11 Then David H1732 gave H5414 to Solomon H8010 his son H1121 the pattern H8403 of the porch, H197 and of the houses H1004 thereof, and of the treasuries H1597 thereof, and of the upper chambers H5944 thereof, and of the inner H6442 parlours H2315 thereof, and of the place H1004 of the mercy seat, H3727
All this, said David, the LORD H3068 made me understand H7919 in writing H3791 by his hand H3027 upon me, even all the works H4399 of this pattern. H8403
Who G3748 serve G3000 unto the example G5262 and G2532 shadow G4639 of heavenly things, G2032 as G2531 Moses G3475 was admonished of God G5537 when he was about G3195 to make G2005 the tabernacle: G4633 for, G1063 See, G3708 saith he, G5346 that thou make G4160 all things G3956 according to G2596 the pattern G5179 shewed G1166 to thee G4671 in G1722 the mount. G3735
And thou shalt make H6213 a mercy seat H3727 of pure H2889 gold: H2091 two cubits H520 and a half H2677 shall be the length H753 thereof, and a cubit H520 and a half H2677 the breadth H7341 thereof. And thou shalt make H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of gold, H2091 of beaten work H4749 shalt thou make H6213 them, in the two H8147 ends H7098 of the mercy seat. H3727 And make H6213 one H259 cherub H3742 on the one end, H7098 and the other H259 cherub H3742 on the other H2088 end: H7098 even of the mercy seat H3727 shall ye make H6213 the cherubims H3742 on the two H8147 ends H7098 thereof. And the cherubims H3742 shall stretch H6566 forth their wings H3671 on high, H4605 covering H5526 the mercy seat H3727 with their wings, H3671 and their faces H6440 shall look one H376 to another; H251 toward the mercy seat H3727 shall the faces H6440 of the cherubims H3742 be. And thou shalt put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark; H727 and in the ark H727 thou shalt put H5414 the testimony H5715 that I shall give H5414 thee. And there I will meet H3259 with thee, and I will commune H1696 with thee from above the mercy seat, H3727 from between H996 the two H8147 cherubims H3742 which are upon H5921 the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 of all things which I will give thee in commandment H6680 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
He measured H4058 also the porch H197 of the gate H8179 within, H1004 one H259 reed. H7070 Then measured H4058 he the porch H197 of the gate, H8179 eight H8083 cubits; H520 and the posts H352 thereof, two H8147 cubits; H520 and the porch H197 of the gate H8179 was inward. H1004
For G1063 there was G2680 a tabernacle G4633 made; G2680 the first, G4413 wherein G1722 G3739 G5037 was the candlestick, G3087 and G2532 the table, G5132 and G2532 the shewbread; G4286 G740 which G3748 is called G3004 the sanctuary. G39 And G1161 after G3326 the second G1208 veil, G2665 the tabernacle G4633 which G3588 is called G3004 the Holiest of all; G39 G39 Which had G2192 the golden G5552 censer, G2369 and G2532 the ark G2787 of the covenant G1242 overlaid G4028 round about G3840 with gold, G5553 wherein G1722 G3739 was the golden G5552 pot G4713 that had G2192 manna, G3131 and G2532 Aaron's G2 rod G4464 that budded, G985 and G2532 the tables G4109 of the covenant; G1242 And G1161 over G5231 it G846 the cherubims G5502 of glory G1391 shadowing G2683 the mercyseat; G2435 of G4012 which G3739 we cannot G3756 G2076 now G3568 speak G3004 particularly. G2596 G3313 Now G1161 when these things G5130 were G2680 thus G3779 ordained, G2680 the priests G2409 went G1524 always G1275 into G1519 G3303 the first G4413 tabernacle, G4633 accomplishing G2005 the service G2999 of God. But G1161 into G1519 the second G1208 went the high priest G749 alone G3441 once G530 every year, G1763 not G3756 without G5565 blood, G129 which G3739 he offered G4374 for G5228 himself, G1438 and G2532 for the errors G51 of the people: G2992 The Holy G40 Ghost G4151 this G5124 signifying, G1213 that the way G3598 into the holiest of all G39 was G5319 not yet G3380 made manifest, G5319 while as the first G4413 tabernacle G4633 was G2192 yet G2089 standing: G4714
And G1161 he looked up, G308 and saw G1492 the rich men G4145 casting G906 their G846 gifts G1435 into G1519 the treasury. G1049
Thou son H1121 of man, H120 shew H5046 the house H1004 to the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 that they may be ashamed H3637 of their iniquities: H5771 and let them measure H4058 the pattern. H8508 And if they be ashamed H3637 of all that they have done, H6213 shew H3045 them the form H6699 of the house, H1004 and the fashion H8498 thereof, and the goings out H4161 thereof, and the comings H4126 in thereof, and all the forms H6699 thereof, and all the ordinances H2708 thereof, and all the forms H6699 thereof, and all the laws H8451 thereof: and write H3789 it in their sight, H5869 that they may keep H8104 the whole form H6699 thereof, and all the ordinances H2708 thereof, and do H6213 them.
