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1 Chronicles 22

1 Chronicles 22:3–19, World English Bible

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  1. 3 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings, and bronze in abundance without weight,
  2. 4 and cedar trees without number, for the Sidonians and the people of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
  3. 5 David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death.
  4. 6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
  5. 7 David said to Solomon his son, “As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God.
  6. 8 But Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
  7. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
  8. 10 He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
  9. 11 Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
  10. 12 May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the law of Yahweh your God.
  11. 13 Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid and don’t be dismayed.
  12. 14 Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for Yahweh’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them.
  13. 15 There are also workmen with you in abundance—cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of men who are skillful in every kind of work;
  14. 16 of the gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may Yahweh be with you.”
  15. 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
  16. 18 “Isn’t Yahweh your God with you? Hasn’t he given you rest on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Yahweh and before his people.
  17. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to follow Yahweh your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for Yahweh’s name.”

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7 passages from writers of 2 traditions, in their own words, each with their dates and tradition. The site doesn’t say who is right: read them beside the verses. About these

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  • Josephus37–c. 100JewishAntiquities of the Jews · on 1 Chronicles 22:3–5He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass for the work, with many … cedar trees; the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him, for he had sent to them for a supply of those trees. And he told his friends that these things were now prepared, that he might leave materials ready for the building of the temple to his son, who was to reign after him, and that he might not have them to seek then, when he was very young, and by reason of his age unskillful in such matters, but might have them lying by him, and so might the more readily complete the work.
    He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass for the work, with many … cedar trees; the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him, for he had sent to them for a supply of those trees. And he told his friends that these things were now prepared, that he might leave materials ready for the building of the temple to his son, who was to reign after him, and that he might not have them to seek then, when he was very young, and by reason of his age unskillful in such matters, but might have them lying by him, and so might the more readily complete the work.

    Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Antiquities 7.14.1; translated by William Whiston (1737); the text of Project Gutenberg. The edition

    A Jewish priest from Jerusalem who fought Rome in the war of 66–70 and afterwards wrote the history of his people for Greek readers.

  • Josephus37–c. 100JewishAntiquities of the Jews · on 1 Chronicles 22:6–13So David called his son Solomon, and charged him, when he had received the kingdom, to build a temple to God, and said, … I was willing to build God a temple myself, but he prohibited me, because I was polluted with blood and wars; but he hath foretold that Solomon, my youngest son, should build him a temple, and should be called by that name; over whom he hath promised to take the like care as a father takes over his son; and that he would make the country of the Hebrews happy under him, and that, not only in other respects, but by giving it peace and freedom from wars, and from internal seditions, which are the greatest of all blessings. Since, therefore, … thou wast ordained king by God himself before thou wast born, endeavor to render thyself worthy of this his providence, as in other instances, so particularly in being religious, and righteous, and courageous.
    So David called his son Solomon, and charged him, when he had received the kingdom, to build a temple to God, and said, … I was willing to build God a temple myself, but he prohibited me, because I was polluted with blood and wars; but he hath foretold that Solomon, my youngest son, should build him a temple, and should be called by that name; over whom he hath promised to take the like care as a father takes over his son; and that he would make the country of the Hebrews happy under him, and that, not only in other respects, but by giving it peace and freedom from wars, and from internal seditions, which are the greatest of all blessings. Since, therefore, … thou wast ordained king by God himself before thou wast born, endeavor to render thyself worthy of this his providence, as in other instances, so particularly in being religious, and righteous, and courageous.

    Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Antiquities 7.14.2; translated by William Whiston (1737); the text of Project Gutenberg. The edition

