18 And for the altar H4196 of incense H7004 refined H2212 gold H2091 by weight; H4948 and gold H2091 for the pattern H8403 of the chariot H4818 of the cherubims, H3742 that spread out H6566 their wings, and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD. H3068
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
And thou shalt make H6213 an altar H4196 to burn H4729 incense H7004 upon: of shittim H7848 wood H6086 shalt thou make H6213 it. A cubit H520 shall be the length H753 thereof, and a cubit H520 the breadth H7341 thereof; foursquare H7251 shall it be: and two cubits H520 shall be the height H6967 thereof: the horns H7161 thereof shall be of the same. And thou shalt overlay H6823 it with pure H2889 gold, H2091 the top H1406 thereof, and the sides H7023 thereof round about, H5439 and the horns H7161 thereof; and thou shalt make H6213 unto it a crown H2213 of gold H2091 round about. H5439 And two H8147 golden H2091 rings H2885 shalt thou make H6213 to it under the crown H2213 of it, by the two H8147 corners H6763 thereof, upon the two H8147 sides H6654 of it shalt thou make H6213 it; and they shall be for places H1004 for the staves H905 to bear H5375 it withal. H1992 And thou shalt make H6213 the staves H905 of shittim H7848 wood, H6086 and overlay H6823 them with gold. H2091 And thou shalt put H5414 it before H6440 the vail H6532 that is by the ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 before H6440 the mercy seat H3727 that is over the testimony, H5715 where I will meet H3259 with thee. And Aaron H175 shall burn H6999 thereon sweet H5561 incense H7004 every morning: H1242 when he dresseth H3190 the lamps, H5216 he shall burn incense H6999 upon it. And when Aaron H175 lighteth H5927 the lamps H5216 at even, H6153 he shall burn incense H6999 upon it, a perpetual H8548 incense H7004 before H6440 the LORD H3068 throughout your generations. H1755 Ye shall offer H5927 no strange H2114 incense H7004 thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, H5930 nor meat offering; H4503 neither shall ye pour H5258 drink offering H5262 thereon. And Aaron H175 shall make an atonement H3722 upon the horns H7161 of it once H259 in a year H8141 with the blood H1818 of the sin offering H2403 of atonements: H3725 once H259 in the year H8141 shall he make atonement H3722 upon it throughout your generations: H1755 it is most H6944 holy H6944 unto the LORD. H3068
So the people H5971 sent H7971 to Shiloh, H7887 that they might bring H5375 from thence the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 which dwelleth H3427 between the cherubims: H3742 and the two H8147 sons H1121 of Eli, H5941 Hophni H2652 and Phinehas, H6372 were there with the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God. H430
And within the oracle H1687 he made H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of olive H8081 tree, H6086 each ten H6235 cubits H520 high. H6967 And five H2568 cubits H520 was the one H259 wing H3671 of the cherub, H3742 and five H2568 cubits H520 the other H8145 wing H3671 of the cherub: H3742 from the uttermost part H7098 of the one wing H3671 unto the uttermost part H7098 of the other H3671 were ten H6235 cubits. H520 And the other H8145 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits: H520 both H8147 the cherubims H3742 were of one H259 measure H4060 and one H259 size. H7095 The height H6967 of the one H259 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits, H520 and so was it of the other H8145 cherub. H3742 And he set H5414 the cherubims H3742 within H8432 the inner H6442 house: H1004 and they stretched forth H6566 the wings H3671 of the cherubims, H3742 so that the wing H3671 of the one H259 touched H5060 the one wall, H7023 and the wing H3671 of the other H8145 cherub H3742 touched H5060 the other H8145 wall; H7023 and their wings H3671 touched H5060 one H3671 another H3671 in the midst H8432 of the house. H1004 And he overlaid H6823 the cherubims H3742 with gold. H2091 And he carved H7049 all the walls H7023 of the house H1004 round about H4524 with carved H6603 figures H4734 of cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561 and open H6362 flowers, H6731 within H6441 and without. H2435 And the floor H7172 of the house H1004 he overlaid H6823 with gold, H2091 within H6441 and without. H2435
The chariots H7393 of God H430 are twenty thousand, H7239 even thousands H505 of angels: H8136 the Lord H136 is among them, as in Sinai, H5514 in the holy H6944 place.