So he measured H4058 the house, H1004 an hundred H3967 cubits H520 long; H753 and the separate place, H1508 and the building, H1140 with the walls H7023 thereof, an hundred H3967 cubits H520 long; H753 Also the breadth H7341 of the face H6440 of the house, H1004 and of the separate place H1508 toward the east, H6921 an hundred H3967 cubits. H520 And he measured H4058 the length H753 of the building H1146 over against H6440 the separate place H1508 which was behind H310 it, and the galleries H862 thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred H3967 cubits, H520 with the inner H6442 temple, H1964 and the porches H197 of the court; H2691 The door posts, H5592 and the narrow H331 windows, H2474 and the galleries H862 round about H5439 on their three stories, H7969 over against H5048 the door, H5592 cieled H7824 with wood H6086 round about, H5439 and from the ground H776 up to the windows, H2474 and the windows H2474 were covered; H3680 To that above the door, H6607 even unto the inner H6442 house, H1004 and without, H2351 and by all the wall H7023 round about H5439 within H6442 and without, H2435 by measure. H4060
And the side H6763 chambers H6763 were three, H7969 one over another, H6763 and thirty H7970 in order; H6471 and they entered H935 into the wall H7023 which was of the house H1004 for the side chambers H6763 round about, H5439 that they might have hold, H270 but they had not hold H270 in the wall H7023 of the house. H1004 And there was an enlarging, H7337 and a winding about H5437 still upward H4605 to the side chambers: H6763 for the winding about H4141 of the house H1004 went still upward H4605 round about H5439 the house: H1004 therefore the breadth H7341 of the house H1004 was still upward, H4605 and so increased H5927 from the lowest H8481 chamber to the highest H5945 by the midst. H8484 I saw H7200 also the height H1363 of the house H1004 round about: H5439 the foundations H4328 of the side chambers H6763 were a full H4393 reed H7070 of six H8337 great H679 cubits. H520 The thickness H7341 of the wall, H7023 which was for the side chamber H6763 without, H2351 was five H2568 cubits: H520 and that which was left H3240 was the place H1004 of the side chambers H6763 that were within. H1004 And between the chambers H3957 was the wideness H7341 of twenty H6242 cubits H520 round about H5439 the house H1004 on every side. H5439 And the doors H6607 of the side chambers H6763 were toward the place that was left, H3240 one H259 door H6607 toward H1870 the north, H6828 and another H259 door H6607 toward the south: H1864 and the breadth H7341 of the place H4725 that was left H3240 was five H2568 cubits H520 round about. H5439
And he brought H935 me to the porch H197 of the house, H1004 and measured H4058 each post H352 of the porch, H197 five H2568 cubits H520 on this side, and five H2568 cubits H520 on that side: and the breadth H7341 of the gate H8179 was three H7969 cubits H520 on this side, and three H7969 cubits H520 on that side. The length H753 of the porch H197 was twenty H6242 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 eleven H6249 H6240 cubits; H520 and he brought me by the steps H4609 whereby they went up H5927 to it: and there were pillars H5982 by the posts, H352 one H259 on this side, and another H259 on that side.
