1 Chronicles 29

Gifts for Building the Temple

1 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.

2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,^[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.

3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:

4 three thousand talents^[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents^[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,

5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today?”

6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.

7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents^[d] and ten thousand darics^[e] of gold, ten thousand talents^[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents^[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents^[h] of iron.

8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.

9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

16 LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.

19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king.

Solomon Acknowledged as King

21 The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

22 They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest.

23 So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him.

24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.

25 The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.

The Death of David

26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.

27 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.

29 As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer,

30 together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.

1 Chronicles 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

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. They 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 3:7; 1 Chronicles 22:5; 2 Chronicles 13:7
• 2. ver 7,14,16; Ezra 1:4; Ezra 6:5; Haggai 2:8
• 3. Isaiah 54:11
• 4. 1 Chronicles 22:2-5
• 5. 2 Chronicles 24:10; 2 Chronicles 31:3; 2 Chronicles 35:8
• 6. S Genesis 10:29
• 7. 1 Chronicles 22:14
• 8. 1 Chronicles 27:1; S 1 Chronicles 28:1
• 9. ver 9; Exodus 25:1-8; Exodus 35:20-29; Exodus 36:2; 2 Chronicles 24:10; Ezra 7:15
• 10. S Exodus 25:2; Nehemiah 7:70-71
• 11. Exodus 35:27
• 12. S 1 Chronicles 26:21
• 13. 1 Kings 8:61; 2 Corinthians 9:7
• 14. Psalms 24:8; Psalms 59:17; Psalms 62:11
• 15. Psalms 89:11
• 16. Revelation 5:12-13
• 17. 2 Chronicles 1:12; 2 Chronicles 32:27; Ezra 7:27; Ecclesiastes 5:19
• 18. 2 Chronicles 20:6; Romans 11:36
• 19. Psalms 8:4; Psalms 144:3
• 20. S ver 2
• 21. S Genesis 17:8; S Genesis 23:4; Psalms 39:12; S Hebrews 11:13
• 22. Job 7:6; Job 8:9; Job 14:2; Job 32:7; Psalms 102:11; Psalms 144:4; Ecclesiastes 6:12
• 23. Psalms 139:23; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 17:3; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10
• 24. 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalms 15:1-5; Proverbs 11:20
• 25. S 1 Kings 8:61; 1 Kings 11:4; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Isaiah 38:3
• 26. Psalms 72:1
• 27. S 1 Chronicles 22:14
• 28. S 1 Kings 8:62
• 29. 1 Chronicles 11:1
• 30. 1 Chronicles 12:40; 1 Chronicles 23:1
• 31. S 1 Samuel 2:35; 1 Kings 1:33-39
• 32. S Deuteronomy 17:18
• 33. S 1 Kings 2:12; S 1 Chronicles 17:14
• 34. 1 Kings 1:9
• 35. S Joshua 3:7
• 36. 1 Kings 10:7; 2 Chronicles 1:1,12
• 37. 1 Kings 3:13; Ecclesiastes 2:9
• 38. 1 Chronicles 18:14
• 39. 1 Chronicles 11:1
• 40. S Genesis 23:19
• 41. 2 Samuel 5:4-5; 1 Kings 2:11; S 1 Chronicles 3:4
• 42. S Genesis 15:15; Acts 13:36
• 43. S 1 Chronicles 23:1
• 44. S 1 Samuel 9:9
• 45. S 2 Samuel 7:2
• 46. S 1 Samuel 22:5

Footnotes

• [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
• [b]. That is, about 110 tons or about 100 metric tons
• [c]. That is, about 260 tons or about 235 metric tons
• [d]. That is, about 190 tons or about 170 metric tons
• [e]. That is, about 185 pounds or about 84 kilograms
• [f]. That is, about 380 tons or about 340 metric tons
• [g]. That is, about 675 tons or about 610 metric tons
• [h]. That is, about 3,800 tons or about 3,400 metric tons

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 29

This chapter relates how largely and liberally David, besides what he had before done, and his princes, offered towards defraying the expenses of building the temple, 1Ch 29:1-8 and the joy and thankfulness that he and his people expressed on that account, attended with prayers for Solomon, and offering sacrifices unto the Lord, 1Ch 29:9-21 and the chapter is closed, and so the book, with an account of the second unction of Solomon, the placing him on the throne, and the submission of all ranks of men unto him, and of the death of David, 1Ch 29:22-30.