David, having convened the principal men of the nation, declared Solomon his successor, whom God had chosen both to be king, and to build the temple, 1 Chron. 28:1–7, and exhorted both them and him to serve the Lord, and build an house for him, 1 Chron.

And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes Whose names are given in and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course; monthly, each having 24,000 men under him, whose names are expressed, and the captains over the thousands; of which there were…

Then David the king stood up upon his feet Rose from the bed or couch on which he lay, as Kimchi thinks, being somewhat recovered of his paralytic disorder, and being willing to exert himself on this occasion; or he rose up from the seat or throne, on which he before sat, in honour to this august…

But God said unto me, thou shalt not build an house for my name This he said by Nathan the prophet, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood: see .

Howbeit, the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever Passing by all his brethren who were elder than he, he pitched upon him, and ordered him to be anointed king of Israel, see (1 Sam. 16:10, 1 Sam.

And of all my sons, for the Lord hath given me many sons Whose names, and the order of their birth, may be read in he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel; to be his successor in it: this he says to observe to them, that this was not merely his…

And he said unto me, Solomon that son, he shall build my house, &c.] See and my courts; in the house or temple: for I have chosen him to be my son; predestinated him to the adoption of children, and I will be his father; see .

Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever The same is said in if he be constant to do my commandments, and my judgments, as at this day; if he continued in the observance of them, as he had begun, and went on in until that day; this is added here, and was not spoken by Nathan, when what goes…

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord Whom this assembly represented: and in the audience of our God; before him, as Jarchi, in whose presence they were, and who heard and saw all that passed, and to whom David appeals as a witness; the Targum is, “before the Word…

And thou, Solomon my son Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying, know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served…

Take heed now Of offending God by forsaking him; or see, consider, and observe now what he was further about to say to him, concerning the building of the temple, as follows: for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary; a temple for the ark, called the sanctuary, the Targum…

Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, &c.] The breadth, and length, and height of it, which was to be placed at the east end of the temple, and was the entrance into it: and, of the houses thereof; the holy place, and the most holy, which latter is called the greater house, ,…

And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit By the Spirit of God, who gave him the whole form of the temple, and all things relative to it; just as God showed to Moses the pattern of the tabernacle in the mount; the Targum is, by the spirit of prophecy that was with him.

And also for the courses of the priests and Levites Where they should serve, of which, as fixed and ordered by David, see (1 Chron. 24:1–26, 1 Chron. 24:32) and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord; they should be employed in: and for all the vessels of service in the house of…

He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service Whatever was to be made of gold, David was directed by the Spirit of God what weight or quantity of gold should be made use of in making it, as appears from some following instances: silver also for all…

Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof These candlesticks were ten, and each had seven lamps, and were placed five on one side the Mosaic candlestick, and five on the other, as say the Jews, see , and the…

And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table For though there were but one table for the shewbread in the tabernacle of Moses, there were ten in the temple of Solomon, and each of them contained one hundred pounds in weight [[19]]: and likewise silver for the tables of…

Also pure gold for the flesh hooks To take the pieces of flesh out of the pots, in which they were boiled: and the bowls and the cups; and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; which were vessels made use of for the receiving and sprinkling the blood of the sacrifices:…

And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight This was also one hundred pounds weight in gold, with which it was to be overlaid [[21]]: and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim; which were two large ones, besides those which Moses made; and these were not made of gold, as they…

All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me Either by an impulse of his Spirit on him, whereby it was as it were written on his mind, and as clearly represented to him, as if he had it in writing before him; though the Jews think that all was first made known to…

And David said to Solomon his son, be strong, and of good courage, and do it (See Gill on 1 Chron. 28:10) fear not, nor be dismayed; that thou shalt meet with any opposition in the work, or not be able to finish it for want of materials and workmen, or money to pay them: for the Lord God, even my…

And, behold, all the courses of the priests and the Levites, &c.] Which David had lately fixed to take their turns in the temple, when built: even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God; to advise and assist him in everything relating to the service of the sanctuary, which…