1 And David assembleth all the heads of Israel, heads of the tribes, and heads of the courses who are serving the king, and heads of the thousands, and heads of the hundreds, and heads of all the substance and possessions of the king, and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty ones, even to every mighty one of valour -- unto Jerusalem.
And these `are' heads of the mighty ones whom David hath, who are strengthening themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to cause him to reign, according to the word of Jehovah, over Israel. And this `is' an account of the mighty ones whom David hath: Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite `is' head of the thirty; he is lifting up his spear against three hundred -- wounded, at one time. And after him `is' Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite, he `is' among the three mighty; he hath been with David in Pas-Dammim, and the Philistines have been gathered there to battle, and a portion of the field is full of barley, and the people have fled from the face of the Philistines, and they station themselves in the midst of the portion, and deliver it, and smite the Philistines, and Jehovah saveth -- a great salvation. And three of the thirty heads go down on the rock unto David, unto the cave of Adullam, and the host of the Philistines is encamping in the valley of Rephaim, and David `is' then in the fortress, and the station of the Philistines `is' then in Beth-Lehem, and David longeth, and saith, `Who doth give me to drink water from the well of Beth-Lehem, that `is' at the gate!' And the three break through the camp of the Philistines, and draw water from the well of Beth-Lehem, that `is' at the gate, and bear and bring in unto David, and David hath not been willing to drink it, and poureth it out to Jehovah, and saith, `Far be it from me, by my God, to do this; the blood of these men do I drink with their lives? for with their lives they have brought it;' and he was not willing to drink it; these `things' did the three mighty ones. And Abishai brother of Joab, he hath been head of the three: and he is lifting up his spear against three hundred -- wounded, and hath a name among three. Of the three by the two he is honoured, and becometh their head; and unto the `first' three he hath not come. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a man of valour, of great deeds, from Kabzeel: he hath smitten the two lion-like Moabites, and he hath gone down and smitten the lion in the midst of the pit, in the day of snow. And he hath smitten the man, the Egyptian -- a man of measure, five by the cubit -- and in the hand of the Egyptian `is' a spear like a beam of weavers, and he goeth down unto him with a rod, and taketh violently away the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slayeth him with his own spear. These `things' hath Benaiah son of Jehoiada done, and hath a name among the three mighty ones. Of the thirty, lo, he `is' honoured, and unto the `first' three he hath not come, and David setteth him over his guard. And the mighty ones of the forces `are' Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Beth-Lehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi-Ezer the Annethothite, Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shage the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezor the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Haggeri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, bearer of the weapons of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, head of the Reubenites, and by him thirty, Hanan son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel sons of Hothan the Aroerite, Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mesobaite.
And the sons of Israel, after their number, heads of the fathers, and princes of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers, those serving the king in any matter of the courses, that are coming in and going out month by month, throughout all months of the year -- `are' in each course twenty and four thousand. Over the first course, for the first month, `is' Jashobeam son of Zabdiel, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand; of the sons of Perez `is' the head of all princes of the hosts for the first month. And over the course of the second month `is' Dodai the Ahohite, and his course, and Mikloth `is' the president, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. Head of the third host, for the third month, `is' Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the head priest, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. This Benaiah `is' a mighty one of the thirty, and over the thirty, and `in' his course `is' Ammizabad his son. The fourth, for the fourth month, `is' Asahel brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The fifth, for the fifth month, `is' the prince Shamhuth the Izrahite, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The sixth, for the sixth month, `is' Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The seventh, for the seventh month, `is' Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The eighth, for the eighth month, `is' Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The ninth, for the ninth month, `is' Abiezer the Antothite, of the Benjamite, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The tenth, for the tenth month, `is' Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. Eleventh, for the eleventh month, `is' Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, `is' Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel, and on his course `are' twenty and four thousand. And over the tribes of Israel: Of the Reubenite, a leader `is' Eliezer son of Zichri; of the Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maachah; of the Levite, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; of the Aaronite, Zadok; of Judah, Elihu, of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael; of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; of the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; of Dan, Azareel son of Jeroham: these `are' heads of the tribes of Israel. And David hath not taken up their number from a son of twenty years and under, for Jehovah said to multiply Israel as the stars of the heavens. Joab son of Zeruiah hath begun to number -- and hath not finished -- and there is for this wrath against Israel, and the number hath not gone up in the account of the Chronicles of king David. And over the treasures of the king `is' Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the treasures in the field, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, `is' Jehonathan son of Uzziah; and over workmen of the field for the service of the ground `is' Ezri son of Chelub; and over the vineyards `is' Shimei the Ramathite; and over what `is' in the vineyards for the treasures of wine `is' Zabdi the Shiphmite; and over the olives, and the sycamores, that `are' in the low country, `is' Baal-Hanan the Gederite; and over the treasures of oil `is' Joash; and over the herds that are feeding in Sharon `is' Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys `is' Shaphat son of Adlai; and over the camels `is' Obil the Ishmeelite; and over the asses `is' Jehdeiah the Meronothite; and over the flock `is' Jaziz the Hagerite; all these `are' heads of the substance that king David hath. And Jonathan, uncle of David, `is' counsellor, a man of understanding, he is also a scribe; and Jehiel son of Hachmoni `is' with the sons of the king; and Ahithophel `is' counsellor to the king; and Hushai the Archite `is' the friend of the king; and after Ahithophel `is' Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the head of the host of the king `is' Joab.