Now as I beheld H7200 the living creatures, H2416 behold one H259 wheel H212 upon the earth H776 by H681 the living creatures, H2416 with his four H702 faces. H6440 The appearance H4758 of the wheels H212 and their work H4639 was like unto the colour H5869 of a beryl: H8658 and they four H702 had one H259 likeness: H1823 and their appearance H4758 and their work H4639 was as it were a wheel H212 in the middle H8432 of a wheel. H212 When they went, H3212 they went H3212 upon their four H702 sides: H7253 and they turned H5437 not when they went. H3212 As for their rings, H1354 they were so high H1363 that they were dreadful; H3374 and their rings H1354 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about H5439 them four. H702 And when the living creatures H2416 went, H3212 the wheels H212 went H3212 by them: H681 and when the living creatures H2416 were lifted up H5375 from the earth, H776 the wheels H212 were lifted up. H5375 Whithersoever the spirit H7307 was to go, H3212 they went, H3212 thither was their spirit H7307 to go; H3212 and the wheels H212 were lifted up H5375 over against H5980 them: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in the wheels. H212 When those went, H3212 these went; H3212 and when those stood, H5975 these stood; H5975 and when those were lifted up H5375 from the earth, H776 the wheels H212 were lifted up H5375 over against H5980 them: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in the wheels. H212 And the likeness H1823 of the firmament H7549 upon the heads H7218 of the living creature H2416 was as the colour H5869 of the terrible H3372 crystal, H7140 stretched forth H5186 over their heads H7218 above. H4605 And under the firmament H7549 were their wings H3671 straight, H3477 the one H802 toward the other: H269 every one H376 had two, H8147 which covered H3680 on this side, H2007 and every one H376 had two, H8147 which covered H3680 on that side, H2007 their bodies. H1472 And when they went, H3212 I heard H8085 the noise H6963 of their wings, H3671 like the noise H6963 of great H7227 waters, H4325 as the voice H6963 of the Almighty, H7706 the voice H6963 of speech, H1999 as the noise H6963 of an host: H4264 when they stood, H5975 they let down H7503 their wings. H3671
And he spake H559 unto the man H376 clothed H3847 with linen, H906 and said, H559 Go in H935 between H996 the wheels, H1534 even under the cherub, H3742 and fill H4390 thine hand H2651 with coals H1513 of fire H784 from between H996 the cherubims, H3742 and scatter H2236 them over the city. H5892 And he went in H935 in my sight. H5869 Now the cherubims H3742 stood H5975 on the right side H3225 of the house, H1004 when the man H376 went in; H935 and the cloud H6051 filled H4390 the inner H6442 court. H2691 Then the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 went up H7311 from the cherub, H3742 and stood over the threshold H4670 of the house; H1004 and the house H1004 was filled H4390 with the cloud, H6051 and the court H2691 was full H4390 of the brightness H5051 of the LORD'S H3068 glory. H3519 And the sound H6963 of the cherubims' H3742 wings H3671 was heard H8085 even to the outer H2435 court, H2691 as the voice H6963 of the Almighty H7706 God H410 when he speaketh. H1696 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded H6680 the man H376 clothed H3847 with linen, H906 saying, H559 Take H3947 fire H784 from between the wheels, H1534 from between the cherubims; H3742 then he went in, H935 and stood H5975 beside H681 the wheels. H212 And one cherub H3742 stretched forth H7971 his hand H3027 from between the cherubims H3742 unto the fire H784 that was between the cherubims, H3742 and took H5375 thereof, and put H5414 it into the hands H2651 of him that was clothed H3847 with linen: H906 who took H3947 it, and went out. H3318 And there appeared H7200 in the cherubims H3742 the form H8403 of a man's H120 hand H3027 under their wings. H3671 And when I looked, H7200 behold the four H702 wheels H212 by H681 the cherubims, H3742 one H259 wheel H212 by H681 one H259 cherub, H3742 and another H259 wheel H212 by H681 another H259 cherub: H3742 and the appearance H4758 of the wheels H212 was as the colour H5869 of a beryl H8658 stone. H68 And as for their appearances, H4758 