And from the face H6440 of the gate H8179 of the entrance H2978 unto the face H6440 of the porch H197 of the inner H6442 gate H8179 were fifty H2572 cubits. H520
And he had prepared H6213 for him a great H1419 chamber, H3957 where aforetime H6440 they laid H5414 the meat offerings, H4503 the frankincense, H3828 and the vessels, H3627 and the tithes H4643 of the corn, H1715 the new wine, H8492 and the oil, H3323 which was commanded H4687 to be given to the Levites, H3881 and the singers, H7891 and the porters; H7778 and the offerings H8641 of the priests. H3548
And the priest H3548 the son H1121 of Aaron H175 shall be with the Levites, H3881 when the Levites H3881 take tithes: H6237 and the Levites H3881 shall bring up H5927 the tithe H4643 of the tithes H4643 unto the house H1004 of our God, H430 to the chambers, H3957 into the treasure H214 house. H1004 For the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Levi H3878 shall bring H935 the offering H8641 of the corn, H1715 of the new wine, H8492 and the oil, H3323 unto the chambers, H3957 where are the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary, H4720 and the priests H3548 that minister, H8334 and the porters, H7778 and the singers: H7891 and we will not forsake H5800 the house H1004 of our God. H430
Now these are the things wherein Solomon H8010 was instructed H3245 for the building H1129 of the house H1004 of God. H430 The length H753 by cubits H520 after the first H7223 measure H4060 was threescore H8346 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 twenty H6242 cubits. H520 And the porch H197 that was in the front H6440 of the house, the length H753 of it was according to the breadth H7341 of the house, H1004 twenty H6242 cubits, H520 and the height H1363 was an hundred H3967 and twenty: H6242 and he overlaid H6823 it within H6441 with pure H2889 gold. H2091 And the greater H1419 house H1004 he cieled H2645 with fir H1265 tree, H6086 which he overlaid H2645 with fine H2896 gold, H2091 and set H5927 thereon palm trees H8561 and chains. H8333 And he garnished H6823 the house H1004 with precious H3368 stones H68 for beauty: H8597 and the gold H2091 was gold H2091 of Parvaim. H6516 He overlaid H2645 also the house, H1004 the beams, H6982 the posts, H5592 and the walls H7023 thereof, and the doors H1817 thereof, with gold; H2091 and graved H6605 cherubims H3742 on the walls. H7023 And he made H6213 the most H6944 holy H6944 house, H1004 the length H753 whereof was according to H6440 the breadth H7341 of the house, H1004 twenty H6242 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 thereof twenty H6242 cubits: H520 and he overlaid H2645 it with fine H2896 gold, H2091 amounting to six H8337 hundred H3967 talents. H3603 And the weight H4948 of the nails H4548 was fifty H2572 shekels H8255 of gold. H2091 And he overlaid H2645 the upper chambers H5944 with gold. H2091 And in the most H6944 holy H6944 house H1004 he made H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of image H6816 work, H4639 and overlaid H6823 them with gold. H2091
And of the Levites, H3881 Ahijah H281 was over the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and over the treasures H214 of the dedicated things. H6944 As concerning the sons H1121 of Laadan; H3936 the sons H1121 of the Gershonite H1649 Laadan, H3936 chief H7218 fathers, H1 even of Laadan H3936 the Gershonite, H1649 were Jehieli. H3172 The sons H1121 of Jehieli; H3172 Zetham, H2241 and Joel H3100 his brother, H251 which were over the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 Of the Amramites, H6020 and the Izharites, H3325 the Hebronites, H2276 and the Uzzielites: H5817 And Shebuel H7619 the son H1121 of Gershom, H1647 the son H1121 of Moses, H4872 was ruler H5057 of the treasures. H214 And his brethren H251 by Eliezer; H461 Rehabiah H7345 his son, H1121 and Jeshaiah H3470 his son, H1121 and Joram H3141 his son, H1121 and Zichri H2147 his son, H1121 and Shelomith H8019 H8013 his son. H1121 Which Shelomith H8013 and his brethren H251 were over all the treasures H214 of the dedicated things, H6944 which David H1732 the king, H4428 and the chief H7218 fathers, H1 the captains H8269 over thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and the captains H8269 of the host, H6635 had dedicated. H6942 Out of the spoils H7998 won in battles H4421 did they dedicate H6942 to maintain H2388 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
For these Levites, H3881 the four H702 chief H1368 porters, H7778 were in their set office, H530 and were over the chambers H3957 and treasuries H214 of the house H1004 of God. H430 And they lodged H3885 round about H5439 the house H1004 of God, H430 because the charge H4931 was upon them, and the opening H4668 thereof every morning H1242 pertained to them. And certain of them had the charge of H5921 the ministering H5656 vessels, H3627 that they should bring them in H935 and out H3318 by tale. H4557 H4557 Some of them also were appointed H4487 to oversee the vessels, H3627 and all the instruments H3627 of the sanctuary, H6944 and the fine flour, H5560 and the wine, H3196 and the oil, H8081 and the frankincense, H3828 and the spices. H1314
