1 Chronicles 29: The gifts, David's prayer, and the death of David
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
David tells the whole assembly that his son Solomon is young, the work is great and the palace is for Yahweh God, and that he has prepared all he could and now gives his own gold and silver as well. The leaders and the people give willingly, and David blesses Yahweh in a prayer that all things come from him. The next day they offer a thousand bulls, rams and lambs, make Solomon king a second time and anoint him, with Zadok as priest; Solomon sits on the throne and all Israel obeys him. David, who reigned forty years, dies at a good old age, and his acts are written in the words of Samuel, Nathan and Gad.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. David speaks to the assembly in verses 1 to 5 and in verse 20. In verses 10 to 19 David prays to Yahweh; those are a man's words to God, so they are not in gold. Verse 20 says the assembly blessed Yahweh, and the rest of the chapter, including verses 29 and 30 on where David's acts are written, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1David 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 Yahweh God.
In plain English: King David said to the whole assembly, "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen (or: whom God alone has chosen), is young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace (see the note) is not for a man but for Yahweh God.
The Hebrew word: "Palace" is birah, which the dictionary gives as "a castle or palace". In 1 Chronicles it is in only 2 verses, here and , and this Bible says "palace" in both. In the whole Bible it is in 16 verses, and this Bible says "palace" in 5 of them.
Good to know: In verses 2 and 3 David calls it "the house of my God". Here and in verse 19 the word is "palace".
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2Now 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.
In plain English: With all my strength I have prepared 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, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, stones of antimony (or: stones for inlaid work), stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster (or: marble) stones in abundance.
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3In 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:
In plain English: And again, because I take delight in the house of my God, I give my own treasure of gold and silver to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house:
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4even 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;
In plain English: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses,
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5of 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 Yahweh?”
In plain English: gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, and for every work to be done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then is willing to give (or: to consecrate himself; literally: to fill his hand) today to Yahweh?"
The Hebrew words: "Willing" here and "willingly" in verses 6, 9, 14 and 17 are from nadav, which the dictionary gives as "to impel; hence, to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously". It is in 5 verses of 1 Chronicles, all of them in this chapter (verses 5, 6, 9, 14 and 17), and this Bible says "willingly" in every one. "Consecrate himself" is word for word "to fill his hand". The same two words, "fill" and "hand", are the ones for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests in .
What changes: Read as "consecrate himself", David asks who will set himself apart to Yahweh. Read as "fill his hand", he asks who will fill his hand with a gift for Yahweh today. The text does not say which; the answer in verse 6 is that they "offered willingly".
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6Then 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;
In plain English: Then the leaders of the fathers' households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king's work offered willingly.
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7and 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.
In plain English: They gave for the service of God's house five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
The Hebrew word: "Darics" is adarkon, which the dictionary gives as "a daric or Persian coin". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and .
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8People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of Yahweh’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
In plain English: Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of Yahweh's house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
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9Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
In plain English: Then the people rejoiced because they had offered willingly, for they offered willingly to Yahweh with a complete heart. King David also rejoiced with great joy.
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10Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
In plain English: David blessed Yahweh before the eyes of all the assembly. David said, "Blessed are you, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, from forever to forever.
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11Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all.
In plain English: Yours, Yahweh, are the greatness, the power, the splendor, the victory and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you lift yourself up as head over all.
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12Both 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!
In plain English: Wealth and honor come from before you, and you rule over all. Power and strength are in your hand, and in your hand it is to make great and to make strong everyone.
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13Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.
In plain English: So now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.
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14But 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.
In plain English: But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the strength to give so willingly as this? For everything comes from you, and from your hand we have given to you.
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15For 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.
In plain English: For we are strangers before you and foreigners (see the note), like all our fathers. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no remaining (or: no hope).
The Hebrew words: "Strangers" is ger, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner", and "foreigners" is toshav, which it gives as "resident alien". The same two words are together in Yahweh's words about the land in and in . Toshav is in 13 verses of the Bible.
The Hebrew word: "Remaining" is miqveh, which the dictionary gives as "something waited for, i.e. confidence ... also a collection". It is in 10 verses of the Bible. This Bible says "hope" in 4 of them and "remaining" only here.
What changes: Read as "no remaining", there is no staying on the earth. Read as "no hope", there is no confidence to rest on. The verse says only that their days are like a shadow.
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16Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Yahweh our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and it all belongs to you.
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17I 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 plain English: I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have given all these things willingly, and now I have seen with joy your people who are here give willingly to you.
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18Yahweh, 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;
In plain English: Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever as the inclination (or: desire) of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and direct their heart to yourself.
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19and 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.”
In plain English: And give to my son Solomon a complete heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies and your decrees, to do all of them, and to build the palace for which I have prepared."
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20Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!” All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king.
In plain English: Then David said to the whole assembly, "Now bless Yahweh your God!" And the whole assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and bowed down to Yahweh and to the king.
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21They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh 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,
In plain English: They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the day after that day: one thousand bulls, one thousand rams and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
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22and ate and drank before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.
In plain English: and they ate and drank before Yahweh on that day with great joy. They made Solomon the son of David king a second time, and anointed him to Yahweh (this Bible: before Yahweh) as ruler (or: prince, commander; see the note), and Zadok as priest.
The Hebrew words: "A second time" is word for word "a second". says David "made Solomon his son king over Israel", and the account in says Zadok took the horn of oil and anointed Solomon. This chapter does not say how the two relate. "Ruler" is nagid, which the dictionary gives as "a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious".
What changes: Read as "commander", Solomon is anointed as the leader at the front. Read as "ruler" or "prince" (this Bible says "prince"), he is anointed as the head of the people.
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23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
In plain English: Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king in place of David his father, and he prospered, and all Israel listened to him.
Good to know: says Yahweh has chosen Solomon "to sit on the throne of Yahweh's kingdom over Israel", word for word "the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh". Here the words are "the throne of Yahweh". The text gives both and does not explain the difference.
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24All the princes, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of King David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
In plain English: All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David gave their hand under (or: submitted to) King Solomon.
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25Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Yahweh made Solomon exceedingly great in the sight of all Israel, and put on him a royal majesty such as had not been on any king before him over Israel.
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26Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
In plain English: David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
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27The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
In plain English: The days that he reigned over Israel were forty years: in Hebron he reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.
Good to know: says David reigned in Hebron "seven years and six months" and in Jerusalem thirty-three years. This verse says seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem, and does not explain the difference of the six months.
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28He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: He died in a good old age, full of days, wealth and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.
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29Now 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,
In plain English: The acts of King David, first and last, are written in the words of Samuel the seer, in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the words of Gad the seer,
The Hebrew words: "Seer" is two different words. Samuel is the ro'eh, which the dictionary gives as "a seer (as often rendered)", and Gad is the chozeh, "a beholder in vision". calls Gad "David's seer". "History" is devarim, word for word "words".
Good to know: The text names three writings: the words of Samuel, of Nathan and of Gad. It does not say that they are the books of Samuel or any book we have.
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30with all his reign and his might, and the events that involved him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the lands.
In plain English: with all his kingdom and his might, and the times that passed over him, over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the lands.
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