1 Chronicles29
New International Version
1Then 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.
2With 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, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.
3Besides, 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:
4three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,
5for 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?”
6Then 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.
7They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron.
8Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9The 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.
10David 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.
11Yours, 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.
12Wealth 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.
13Now, 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.
15We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
16Lord 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.
17I 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.
18Lord, 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.
19And 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.”
20Then 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.
21The 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.
22They 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.
23So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him.
24All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25The 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.
26David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.
27He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
28He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.
29As 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,
30together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 29.
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.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
מֶלֶךְ: a king
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
קָהָל: assemblage (usually concretely)
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אֶחָד: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
בָּחַר: properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
נַעַר: (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 29David 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
Scriptural reference to the superior purity of 'the gold of Ophir' used in sacred construction.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes Jacob's confession of being a stranger and pilgrim, highlighting humanity's fleeting existence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
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
Confirms the exact timeline of David's forty-year reign over Hebron and Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The literal Hebrew phrase 'fill his hand' used for consecrating service to the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament theological exposition of the Old Testament confession of being strangers and pilgrims.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Provides a historical parallel to the massive scale of sacrifices offered at the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details the historic event of Solomon's public anointing to secure the royal succession.
Supported by Matthew Henry