And he built H1129 twenty H6242 cubits H520 on the sides H3411 of the house, H1004 both H4480 the floor H7172 and the walls H7023 with boards H6763 of cedar: H730 he even built H1129 them for it within, H1004 even for the oracle, H1687 even for the most H6944 holy H6944 place. And the house, H1004 that is, the temple H1964 before H3942 it, was forty H705 cubits H520 long. And the cedar H730 of the house H1004 within H6441 was carved H4734 with knops H6497 and open H6362 flowers: H6731 all was cedar; H730 there was no stone H68 seen. H7200 And the oracle H1687 he prepared H3559 in H8432 the house H1004 within, H6441 to set H5414 there the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD. H3068 And the oracle H1687 in the forepart H6440 was twenty H6242 cubits H520 in length, H753 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 in breadth, H7341 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 in the height H6967 thereof: and he overlaid H6823 it with pure H5462 gold; H2091 and so covered H6823 the altar H4196 which was of cedar. H730
And then he built H1129 chambers H3326 H3326 against all the house, H1004 five H2568 cubits H520 high: H6967 and they rested H270 on the house H1004 with timber H6086 of cedar. H730
And against the wall H7023 of the house H1004 he built H1129 chambers H3326 H3326 round about, H5439 against the walls H7023 of the house H1004 round about, H5439 both of the temple H1964 and of the oracle: H1687 and he made H6213 chambers H6763 round about: H5439 The nethermost H8481 chamber H3326 H3326 was five H2568 cubits H520 broad, H7341 and the middle H8484 was six H8337 cubits H520 broad, H7341 and the third H7992 was seven H7651 cubits H520 broad: H7341 for without in the wall of H2351 the house H1004 he made H5414 narrowed rests H4052 round about, H5439 that the beams should not be fastened H270 in the walls H7023 of the house. H1004
And he took H3947 and put H5414 the testimony H5715 into the ark, H727 and set H7760 the staves H905 on the ark, H727 and put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark: H727 And he brought H935 the ark H727 into the tabernacle, H4908 and set up H7760 the vail H6532 of the covering, H4539 and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the testimony; H5715 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
According to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so the children H1121 of Israel H3478 made H6213 all the work. H5656 And Moses H4872 did look H7200 upon all H3651 the work, H4399 and, behold, they had done H6213 it as the LORD H3068 had commanded, H6680 even so had they done H6213 it: and Moses H4872 blessed H1288 them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 28
David, having convened the principal men of the nation, declared Solomon his successor, whom God had chosen both to be king, and to build the temple, 1 Chronicles 28:1, and exhorted both them and him to serve the Lord, and build an house for him, 1 Chronicles 28:8, then gave Solomon the pattern of it, and an account of the materials he had prepared for it, 1 Chronicles 28:11, and encouraged him to go about the work with alacrity and intrepidity, 1 Chronicles 28:20.
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes,.... Whose names are given in 1 Chronicles 27:16.
and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course; monthly, each having 24,000 men under him, whose names are expressed, 1 Chronicles 27:2.
and the captains over the thousands; of which there were twenty four in a course, at the head of each 1000, under the chief captain:
and captains over the hundreds: centurions under the second captains:
and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons; whose names may be read in 1 Chronicles 27:25.
with the officers: the courtiers:
and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men; both men of valour, and of wealth and riches: these David
assembled unto Jerusalem; the metropolis of the kingdoms and where his court and palace were.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet,.... Rose from the bed or couch on which he lay, as Kimchi thinks, being somewhat recovered of his paralytic disorder, and being willing to exert himself on this occasion; or he rose up from the seat or throne, on which he before sat, in honour to this august assembly before him, and that he might be the more easily heard; for which reason we are toldF18Eustathius in Homer. Iliald. 1. p. 46. Vid, Iliad. 19. ver. 77, 79. it was a custom with the ancients even for kings to stand up when they had a number of people about them they spoke to; and if anyone sat it was reckoned a new and strange thing; so Agamemnon, when wounded, did not speak sitting, until he had made an excuse for it:
and said, hear me, my brethren, and my people; having something of moment and importance to say unto them, and which required their diligent attention; and though they were his subjects, he calls them his brethren, being of the same nation and religion, and to show his modesty and humility; in which he was a type of Christ, the King of kings, see Hebrews 2:11.
as for me, I had it in my heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord; where it might abide, and not be removed from place to place; the same he had told Solomon, 1 Chronicles 22:7.
and for the footstool of our God; or "even for it", for the ark is meant, which is so called, Psalm 99:5 for as the Lord sat between the cherubim over the mercy seat, the lid of the ark, it was, speaking after the manner of men, a footstool to him:
and had made ready for the building; prepared materials for it; see 1 Chronicles 22:4.
