1 Chronicles29
World English Bible · Public Domain
1David 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 Yahweh God.
2Now 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 colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
3In 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:
4even 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;
5of 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 Yahweh?”
6Then 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;
7and 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.
8People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of Yahweh’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
10Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
11Yours, Yahweh, 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, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all.
12Both riches and honor 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!
13Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.
14But 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.
15For 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.
16Yahweh 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.
17I 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.
18Yahweh, 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;
19and 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.”
20Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!” All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king.
21They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh 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,
22and ate and drank before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.
23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
24All the princes, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of King David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
25Yahweh 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.
26Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
27The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
28He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
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 events that involved him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the 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