they four H702 had one H259 likeness, H1823 as if a wheel H212 had been in the midst H8432 of a wheel. H212 When they went, H3212 they went H3212 upon their four H702 sides; H7253 they turned H5437 not as they went, H3212 but to the place H4725 whither the head H7218 looked H6437 they followed H3212 H310 it; they turned H5437 not as they went. H3212 And their whole body, H1320 and their backs, H1354 and their hands, H3027 and their wings, H3671 and the wheels, H212 were full H4392 of eyes H5869 round about, H5439 even the wheels H212 that they four H702 had. As for the wheels, H212 it was cried H7121 unto them in my hearing, H241 O wheel. H1534 And every one H259 had four H702 faces: H6440 the first H259 face H6440 was the face H6440 of a cherub, H3742 and the second H8145 face H6440 was the face H6440 of a man, H120 and the third H7992 the face H6440 of a lion, H738 and the fourth H7243 the face H6440 of an eagle. H5404 And the cherubims H3742 were lifted up. H7426 This is the living creature H2416 that I saw H7200 by the river H5104 of Chebar. H3529 And when the cherubims H3742 went, H3212 the wheels H212 went H3212 by them: H681 and when the cherubims H3742 lifted up H5375 their wings H3671 to mount up H7311 from the earth, H776 the same wheels H212 also H1992 turned H5437 not from beside H681 them. When they stood, H5975 these stood; H5975 and when they were lifted up, H7311 these lifted up H7426 themselves also: for the spirit H7307 of the living creature H2416 was in them. Then the glory H3519 of the LORD H3068 departed H3318 from off the threshold H4670 of the house, H1004 and stood H5975 over the cherubims. H3742 And the cherubims H3742 lifted up H5375 their wings, H3671 and mounted up H7426 from the earth H776 in my sight: H5869 when they went out, H3318 the wheels H212 also were beside H5980 them, and every one stood H5975 at the door H6607 of the east H6931 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house; H1004 and the glory H3519 of the God H430 of Israel H3478 was over them above. H4605 This is the living creature H2416 that I saw H7200 under the God H430 of Israel H3478 by the river H5104 of Chebar; H3529 and I knew H3045 that they were the cherubims. H3742 Every one H259 had four H702 faces H6440 apiece, H259 and every one H259 four H702 wings; H3671 and the likeness H1823 of the hands H3027 of a man H120 was under their wings. H3671 And the likeness H1823 of their faces H6440 was the same H1992 faces H6440 which I saw H7200 by the river H5104 of Chebar, H3529 their appearances H4758 and themselves: they went H3212 every one H376 straight H5676 forward. H6440
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
David's Last Directions, and His Death - 1 Chronicles 28-29
In order to give over the throne before his death to his son Solomon, and so secure to him the succession, and facilitate his accomplishment of the great work of his reign, the building of the temple, David summoned the estates of his kingdom, the court officials, and the heroes of the people in Jerusalem. In a solemn address he designated Solomon as his divinely chosen successor on the throne, and exhorted him to keep the commandments of God, to serve the Lord with devoted heart, and to build Him a house for a sanctuary (1 Chronicles 28:1-10). He then committed to Solomon the sketches and plans for the sacred buildings and sacred objects of various sorts, with the confident promise that he, by the help of God, and with the co-operation of the priests and of the people, would complete the work (1 Chronicles 28:11-21). Finally, he announced, in the presence of the whole assembly, that he gave over his treasures of gold and silver to this building, and called upon the chiefs of the people and kingdom for a voluntary contribution for the same purpose; and on their freely answering this call, concluded with a solemn prayer of thanks, to which the whole assembly responded, bowing low before God and the king (29:1-20). This reverence they confirmed by numerous burnt-offerings and thank-offerings, and by the repeated anointing of Solomon to be king (1 Chronicles 29:21 and 1 Chronicles 29:22).
David summoned the estates of the kingdom, and presented Solomon to them as his divinely chosen successor on the throne.
