1 Chronicles 28:1

1 Chronicles DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON1 Chronicles 28:1 - 1 Chronicles 28:10 . David had established an elaborate organisation of royal officials, details of which occupy the preceding chapters and interrupt the course of the narrative. The passage picks up again the thread dropped at 1 Chronicles 23:1 . The list of the members of the assembly called in 1 Chronicles 28:1 is interesting as showing how he tried to amalgamate the old with the new. The princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, represented the primitive tribal organisation, and they receive precedence in virtue of the antiquity of their office. Then come successively David’s immediate attendants, the military officials, the stewards of the royal estates, the ‘officers’ or eunuchs attached to the palace, and the faithful ‘mighty men’ who had fought by the king’s side in the old days. It was an assembly of officials and soldiers whose adherence to Solomon it was all-important to secure, especially in regard to the project for building the Temple, which could not be carried through without their active support. The passage comprises only the beginning of the proceedings of this assembly of notables. The end is told in the next chapter; namely, that the Temple-building scheme was unanimously and enthusiastically adopted, and large donations given for it, and that Solomon’s succession was accepted, and loyal submission offered by the assembly to him.

David’s address to this gathering is directed to secure these two points. He begins by recalling his own intention to build the Temple and God’s prohibition of it. The reason for that prohibition differs from that alleged by Nathan, but there is no contradiction between the two narratives, and the chronicler has already reported Nathan’s words { 1 Chronicles 17:3 , etc.}, so that the motive which is ascribed to many of the variations in this book, a priestly desire to exalt Temple and ritual, cannot have been at work here. Why should there not have been a divine communication to David as well as Nathan’s message? That hands reddened with blood, even though it had been shed in justifiable war, were not fitted to build the Temple, was a thought so far in advance of David’s time, and flowing from so spiritual a conception of God, that it may well have been breathed into David’s spirit by a divine voice. Sword in one hand and trowel in the other are incongruous, notwithstanding Nehemiah’s example. The Temple of the God of peace cannot be built except by men of peace. That is true in the widest and highest application. Jesus builds the true Temple. Controversy and strife do not. And, on a lower level, the prohibition is for ever valid. Men do not atone for a doubtful past by building churches, founding colleges, endowing religious or charitable institutions.

1 Chronicles 28:1 . David assembled all the princes, &c. — A great deal of business David had done in his day, and had served his generation according to the will of God. But now the time draws nigh that he must die, and the nearer he comes to his end, the more busy he is, and does his work with all his might. He is now recovered from the weakness, mentioned 1 Kings 1:1 . He therefore improves his recovery, as giving him an opportunity of doing God and his country a little more service.

Verse 1. - One Hebrew word ( שׂרֵי ) stands for the princes (twice), captains (three times), and stewards (once) of this verse. The classification of the verso speaks for itself. There are the princes of Israel; i.q. the princes of the tribes ( 1 Chronicles 27:16, 22 ). Otherwise the former of these expressions may be of an entirely generic kind, and apply to all that succeeds. There are, secondly , the princes of the twelve military companies... by course of the months ( 1 Chronicles 27:1-15 ). Thirdly , there are the princes of thousands and hundreds ( Deuteronomy 1:15 ; 1 Samuel 8:12 ; 1 Samuel 17:18 ; 1 Samuel 18:13 ; 1 Samuel 23:7 ; 1 Chronicles 12:14 ; 1 Chronicles 27:1 ). There follow, fourthly , the princes of all the substance and cattle of the king , and (as seems to be added here) of his sons . There can be no doubt that the Hebrew text does say this, and does not merely register the fact of the attendance and presence of the sons of the king, as also it does not specialize the attendance of Solomon himself, though it is certain that he was present. Otherwise it may be doubtful, considering the facts of the occasion, and comparing 1 Chronicles 29:24 , whether the original document is not misrepresented here.

Next, fifthly , mention is made of the officers ( סָרִיסִים ), the Hebrew for which word generally means "eunuch," and such use of it must have become much more familiar during and after the Captivity, and, therefore, of course, at the time of the compilation of this work; but it does not necessarily mean it. Eunuchs are never mentioned elsewhere in David's reign. There is no reason to suppose the word means "eunuch," for instance, in Genesis 37:36 ; Genesis 39:1 ; 1 Samuel 8:15 ; 1 Kings 22:9 ; 2 Kings 24:12 ; 2 Kings 25:19 ; Jeremiah 34:19 . Under any circumstances, it would seem unnecessary that such officers of a royal establishment as eunuchs should be under summoned that description to an assembly of this kind. Sixthly , the mighty men ( 1 Chronicles 11:10-25 ) were called to the assembly. And perhaps a seventh division may be made of all the valiant men ( 1 Chronicles 11:26-40 ), who belonged to other places, or who were at this time more especially in Jerusalem, as residents. 1 Chronicles 28:1

Ch. 1 Chronicles 28:1-8 (cp. 1 Chronicles 22:17-19 ). David’s charge to the chief men of Israel concerning the building of the Temple 1. the princes of the tribes ] Cp. 1 Chronicles 27:16-22 . the captains of the companies ] See 1 Chronicles 27:1-5 . that ministered to ] R.V. that served (as in 1 Chronicles 27:1 ). the stewards ] R.V. the rulers (as 1 Chronicles 27:31 ). The A.V. has translated the same Hebrew word ( sârîm ) in this verse by three different English words, viz., princes, captains , and stewards . See 1 Chronicles 27:25-31 . possession .] R.V. possessions , mg. cattle . officers ] R.V. mg. eunuchs ; the earlier authorities however for David’s reign (in the books of Samuel) do not mention such officials; and they were perhaps introduced into the Israelite court at a later time. Yet cp. 1 Samuel 8:15 . and with all the valiant men ] R.V. even all the mighty men of valour .

(1) And David assembled all the princes of Israel. —As he had called the National Assembly before removing the Ark ( 1Chronicles 13:1 ; 1Chronicles 15:3 ). Who the princes ( sārîm ) were is defined in the following clauses. The princes of the tribes.—See the list of them in 1Chronicles 27:16-22. Captains of the companies.—Rather, princes of the courses, who served the king: viz., those enumerated in 1Chronicles 27:1-15. Stewards.—See 1Chronicles 27:25-31. Both “captains” and “stewards” are sārîm in the Hebrew. Possession (miqnèh).—A word generally used, like the Greek κτῆμα (κτῆνος), of possessions in cattle—live stock. And of his sons.—Perhaps considered as his heirs, or rather, from the old tribal view of property, as sharing the royal domains with him. With the officers.—Heb., sarîsîm, eunuchs. The word appears to be used in a generalised sense, and to denote simply courtiers or palace officials. (Comp. Genesis 37:36; 1Samuel 8:15; 1Kings 22:9; Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 41:16.) The mighty men.—“The heroes” (ha-gibbórîm) or “warriors” of 1Chronicles 11:31-47; 1Chronicles 11:12. But the LXX. and Vulg. interpret men of rank and wealth, magnates (τοὺς δυνάστας, Luke 1:52). And with all the valiant men.—Literally, and every mighty man (“gibbôr”) of valour, a phrase meant to include all other persons of importance.