1 Chronicles 29:2 Komentář

David has said what he had to say to Solomon. But he had something more to say to the congregation before he parted with them. I. He pressed them to contribute, according to their ability, towards the building and furnishing of the temple (Ch1 29:1-5). II. They made their presents accordingly with great generosity (Ch1 29:6-9). III. David offered up solemn prayers and praises to God upon that occasion (Ch1 29:10-20), with sacrifices (Ch1 29:21, Ch1 29:22). IV. Solomon was hereupon enthroned, with great joy and magnificence (Ch1 29:23-25). V. David, soon after this finished his course (Ch1 29:26-30). And it is hard to say which shines brighter here, the setting sun or the rising sun.

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, Ch1 29:1 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, Ch1 29:9 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, Ch1 29:22.

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God,.... According to the utmost of his ability for the building and decorating of it: the gold for the things to be made of gold; as the candlesticks, shewbread tables, &c. and the silver for things of silver; as for basins, &c. and the brass for things of brass; as the brasen altar, brasen laver: and iron for things of iron; for nails, hinges, &c. and wood for things of wood; for rafters, ceilings, floors, &c. onyx stones; the Targum, stones of beryl: and stones to be set; other precious stones to be set in gold and silver: glistering stones; the Targum, emeralds; the word is used for stibium, or black lead, with which women painted their eyes; and so may signify black stones, like black lead; as white marble is after mentioned, perhaps black is here meant, or such stones Solomon paved the ways with leading to Jerusalem (y): but as such stones are not very glistering, there seems to be no reason for such an epithet; unless the stone "phengites" should be meant, which was a clear bright stone, and served for looking glasses. Domitian the Roman emperor, when under suspicion of being murdered by persons he had offended, garnished the porticos of his palace with this stone, which was of such brightness, that by the images formed in it he could see what was behind him (z); and so Lucian speaks (a) of Astarte having a splendid stone about her, called which in the night gave much light to the temple, but shone weakly in the day time, and looked like fire: and of divers colours; that is, stones of various colours, as jaspers, amethysts, &c. Kimchi interprets it of embroidered clothes, and garments of needlework, and in these precious stones were sometimes inserted: and all manner of precious stones; as pearls, diamonds, &c. it is hard to say what all these precious stones were for; Jarchi and Kimchi think they were to decorate the walls overlaid with gold, in which they were set; it is certain they were for garnishing and beautifying the house, see Ch2 3:6. and marble stones in abundance; for pillars, tables, and pavement, as Jarchi; this was Parian marble, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; the whitest of marble (b), found the island of Paros, and which agrees with the word here used. (y) Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 4. (z) Sueton. Vit. Domitian. c. 14. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 22. Isidor. Origin. l. 16. c. 4. (a) De Dea Syria. (b) "----Pario marmore purius." Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 19.

What color the stones were with which the temple was made is openly stated in the book of Paralipomenon when David said to Solomon on showing him the materials of the temple that he had procured, “I have prepared all manner of precious stones and marble of Paros in great abundance.” White marble is called Parian marble because it was produced on the island of that name. Hence the poet writes of it: “[past the] Isle of Olives, and then past snow-white Paros and the Cyclades sprinkled about the sea we sped o’er the waters tossed by many a wind.”

David enumerates the gifts which he designed for the building of the temple; and exhorts the princes and people to make their offerings, Ch1 29:1-5. They offer willingly, and to a great amount, Ch1 29:6-9. David's thanksgiving and prayer to God on the occasion, Ch1 29:10-19. The princes and people praise God, offer sacrifices and feasts before him, make Solomon King, and do him homage, Ch1 29:20-24. The Lord magnifies Solomon, Ch1 29:25. Concluding account of David's reign, character, and death, Ch1 29:26-30.

And marble stones - אבני שיש abney shayish, which the Vulgate translates marmor Parium, Parian marble. Paros was one of the Cyclade islands, and produced the whitest and finest marble, that of which most of the finest works of antiquity have been made. That the word shaish means marble is probable from the Chaldee, which has אבני מרמורייה abney marmoraiyah, marble stones. Josephus says that the temple was built of large blocks of white marble, beautifully polished, so as to produce a most splendid appearance. - Jos., De Bell. Jud., lib. v., c. 5, s. 2.

DAVID CAUSES THE PRINCES AND PEOPLE TO OFFER FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD. (Ch1 29:1-9) Solomon . . . is yet young and tender--Though Solomon was very young when he was raised to the sovereign power, his kingdom escaped the woe pronounced (Ecc 10:16). Mere childhood in a prince is not always a misfortune to a nation, as there are instances of the government being wisely administered during a minority. Solomon himself is a most illustrious proof that a young prince may prove a great blessing; for when he was but a mere child, with respect to his age, no nation was happier. His father, however, made this address before Solomon was endowed with the divine gift of wisdom, and David's reference to his son's extreme youth, in connection with the great national undertaking he had been divinely appointed to execute, was to apologize to this assembly of the estates--or, rather, to assign the reason of his elaborate preparations for the work.

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, Ch1 29:1 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, Ch1 29:9 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, Ch1 29:22.

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God,.... According to the utmost of his ability for the building and decorating of it: the gold for the things to be made of gold; as the candlesticks, shewbread tables, &c. and the silver for things of silver; as for basins, &c. and the brass for things of brass; as the brasen altar, brasen laver: and iron for things of iron; for nails, hinges, &c. and wood for things of wood; for rafters, ceilings, floors, &c. onyx stones; the Targum, stones of beryl: and stones to be set; other precious stones to be set in gold and silver: glistering stones; the Targum, emeralds; the word is used for stibium, or black lead, with which women painted their eyes; and so may signify black stones, like black lead; as white marble is after mentioned, perhaps black is here meant, or such stones Solomon paved the ways with leading to Jerusalem (y): but as such stones are not very glistering, there seems to be no reason for such an epithet; unless the stone "phengites" should be meant, which was a clear bright stone, and served for looking glasses. Domitian the Roman emperor, when under suspicion of being murdered by persons he had offended, garnished the porticos of his palace with this stone, which was of such brightness, that by the images formed in it he could see what was behind him (z); and so Lucian speaks (a) of Astarte having a splendid stone about her, called which in the night gave much light to the temple, but shone weakly in the day time, and looked like fire: and of divers colours; that is, stones of various colours, as jaspers, amethysts, &c. Kimchi interprets it of embroidered clothes, and garments of needlework, and in these precious stones were sometimes inserted: and all manner of precious stones; as pearls, diamonds, &c. it is hard to say what all these precious stones were for; Jarchi and Kimchi think they were to decorate the walls overlaid with gold, in which they were set; it is certain they were for garnishing and beautifying the house, see Ch2 3:6. and marble stones in abundance; for pillars, tables, and pavement, as Jarchi; this was Parian marble, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; the whitest of marble (b), found the island of Paros, and which agrees with the word here used. (y) Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 4. (z) Sueton. Vit. Domitian. c. 14. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 22. Isidor. Origin. l. 16. c. 4. (a) De Dea Syria. (b) "----Pario marmore purius." Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 19.