1 Chronicles 28:1
“All the princes of Israel” is the general designation, which is then specialized. In it are included the princes of the tribes who are enumerated in 1 Chronicles 27:16-22, and the princes of the divisions which served the king, who are enumerated in 1 Chronicles 27:1-15; the princes of thousands and hundreds are the chiefs and captains of the twelve army corps (1 Chronicles 27:1), who are subordinate to the princes of the host: the princes of all the substance and possessions of the king are the managers of the domains enumerated in 1 Chronicles 27:25-31. וּלבניו is added to למּלך , “of the king and of his sons,” because the possession of the king as a property belonging to the house ( domanium ) belonged also to his sons. The Vulg. incorrectly translates לבניו filiosque suos , for in this connection ל cannot be nota accus . הסּריסים עם , with (together with) the court officials. סריסים are not eunuchs, but royal chamberlains, as in 1 Samuel 8:15; see on Genesis 37:36. הגּבּורים has been well translated by the lxx τοὺς δυνάστας , for here the word does not denote properly or merely war heroes, but powerful influential men in general, who did not occupy any special public or court office. In חיל וּלכל־גּבּור all the others who were present in the assembly are comprehended.
1 Chronicles 28:2
The king rose to his feet, in order to speak to the assembly standing; till then he had, on account of his age and feebleness, sat, not lain in bed, as Kimchi and others infer from 1 Kings 1.
1 Chronicles 28:3-7
The address, “My brethren and my people,” is expressive of condescending goodwill; cf. on אחי , 1 Samuel 30:23; 2 Samuel 19:13. What David here says (1 Chronicles 28:3-7) of the temple building, he had in substance already (1 Chronicles 22:7-13) said to his son Solomon: I, it was with my heart, i.e., I purposed (cf. 1 Chronicles 22:7) to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jahve, and the footstool of the feet of our God, i.e., for the ark and for the capporeth upon it, which is called “footstool of the feet of our God,” because God was enthroned above the cherubim upon the capporeth. “And I have prepared to build,” i.e., prepared labour and materials, 1 Chronicles 22:2-4 and 1 Chronicles 22:14.; on 1 Chronicles 28:3, cf. 1 Chronicles 22:8. - In 1 Chronicles 28:4 David states how his election to be king was of God, who had chosen Judah to be ruler (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:2); and just so (1 Chronicles 28:5, 1 Chronicles 28:6) had God chosen Solomon from among all his many sons to be heir to the throne, and committed to him the building of the temple; cf. 1 Chronicles 22:10. The expression, “throne of the kingdom of Jahve,” and more briefly, “throne of Jahve” (1 Chronicles 29:23, or מלכוּתי , 1 Chronicles 17:14), denotes that Jahve is the true King of Israel, and had chosen Solomon as He had chosen David to be holder and administrator of His kingdom dominion. - On 1 Chronicles 22:6 and 1 Chronicles 22:7, cf. 1 Chronicles 22:10 and 1 Chronicles 17:11.; and with the condition וגו יחזק אם , cf. 1 Kings 3:14; 1 Kings 9:4, where God imposes an exactly similar condition on Solomon. הזּה כּיּום , as is done at this time; cf. 1 Kings 8:61, and the commentary on Deuteronomy 2:30. On this speech J. H. Mich. well remarks: “ tota haec narratio aptata est ad prospositum Davidis: vult enim Salomoni auctoritatem apud principes et fratres conciliare, ostendendo, non humana, sed divina voluntate electum esse, ” To this David adds an exhortation to the whole assembly (1 Chronicles 28:8), and to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:9), to hold fast their faithfulness to God.
1 Chronicles 28:8-10
“And now before the eyes of all Israel, of the congregation of Jahve (collected in their representatives), and into the ears of our God (so that God should hear as witness), ( scil. I exhort you), observe and seek ... that ye may possess (that is, keep as possession) the good land (cf. Deuteronomy 4:21.), and leave it to your sons after you for an inheritance” (cf. Leviticus 25:46). - In 1 Chronicles 28:9 he turns to his son Solomon in particular with the fatherly exhortation, “My son, know thou the God of thy father (i.e., of David, who has ever helped him, Psalms 18:3), and serve Him with whole (undivided) heart (1 Chronicles 29:9, 1 Chronicles 29:19; 1 Kings 8:61) and willing soul.” To strengthen this exhortation, David reminds him of the omniscience of God. Jahve seeks, i.e., searches, all hearts and knows all the imagination of the thoughts; cf. Psalms 7:10; 1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 11:20; Psalms 139:1. מחשׁבות יצר as in Genesis 6:5. With the last clauses cf. Deuteronomy 4:29; Isaiah 55:6, etc. יזניח , only here and 2 Chronicles 11:14; 2 Chronicles 29:19. - With 1 Chronicles 28:10 the discourse turns to the building of the temple. The exhortation ועשׂה חזק is interrupted by the giving over of the sketches and plans of the temple, and is taken up again only in 1 Chronicles 28:20.
