1 Chronicles 29ASV
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1 Chronicles29

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And David the king said unto all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God.

2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

3Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

4even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, wherewith to overlay the walls of the houses;

5of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto Jehovah?

6Then the princes of the fathers’ houses, 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;

7and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents.

8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Jehovah, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Jehovah: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

11Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.

12Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

16O Jehovah our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name cometh of thy hand, and is all thine own.

17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.

18O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee;

19and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.

20And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king.

21And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,

22and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.

23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

25And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

26Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

27And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

28And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

29Now 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,

30with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 29.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: 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).

vv1-9

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.

vv10-19

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.

vv20-25

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.

Cross References

1 Chronicles 29
v5Exodus 25:2thematic

David models his appeal for freewill temple contributions after Moses' collection for the tabernacle.

Supported by JFB

Solomon sitting on 'the throne of the Lord' as chosen successor, fulfilling the divine kingdom's direct representation.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Direct parallel to David's vast public preparations of gold, silver, brass, and iron.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Job 28:16thematic

Scriptural reference to the superior purity of 'the gold of Ophir' used in sacred construction.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v15Genesis 47:9allusion

Echoes Jacob's confession of being a stranger and pilgrim, highlighting humanity's fleeting existence.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15Psalms 39:12thematic

David's poetic prayer confessing that he and his people are but strangers and sojourners.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Identifies Jehiel the Gershonite's family as the designated keepers of the house treasures.

Supported by JFB

v11Matthew 6:13allusion

Echoes David's magnificent doxology of kingdom, power, and glory in the Lord's Prayer.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Reiterates David's charge that the Lord searches all hearts and understands every imagination.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v272 Samuel 5:4thematic

Confirms the exact timeline of David's forty-year reign over Hebron and Jerusalem.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v5Exodus 32:29allusion

The literal Hebrew phrase 'fill his hand' used for consecrating service to the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v15Hebrews 11:13thematic

New Testament theological exposition of the Old Testament confession of being strangers and pilgrims.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v211 Kings 8:62-65thematic

Provides a historical parallel to the massive scale of sacrifices offered at the temple.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v221 Kings 1:34-39thematic

Details the historic event of Solomon's public anointing to secure the royal succession.

Supported by Matthew Henry