1 Chronicles chapter 29

The conclusion of David’s reign.

 


 

THE CONCLUSION OF DAVID’S REIGN

 

VERSE 1. David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

young and tender. David stresses the inexperience of young Solomon.

the palace is not for man. David already built a giant palace for himself. It consists of many buildings, as well as ostentatious displays of wealth.

Now he is calling upon Solomon to build a relatively small building that will be the temple for the Most High God.

 

VERSE 2. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

 

VERSE 3. In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house:

I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver. David acquired this vast treasury by taxation. He imposed taxes on his people and forced them to pay.

 

VERSE 4. even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;

three thousand talents of gold. A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces. So 3000 talents is about 90 metric tons.

seven thousand talents of refined silver. That is about 210 metric tons.

 

VERSE 5. of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to the LORD?”

Who then offers willingly. David makes a financial appeal. He is asking for donations.

 

VERSE 6. Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly;

 

VERSE 7. and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents.

five thousand talents. A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces. So 5,000 talents is about 150 metric tons.

ten thousand darics. A daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king. It weighed about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.

 

VERSE 8. People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the LORD’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

 

VERSE 9. Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

the people rejoiced. The result of this financial campaign was great joy.

with a perfect heart they offered willingly. For a godly person, the only motive for giving is joy.

Does your giving lead to joy?

If it feels like an obligation, do not respond to the request.

People should not contribute out of obligation. Rather, God loves a cheerful giver. Read more »

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 10. Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

David blessed the LORD. David turns to the LORD God.

 

VERSE 11. Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.

 

VERSE 12. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all!

 

VERSE 13. Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

praise your glorious name. David praises the glorious Name of the LORD God.

 

VERSE 14. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own.

 

VERSE 15. For we are strangers before you and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining.

We believers are not citizens of this world. Our allegiance transcends national or cultural boundaries. On this earth, we are strangers and aliens. Read more »

 

VERSE 16. LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own.

 

VERSE 17. I know also, my God, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.

in the uprightness of my heart. That is, “with honest intent” (NIV translation).

 

VERSE 18. LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you;

keep this desire forever. David is asking the LORD God to keep the people loyal.

However, in the years that follow, the kings and the people will not be loyal.

 

VERSE 19. and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.”

give to Solomon my son a perfect heart. In the years of his kingship, Solomon did not keep all the commands.

 

VERSE 20. Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God!” All the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king.

bless the LORD your God! What does this mean? What did the people do? The next phrase tells us:

bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves. They blessed the LORD God by bowing down to the ground.

 

VERSE 21. They sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD and offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,

 

VERSE 22. and ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before the LORD to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.

 

VERSE 23. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

Solomon sat on the throne. David has retired. And Solomon is the king.

In a manner of speaking, the nation has two kings. One is retired; the other is in charge.

 

VERSE 24. All the princes, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.

 

VERSE 25. The LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and gave to him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

 

VERSE 26. Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

 

VERSE 27. The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 28. He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.

Contrast this verse with 1 Kings chapter 1:

1 Kings 1:1. Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.

In that chapter, David is so feeble that he to be “warmed” by a young virgin. And Bathsheba had to prod him to prevent Adonijah from taking the throne from Solomon.

 

VERSE 29. Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,

 

VERSE 30. with all his reign and his might, and the events that involved him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the lands.

 


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1 CHRONICLES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

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