet, again, it is when such is the case that any appeal I make to others is likely to be productive of results. Heart-inspired generosity is the most contagious grace. Notice very carefully how this section ends. "Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord." To have real delight in the work of God one must give to it. The real pleasure of a great work is consecrated co-operation.
The king now stood amidst his people and exercised a priestly function. He voiced his own and the people's joy in a psalm of great beauty. First, it ascribes all inherent excellencies to Jehovah, and recognizes His throne and Kingdom. Then it recognizes that all the riches and honour which men possess are from Him. Thus it acknowledges the fitness of their giving their best to Him, and at the same time confesses that their very gifts have &st been received from Him. This thought is then elaborated in a confession of personal poverty and unworthiness, together with a great outpouring of gladness that of His gifts they had given to Him. The praise merges into a prayer that the state of mind in which they have given may be kept in their remembrance, and for Solomon that he may be kept with perfect heart to accomplish the great work.
In connection with this glad and solemn season of worship and sacrifice Solomon was crowned the second time. Finally, the chronicler declares that David "died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour." In very truth it had been a great reign. Through varied experiences the king had come at last to the highest that was in him, and, as Paul declared, "David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell on sleep" (Acts 13:36).
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Chronicles Chapter 29 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David induces the princes and people to offer willingly. (1-9)
- His thanksgiving and prayer. (10-19)
- Solomon enthroned. (20-25)
- David's reign and death. (26-30)
Verses 1-9
What is done in works of piety and charity, should be done willingly, not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. David set a good example. This David offered, not from constraint, or for show; but because he had set his affection to the house of God, and thought he could never do enough towards promoting that good work. Those who would draw others to good, must lead the way themselves.
Verses 10-19
We cannot form a right idea of the magnificence of the temple, and the buildings around it, about which such quantities of gold and silver were employed. But the unsearchable riches of Christ exceed the splendour of the temple, infinitely more than that surpassed the meanest cottage on earth. Instead of boasting of these large oblations, David gave solemn thanks to the Lord. All they gave for the Lord's temple was his own; if they attempted to keep it, death would soon have removed them from it. The only use they could make of it to their real advantage, was, to consecrate it to the service of Him who gave it.
Verses 20-25
This great assembly joined with David in adoring God. Whoever is the mouth of the congregation, those only have the benefit who join him, not by bowing down the head, so much as by lifting up the soul. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord. Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.
Verses 26-30
When we read the second book of Samuel, we could scarcely have expected to behold David appear so illustrious in his closing scene. But his repentance had been as remarkable as his sin; and his conduct during his afflictions, and towards the end of his life, appears to have had a good effect on his subjects. Blessed be God, even the chief of sinners may hope for a glorious departure, when brought to repent and flee for refuge to the Saviour's atoning blood. Let us mark the difference between the spirit and character of the man after God's own heart, living and dying, and those of worthless professors, who resemble him in nothing but their sins, and who wickedly try to excuse their crimes by his sins. Let us watch and pray, lest we be overcome by temptation, and overtaken by sin, to the dishonour of God, and the wounding of our own consciences. When we feel that we have offended, let us follow David's example of repentance and patience, looking for a glorious resurrection, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.