Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 29

Furthermore. — And. David reviews his own preparations and requests the offerings of the assembly, which are cheerfully given (1 Chronicles 29:1–9).

Alone. — Of all his brothers.

Young and tender. — 1 Chronicles 22:5.

The palace (bîrâh). — This is a word specific to the books of Chronicles, Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel. It usually means the palace at Susa (compare the Persian word bâru, “citadel”), and this is the only passage of Scripture in which it denotes the Temple. From its august associations, the word was well calculated to convey to the minds of the chronicler’s contemporaries some idea of the magnificence of the Temple of Solomon as he imagined it.

Now I have prepared. — And with all might have I prepared (1 Chronicles 22:14; Deuteronomy 28:9).

The gold for things to be made of gold. — Literally, the gold for the gold, and the silver for the silver, etc. (Compare 1 Chronicles 28:14).

Onyx (shôham). — So the Vulgate; the Septuagint keeps the Hebrew word Σοάμ (Exodus 25:7; Exodus 28:9; Exodus 28:20; Job 28:16). The uncertainty of meaning is illustrated by the fact that the Septuagint in various passages translates shôham as onyx, beryl, sardius, emerald, and sapphire.

Stones to be set (’abnê millû’îm). — Stones of settings; strictly, fillings; Septuagint, πληρώσεως (Exodus 25:7; Exodus 35:9).

Glistering stones, and of divers colours. — Literally, stones of pûk and riqmâh. Pûk is the pigment used by Eastern women for darkening the eyebrows and lashes (kohl; 2 Kings 9:30). It here seems to denote the colour of the stones in question. Perhaps some kind of decorative marble is intended .

Riqmâh stones are veined or variegated marbles, or perhaps, tessellated work (Judges 5:30). The Septuagint renders the phrase “costly and variegated stones.”

All manner of precious stones. — 2 Chronicles 3:6.

Marble stones. — Stones of shàyish, a word only found here. It means white marble. The Septuagint and Vulgate have Parian marble, but the Targum simply marmora, “marbles” (Song of Solomon 5:15, where shêsh is equivalent to the present form).

I have set my affection to the house. — 1 Chronicles 28:4 (he liked, râçâh: Psalms 26:8).

I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver. — I have a personal property in gold and silver. For the word sĕgullâh, peculium, see Exodus 19:5.

I have given — i.e., I give (1 Chronicles 21:23).

Over and above (lĕma‘lâh). — 1 Chronicles 22:5.

All that I have prepared. — The Hebrew again omits the relative. (Compare to 1 Chronicles 15:12.)

Three thousand talents of gold. —Compare to 1 Chronicles 22:14. The sum would be about £18,000,000 sterling.

Gold of Ophir. —Indian gold, from Abhîra, at the mouth of the Indus.

Seven thousand talents of refined silver. —About £2,800,000 sterling.

To overlay. —Strictly, to besmear (Isaiah 44:18).

The houses. —The chambers (1 Chronicles 28:11; see 2 Chronicles 3:4–9). The Syriac and Arabic have “a thousand thousand talents of gold,” and “twice a thousand thousand talents of silver.”

The gold for things of gold.—Literally: as for the gold, for the gold, and as for the silver, for the silver—that is to say, “I give it” (1 Chronicles 29:3)—and for every work by the hand of craftsmen.

And who then is willing to consecrate his service?—Literally, And who volunteers (Judges 5:1) to fill his hand today for Jehovah? To fill his hand: that is, with a liberal offering (Exodus 32:29).