The sketches and plans of the sacred buildings and vessels . - The enumeration begins in 1 Chronicles 28:11 with the temple house, progressing from outside to inside, and in 1 Chronicles 28:12 goes on to the courts and the buildings in them, and in 1 Chronicles 28:13. to the vessels, etc. תּבנית , model, pattern; cf. Exodus 25:9; here the sketches and drawings of the individual things. ואת־בּתּיו is a contraction for בּתּיו ועת־תּבנית , and the suffix refers, as the succeeding words show, not to העוּלם , but to הבּית , which may be easily supplied from the context (1 Chronicles 28:10). In the porch there were no houses. The בּתּים are the buildings of the temple house, viz., the holy place and the most holy, with the three-storeyed side-building, which are specified in the following words. גּנזכּיו occurs only here, but is related to גּנזים , Esther 3:9; Esther 4:7; Ezekiel 27:24, and to the Chald. גּנזין , Ezra 7:20, and signifies store and treasure chambers, for which the chambers of the three-storeyed side-building served. עליּות are the upper chambers over the most holy place, 2 Chronicles 3:9; הפּנימים חדריו are the inner rooms of the porch and of the holy place, since הכּפּרת בּית , the house of the ark with the mercy-seat, i.e., the most holy place, is mentioned immediately after.
1 Chronicles 28:12
And the pattern, i.e., the description of all that was in the spirit with him, i.e., what his spirit had designed, לחצרות , as to the courts. סביב לכל־הלּשׁכות , in reference to all the chambers round about, i.e., to all the rooms on the four sides of the courts. לאצרות , for the treasures of the house of God; see on 1 Chronicles 26:20.
1 Chronicles 28:13-16
הך וּלמחלקות (continuation of לאצרות ), “and for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of the service, and for all vessels,” - for for all these purposes, viz., for the sojourn of the priests and Levites in the service, as well as for the performance of the necessary works, e.g., preparation of the shew-bread, cooking of the sacrificial flesh, holding of the sacrificial meals, and for the storing of the vessels necessary for these purposes, the cells and building of the courts were set apart. - With 1 Chronicles 28:14 begins the enumeration of the vessels. לזּהב is co-ordinate with לכל־הלּשׁכות ... לחצרות , 1 Chronicles 28:12 : he gave him the description of that which he had in mind “with regard to the golden (i.e., to the golden vessels, cf. 1 Chronicles 29:2), according to the weight of the golden, for all vessels of every service,” in regard to all silver vessels according to the weight. - With 1 Chronicles 28:15 the construction hitherto employed is dropped. According to the usual supposition, the verb ויּתּן is to be supplied from 1 Chronicles 28:11 after וּמשׁקל : “and gave him the weight for the golden candlesticks and their golden lamps,” זהב being in a state of free subordination to the word ונרתיהם (J. H. Mich., Berth., and others). But apart from the fact that no analogous case can be found for such a subordination (for in 2 Chronicles 9:15, which Berth. cites as such, there is no subordination, for there the first שׁחוּט זהב is the accusative of the material dependent upon ויּעשׂ ), the supplying of ויּתּן gives no suitable sense; for David here does not give Solomon the metal for the vessels, but, according to 1 Chronicles 28:11, 1 Chronicles 28:12, 1 Chronicles 28:19, only a תּבנית , pattern or model for them. If ויּתּן be supplied, נתן must be “he appointed,” and so have a different sense here from that which it has in 1 Chronicles 28:11. This appears very questionable, and it is simpler to take משׁקל without the article, as an accusative of nearer definition, and to connect the verse thus: “and (what he had in mind) as weight for the golden candlesticks and their lamps, in gold, according to the weight of each candlestick and its lamps, and for the silver candlesticks, in weight - כּעבודת , according to the service of each candlestick” (as it corresponded to the service of each). - In 1 Chronicles 28:16 the enumeration is continued in very loose connection: “And as to the gold ( את , quoad ; cf. Ew. §277, d ) by weight ( משׁקל , acc. of free subordination) for the tables of the spreading out, i.e., of the shew-bread ( מערכת = לחם מערכת , 2 Chronicles 13:11); see on Leviticus 24:6), for each table, and silver for the silver tables.” Silver tables, i.e., tables overlaid with silver-lamin, and silver candlesticks (1 Chronicles 28:15), are not elsewhere expressly mentioned among the temple vessels, since the whole of the vessels are nowhere individually registered even in the description of the building of the temple. Yet, when the temple was repaired under Joash, 2 Kings 12:14; 2 Chronicles 24:14, and when it was destroyed by the Chaldeans, 2 Kings 25:15, vessels of gold and silver are spoken of. The silver candlesticks were probably, as Kimchi has conjectured, intended for the priests engaged in the service, and the tables for reception of the sacrificial flesh after it had been prepared for burning upon the altar.