    A Jewish priest from Jerusalem who fought Rome in the war of 66–70 and afterwards wrote the history of his people for Greek readers.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 1 Chronicles 22:7–8David tells him why he did not do it himself. It was in his mind to do it (Ch1 22:7), but God forbade him, because he had shed much blood, Ch1 22:8. Some think this refers to the blood of Uriah, which fastened such a reproach upon him as rendered him unworthy the honour of building the temple: but that honour was forbidden him before he had shed that blood; therefore it must be meant, as it is here explained, of the blood he shed in his wars (for he had been a man of war from his youth), which, … made him unfit to be employed in this service, or rather less fit than another that had never been called to such bloody work. God, by assigning this as the reason of laying David aside from this work, showed how precious human life is to him, and intended a type of him who should build the gospel temple, not by destroying men's lives, but by saving them, Luk 9:56.
    David tells him why he did not do it himself. It was in his mind to do it (Ch1 22:7), but God forbade him, because he had shed much blood, Ch1 22:8. Some think this refers to the blood of Uriah, which fastened such a reproach upon him as rendered him unworthy the honour of building the temple: but that honour was forbidden him before he had shed that blood; therefore it must be meant, as it is here explained, of the blood he shed in his wars (for he had been a man of war from his youth), which, … made him unfit to be employed in this service, or rather less fit than another that had never been called to such bloody work. God, by assigning this as the reason of laying David aside from this work, showed how precious human life is to him, and intended a type of him who should build the gospel temple, not by destroying men's lives, but by saving them, Luk 9:56.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:6–16; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 1 Chronicles 22:13He encourages him to go about this great work, and to go on in it (Ch1 22:13): "Be strong, and of good courage, Though it is a vast undertaking, thou needest not fear coming under the reproach of the foolish builder, who began to build and was not able to finish it; it is God's work, and it shall come to perfection. Dread not, nor be dismayed." In our spiritual work, as well as in our spiritual warfare, we have need of courage and resolution.
    He encourages him to go about this great work, and to go on in it (Ch1 22:13): "Be strong, and of good courage, Though it is a vast undertaking, thou needest not fear coming under the reproach of the foolish builder, who began to build and was not able to finish it; it is God's work, and it shall come to perfection. Dread not, nor be dismayed." In our spiritual work, as well as in our spiritual warfare, we have need of courage and resolution.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:6–16; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 1 Chronicles 22:17–19David here engages the princes of Israel to assist Solomon in the great work he had to do, and every one to lend him a hand towards the carrying of it on. … He presses that upon them which should make them zealous in it (Ch1 22:19): "Set your heart and soul to seek God, place your happiness in his favour, and keep your eye upon his glory. Seek him as your chief good and highest end, and this with your heart and soul. Make religion your choice and business; and then you will grudge no pains nor cost to promote the building of his sanctuary." Let but the heart be sincerely engaged for God, and the head and hand, the estate and interest, and all will be cheerfully employed for him.
    David here engages the princes of Israel to assist Solomon in the great work he had to do, and every one to lend him a hand towards the carrying of it on. … He presses that upon them which should make them zealous in it (Ch1 22:19): "Set your heart and soul to seek God, place your happiness in his favour, and keep your eye upon his glory. Seek him as your chief good and highest end, and this with your heart and soul. Make religion your choice and business; and then you will grudge no pains nor cost to promote the building of his sanctuary." Let but the heart be sincerely engaged for God, and the head and hand, the estate and interest, and all will be cheerfully employed for him.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:17–19; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • John Gill1697–1771BaptistAn Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on 1 Chronicles 22:8thou hast shed blood abundantly; Kimchi thinks this refers to the blood of Uriah, and those gallant men that were slain with him, and to the priests slain by the order of Saul, which David was the occasion of, or accidental cause of, 1 Samuel 22:22 and to many good men among the Gentiles; … thou shall not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight; an intimation this, that the church of God, of which this house was a type, was to be built by Christ, the Prince of peace, and to be supported and maintained not by force of arms, and by spilling of blood, … but by the preaching of the Gospel of peace.
    thou hast shed blood abundantly; Kimchi thinks this refers to the blood of Uriah, and those gallant men that were slain with him, and to the priests slain by the order of Saul, which David was the occasion of, or accidental cause of, 1 Samuel 22:22 and to many good men among the Gentiles; … thou shall not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight; an intimation this, that the church of God, of which this house was a type, was to be built by Christ, the Prince of peace, and to be supported and maintained not by force of arms, and by spilling of blood, … but by the preaching of the Gospel of peace.

    John Gill, An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, on 22:8; 1746–1763; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Baptist pastor in London and a scholar of Hebrew and the rabbis, who wrote a verse-by-verse commentary on the whole Bible.

  • Adam Clarkec. 1760–1832MethodistCommentary on the Holy Bible · on 1 Chronicles 22:8Thou hast shed blood abundantly - Heathens, Jews, and Christians, have all agreed that soldiers of any kind should have nothing to do with Divine offices. Shedding of human blood but ill comports with the benevolence of God or the spirit of the Gospel.
    Thou hast shed blood abundantly - Heathens, Jews, and Christians, have all agreed that soldiers of any kind should have nothing to do with Divine offices. Shedding of human blood but ill comports with the benevolence of God or the spirit of the Gospel.

    Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Holy Bible, on 22:8; 1810–1826; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    A Methodist preacher and scholar from Ulster, whose commentary on the whole Bible took him nearly forty years.