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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 28
1Ch 28:1-8. David Exhorts the People to Fear God.
1. David assembled all the princes of Israel—that is, the representatives of the people, the leading men of the kingdom, who are enumerated in this verse according to their respective rank or degree of authority.
princes of the tribes—(1Ch 27:16-22). Those patriarchal chiefs are mentioned first as being the highest in rank—a sort of hereditary noblesse.
the captains of the companies—the twelve generals mentioned (1Ch 27:1-15).
the stewards, &c.—(1Ch 27:25-31).
the officers—Hebrew, "eunuchs," or attendants on the court (1Sa 8:15; 1Ki 22:9; 2Ki 22:18); and besides Joab, the commander-in-chief of the army, the heroes who had no particular office (1Ch 11:10-12:40; 2Sa 23:8-39). This assembly, a very mixed and general one, as appears from the parties invited, was more numerous and entirely different from that mentioned (1Ch 23:2).
2. Hear me, my brethren, and my people—This was the style of address becoming a constitutional king of Israel (De 17:20; 1Sa 30:23; 2Sa 5:1).
I had in mine heart—I proposed, or designed.
to build an house of rest—a solid and permanent temple.
for the footstool of our God—God seated between the cherubim, at the two extremities of the ark, might be said to be enthroned in His glory, and the coverlet of the ark to be His footstool.
and had made ready for the building—The immense treasures which David had amassed and the elaborate preparations he had made, would have been amply sufficient for the erection of the temple of which he presented the model to Solomon.
3. thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood—The church or spiritual state of the world, of which the temple at Jerusalem was to be a type, would be presided over by One who was to be pre-eminently the Prince of Peace, and therefore would be represented not so fitly by David, whose mission had been a preparatory one of battle and conquest, as by his son, who should reign in unbroken peace.
4, 5. he hath chosen Solomon—The spirit of David's statement is this:—It was not my ambition, my valor, or my merit that led to the enthronement of myself and family; it was the grace of God which chose the tribe, the family, the person—myself in the first instance, and now Solomon, to whom, as the Lord's anointed, you are all bound to submit. Like that of Christ, of whom he was a type, the appointment of Solomon to the kingdom above all his brethren was frequently pre-intimated (1Ch 17:12; 22:9; 2Sa 7:12-14; 12:24, 25; 1Ki 1:13).
7. I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments—The same condition is set before Solomon by God (1Ki 3:14; 9:4).
8. Now … in the sight of all Israel, … keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord, &c.—This solemn and earnest exhortation to those present, and to all Israel through their representatives, to continue faithful in observing the divine law as essential to their national prosperity and permanence, is similar to that of Moses (De 30:15-20).
1Ch 28:9-20. He Encourages Solomon to Build the Temple.
9, 10. And thou, Solomon my son—The royal speaker now turns to Solomon, and in a most impressive manner presses upon him the importance of sincere and practical piety.
know thou—He did not mean head knowledge, for Solomon possessed that already, but that experimental acquaintance with God which is only to be obtained by loving and serving Him.
11. Then David gave to Solomon … the pattern—He now put into the hands of his son and successor the plan or model of the temple, with the elevations, measurements, apartments, and chief articles of furniture, all of which were designed according to the pattern given him by divine revelation (1Ch 28:19).
12. the pattern of all that he had by the spirit—rather, "with him in spirit"; that is, was floating in his mind.
15, 16. the candlesticks of silver—Solomon made them all of gold—in this and a few minor particulars departing from the letter of his father's instructions, where he had the means of executing them in a more splendid style. There was only one candlestick and one table in the tabernacle, but ten in the temple.
18, 19. the chariot of the cherubim—The expanded wings of the cherubim formed what was figuratively styled the throne of God, and as they were emblematical of rapid motion, the throne or seat was spoken of as a chariot (Ps 18:10; 99:1). It is quite clear that in all these directions David was not guided by his own taste, or by a desire for taking any existing model of architecture, but solely by a regard to the express revelation of the divine will. In a vision, or trance, the whole edifice, with its appurtenances, had been placed before his eyes so vividly and permanently, that he had been able to take a sketch of them in the models delivered to Solomon.
20. Be strong and of good courage—The address begun in 1Ch 28:9 is resumed and concluded in the same strain.
21. behold, the courses of the priests and Levites—They were, most probably, represented in this assembly though they are not named.
also the princes and all the people—that is, as well the skilful, expert, and zealous artisan, as the workman who needs to be directed in all his labors.