1 Chronicles 28:17
Before וגו והמּזלגות we should probably supply from 1 Chronicles 28:11 : “he gave him the pattern of the forks... ולכפורי , and for the golden tankards, according to the weight of each tankard.” For מזלנות and מזרקות , see on 2 Chronicles 4:22. קשׂוה , σπονδεῖα , cups for the libations, occur only in Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16, and Numbers 4:7. טהור זהב , in free subordination: of pure gold. כּפורים from כּפר , to cover, are vessels provided with covers, tankards; only mentioned here and in Ezra 1:10; Ezra 8:27.
1 Chronicles 28:18
And (the pattern) for the altar of incense of pure gold by weight. In the second member of the verse, at the close of the enumeration, תּבנית , from 1 Chronicles 28:11, 1 Chronicles 28:12, is again taken up, but with ל , which Berth. rightly takes to be nota accus .: and (gave him) “the model of the chariot of the cherubim of gold, as spreading out (wings), and sheltering over the ark of the covenant of Jahve.” הכּרוּבים is not subordinated in the genitive to המּרכּבה , but is in explanatory apposition to it. The cherubim, not the ark, are the chariot upon which God enters or is throned; cf. Psalms 18:11; Psalms 99:1; Exodus 25:22. The conception of the cherubim set upon the golden cover of the ark as מרכּבה is derived from the idea על־כּרוּב ירכּב , Psalms 18:11. Ezekiel, it is true, saw wheels on the throne of God under the cherubim (Ezekiel 1:15., 26), and in accordance with this the lxx and Vulg. have made a cherubim-chariot out of the words ( ἅρμα τῶν Χερουβίμ , quadriga cherubim ); but as against this Berth. rightly remarks, that the idea of a chariot of the cherubim does not at all appear in the two sculptured cherubim upon the ark, nor yet in our passage. לפרשׂים (without the article, and with ל ) Berth. thinks quite unintelligible, and would alter the text, reading והסּככים הפּרשׂים , because the two participles should be in apposition to הכּרוּבים . But this is an error; for neither by the meaning of the words, nor by the passages, 2 Chronicles 5:8; Exodus 25:20; 1 Kings 8:7, are we compelled to make this alteration. The two first-mentioned passages prove the opposite, viz., that these participles state for what purpose the cherubim are to serve. וסככים לפרשׂים have the signification of כּנפים פּרשׂי הכּרוּבים והיוּ , “that the cherubim might be spreading wings and protecting” (Exodus 25:20), as J. H. Mich. has rightly seen. This use of ל , where in ל even without a verb the idea of “becoming something” lies, but which Berth. does not understand, has been already discussed, Ew. §217, d , and illustrated by passages, among which 1 Chronicles 28:18 is one. The reference to Exodus 25:20 explains also the use of פּרשׂ without כּנפים , the author of the Chronicle not thinking it necessary to give the object of פּרשׂ , as he might assume that that passage would be known to readers of his book.