But God said unto me, thou shalt not build an house for my name,.... This he said by Nathan the prophet, 2 Samuel 7:5.
because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood: see 1 Chronicles 22:8.
Howbeit, the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever,.... Passing by all his brethren who were elder than he, he pitched upon him, and ordered him to be anointed king of Israel, see 1 Samuel 16:10, and that for ever, for a long time, as long as he lived; or rather in his posterity for many years to come, and best of all in his antitype Christ, the son of David, see Luke 1:32.
for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; the tribe of Judah to be the seat of government, and one out of that tribe to be the chief ruler, see 1 Chronicles 5:2.
and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; out of that tribe he chose his father's family, to take from thence one to be king of Israel:
and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel; though the youngest of them, 1 Samuel 16:11, this was his will and pleasure.
And of all my sons, for the Lord hath given me many sons,.... Whose names, and the order of their birth, may be read in 1 Chronicles 3:1.
he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel; to be his successor in it: this he says to observe to them, that this was not merely his own will and choice, nor the fruit and effect of a fond affection to Solomon; nor was it barely in pursuance of a promise made to Bathsheba, she had obtained of him; but it was according to the will and appointment of God, and therefore to be the more regarded.
And he said unto me, Solomon that son, he shall build my house,.... See 2 Samuel 7:13.
and my courts; in the house or temple:
for I have chosen him to be my son; predestinated him to the adoption of children, Ephesians 1:5.
and I will be his father; see 2 Samuel 7:14.
Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever,.... The same is said in 2 Samuel 7:13.
if he be constant to do my commandments, and my judgments, as at this day; if he continued in the observance of them, as he had begun, and went on in until that day; this is added here, and was not spoken by Nathan, when what goes before was; for Solomon was not then born, but must be suggested to David since, and as it should seem at this time.
Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord,.... Whom this assembly represented:
and in the audience of our God; before him, as Jarchi, in whose presence they were, and who heard and saw all that passed, and to whom David appeals as a witness; the Targum is,"before the Word of the Lord.'before whom all things are naked and open, Hebrews 4:12.
keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God; seek to know them, search for them in the word of God, and endeavour to keep them:
that ye may possess this good land; continue in the possession of it, for by their obedience they held it, Isaiah 1:19.
and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever; that so they might not be removed from it, and carried captive into other lands, as they were for their disobedience.
And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying:
know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him:
serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness:
for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him:
and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Genesis 6:5.
if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances:
he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isaiah 4:6.
but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship:
he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.
Take heed now,.... Of offending God by forsaking him; or see, consider, and observe now what he was further about to say to him, concerning the building of the temple, as follows:
for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary; a temple for the ark, called the sanctuary, Numbers 7:9 the Targum is, the Word of the Lord hath chosen thee, &c.
be strong, and do it, be of a good heart and courage, and set about it with vigour and resolution.
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch,.... The breadth, and length, and height of it, which was to be placed at the east end of the temple, and was the entrance into it:
and, of the houses thereof; the holy place, and the most holy, which latter is called the greater house, 2 Chronicles 3:5,
and of the treasures; where things belonging to the temple were laid up, the priests' vestments, and other things:
and of the upper chambers; where the priests lay or met for conversation, Jeremiah 35:2.
and of the inner parlours thereof; where the priests ate of the holy things; all these seem to he buildings against the wall of the temple round about, 1 Kings 6:5.
and of the place of the mercy seat: the holy of holies, where that, with the cherubim over it, and the ark under it, were placed.
By the Spirit of God, who gave him the whole form of the temple, and all things relative to it; just as God showed to Moses the pattern of the tabernacle in the mount; the Targum is, by the spirit of prophecy that was with him. The Jews suppose that Samuel the prophet was first made acquainted with it, and he made it known to David:
of the courts of the house of the Lord: the outward court, the court of the priests, &c.
and of all the chambers round about: see 1 Kings 6:5.
of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things; of the difference of which, see 1 Chronicles 26:20.
And also for the courses of the priests and Levites,.... Where they should serve, of which, as fixed and ordered by David, see 1 Chronicles 24:1.
and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord; they should be employed in:
and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord; which they should use therein.
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service,.... Whatever was to be made of gold, David was directed by the Spirit of God what weight or quantity of gold should be made use of in making it, as appears from some following instances: silver also
for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service; so likewise whatever instruments or vessels, for the service of the temple, were to be made of silver, he had a direction from the Spirit of God what weight each was to be of, or what quantity of silver was to be used in it, and this he gave; according to Jacob Jehudah LeonF19Relation of Memorable Things in the Tabernacle and Temple, ch. 4. p. 19. , the vessels of gold were 340,000, the vessels of silver 470,000, in all 810,000.
Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof,.... These candlesticks were ten, and each had seven lamps, and were placed five on one side the Mosaic candlestick, and five on the other, as say the Jews, see 1 Kings 7:49, and the weight of gold for each candlestick, according to the above writerF20Ibid. (Relation of Memorial Things in the Tabernacle and the Temple, ch. 4.) p. 20. , was one hundred pounds; and for both candlesticks and lamps, David, by the Spirit of God, was directed to give:
and for the candlesticks of silver, by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick; the weight of silver for them was fixed; of these nowhere else read. Kimchi thinks these were for the chambers of the priests, to give them light when they ate and lay there.
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table,.... For though there were but one table for the shewbread in the tabernacle of Moses, there were ten in the temple of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 4:8 and each of them contained one hundred pounds in weightF21Jacob Leon, ibid. (Relation of Memorable Things in the Tabernacle and Temple, ch. 4. p. 20.) :
and likewise silver for the tables of silver; these were placed in the court, as Jarchi thinks, on which they flayed the sacrifices; or, as Kimchi, on which they slew them, and laid the flesh of the burnt offerings on them, which he gathers from Ezekiel 40:39.
Also pure gold for the flesh hooks,.... To take the pieces of flesh out of the pots, in which they were boiled:
and the bowls and the cups; and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; which were vessels made use of for the receiving and sprinkling the blood of the sacrifices: likewise silver
by weight for every basin of silver; for it seems some of them were of silver, as others were of gold.
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight,.... This was also one hundred pounds weight in gold, with which it was to be overlaidF23Ibid. (Relation of Memorable Things in the Tabernacle and Temple, ch. 4. p. 20.) :
and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim; which were two large ones, besides those which Moses made; and these were not made of gold, as they were, but overlaid with it, see 1 Kings 6:23 which with them made four; and to which the four living creatures in Ezekiel's vision allude, and make the "mercavah", or chariot, the Jews so much speak of, perhaps from this and other like phrases; and the Lord sitting here as in a chariot, not only denotes the glory and splendour of the Shechinah, or divine Majesty; but, as some observe, his readiness to ride off and depart, when displeased and provoked, see Ezekiel 10:18,
that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord; not that spread their wings over the ark, and covered it, that the Mosaic cherubim did; but these spread their wings before it from wall to wall, so that it could not be seen by any that turned aside the vail, and even by the high priest when he entered into the holy of holies: the ark, with the cherubim, which were on that, weighed two hundred pounds of pure gold, according to the Jacob LeonF24Ibid. .
All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me,.... Either by an impulse of his Spirit on him, whereby it was as it were written on his mind, and as clearly represented to him, as if he had it in writing before him; though the Jews think that all was first made known to Samuel, or some other prophet, who delivered it to David in writing, as from the Lord: but I see not why it may not be understood that David had the pattern of the temple, and all things relative to it, by an handwriting from the Lord himself, through the ministry of angels, as Moses received the two tables, the handwriting of the Lord, from himself; for the words, as they lie in order in the Hebrew text, are, the whole of this "in writing from the hand of the Lord, unto me, he made me to understand: even all the works of this pattern"; the particulars of which are given before.
And David said to Solomon his son, be strong, and of good courage, and do it,.... See Gill on 1 Chronicles 28:10.
fear not, nor be dismayed; that thou shalt meet with any opposition in the work, or not be able to finish it for want of materials and workmen, or money to pay them:
for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; to guide and direct, prosper and succeed; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord God, my God, will be thy help:"
he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee; a promise made to Joshua, and is applicable to every good man in whatsoever good work he is concerned, Joshua 1:5,
until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord; built the temple, and all the apartments of it, and courts belonging to it, and made and provided all the utensils and vessels necessary for the service and worship of God.
And, behold, all the courses of the priests and the Levites,.... Which David had lately fixed to take their turns in the temple, when built: even they shall be with thee
for all the service of the house of God; to advise and assist him in everything relating to the service of the sanctuary, which they might be supposed best to understand:
and there shall be with thee, for all manner of workmanship, every willing skilful man for any manner of service; men that were not only well skilled in all manner of curious work that was necessary for the service of the house, but were willing to employ their skill to the uttermost for it, and such David had provided, 1 Chronicles 22:15,
also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment: to do whatever he should order, whether to overlook the workmen, or to contribute to the expenses of the work.