1 Chronicles 28:19
In giving over to Solomon the model of all the parts and vessels of the temple enumerated in 1 Chronicles 28:11-18, David said: “All this, viz., all the works of the pattern, has He taught by writing from the hand of Jahve which came upon me.” הכּל is more closely defined by the apposition הת מלאכות כּל . That the verse contains words of David is clear from עלי . The subject of השׂכּיל is Jahve, which is easily supplied from יהוה מיּד . It is, however, a question with what we should connect עלי . Its position before the verb, and the circumstance that השׂכּיל construed with על pers . does not elsewhere, occur, are against its being taken with השׂכּיל ; and there remains, therefore, only the choice between connecting it with יהוה מיּד and with בּכתב . In favour of the last, Psalms 40:8, עלי כּתוּב , prescribed to me, may be compared; and according to that, עלי כּתב can only mean, “what is prescribed to me;” cf. for the use of כּתב for written prescription, the command in 2 Chronicles 35:4. Bertheau accordingly translates עלי יהוה מיּד בּכתב , “by a writing given to me for a rule from Jahve's hand,” and understands the law of Moses to be meant, because the description of the holy things in Exodus 25:1. is manifestly the basis of that in our verses. But had David wished to say nothing further than that he had taken the law in the Scriptures for the basis of his pattern for the holy things, the expression which he employs would be exceedingly forced and wilfully obscure. And, moreover, the position of the words would scarcely allow us to connect בּכתב with עלי , for in that case we should rather have expected יהוה מיּד עלי בּכתב . We must there take עלי along with יהוה מיּד : “writing from the hand of Jahve came upon me,” i.e., according to the analogy of the phrase עלי יהוה יד היתה (2 Kings 3:15; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14, etc.), a writing coming by divine revelation, or a writing composed in consequence of divine revelation, and founded upon divine inspiration. David therefore says that he had been instructed by a writing resting upon divine inspiration as to all the works of the pattern of the temple. This need not, however, be understood to mean that David had received exemplar vel ideam templi et vasorum sacrorum immediately from Jahve, either by a prophet or by vision, as the model of the tabernacle was shown to Moses on the mount (Exodus 25:40; Exodus 27:8); for it signifies only that he had not himself invented the pattern which he had committed to writings, i.e., the sketches and descriptions of the temple and its furniture and vessels, but had drawn them up under the influence of divine inspiration.
In conclusion, David encourages his son to go forward to the work with good courage, for his God would not forsake him; and the priests and Levites, cunning workmen, and the princes, together with the whole people, would willingly support him. With the encouragement, 1 Chronicles 28:20 , cf. 1 Chronicles 22:13; and with the promise, 1 Chronicles 28:20 , cf. Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:5. אלהי , my God, says David, ut in mentem ei revocet, quomodo multis in periculis servatus sit (Lav.). עבודה כּל־מלאכת , all the work-business, i.e., all the labour necessary for the building of the house of God.
1 Chronicles 28:21
והנּה is fittingly translated by Clericus, “ en habes .” The reference which lies in the הנּה to the classes of the priests and Levites, i.e., the priests and Levites divided into classes, does not presuppose their presence in the assembly. With the והנּה corresponds ועמּך , with thee, i.e., for assistance to thee, in the second half of the verse. The ל before לכל -naadiyb, “are all freely willing with wisdom,” in the middle of the sentence introducing the subject is strange; Bertheau would therefore strike it out, thinking that, as לכל goes immediately before, and follows immediately afterwards twice, לכל here may easily be an error for כל . This is certainly possible; but since this ל is very frequently used in the Chronicle, it is a question whether it should not be regarded as authentic, “serving to bring into emphatic prominence the idea of the ndyb kl: with thee is for each business, what regards each willing person, for also all willing persons;” cf. Ew. §310, a . נדיב = לב נדיב , 2 Chronicles 29:31; Exodus 35:5, Exodus 35:22, usually denotes him who brings voluntary gifts, but here, him who voluntarily brings wisdom to every service, who willingly employs his wisdom and knowledge in a service. Cunning, intelligent workmen and artists are meant, 1 Chronicles 22:15; 2 Chronicles 2:6. לכל־דּבריך , “towards all thy words,” i.e., as thou sayest or commandest them, the princes and the people, or callest upon them for assistance in the work.