1 Chronicles 22:17

1Ch 22:17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying],

Ver. 17. David also commanded all the princes.] This he did out of his holy zeal, which is an extreme heat of all the affections.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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. Those that are in the throne cannot do the good they would, unless those about the throne set in with them. David would therefore have the princes to advise Solomon and quicken him, and make the work as easy to him as they could, by promoting it every one in his place. 1. He shows them what obligations they lay under to be zealous in this matter, in gratitude to God for the great things he had done for them. He had given them victory, and rest, and a good land for an inheritance, Ch1 22:18. The more God has done for us the more we should study to do for him. 2. 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's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(17) Saying.—The absence of this word from the Hebrew text may be compared with the like omission in 1Ch_16:7; 1Ch_23:4-5; 1Ch_28:19.

(17-19) David invites the cooperation of the chieftains of Israel.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Is not the Lord your God with you?.... Blessing them with wealth and riches:

and hath he not given you rest on every side? from all enemies within and without; so that they had peace and quietness, and leisure to attend the service he recommended to them:

for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; meaning the rest of the Canaanites, who before were unsubdued, as even the Jebusites in Jerusalem:

and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people; and the extent of it carried to its utmost bounds, as God had promised.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Vers. 17-19. These verses contain David"s command, accompanied by urgent argument, to the princes of Israel, to render their hearty assistance.

All the princes; i.e. those who held positions of authority as commanders, leaders, elders, heads of tribes, and chiefs of the fathers. (1Ch_27:22 1Ch_23:2 1Ch_28:1)

Vers. 17-19.

The wisdom of the strong.

We may take the "princes of Israel" as types and representatives of the strong men, the leaders in the kingdom, or Church, or society of which they are members, those who are responsible for the measures which are adopted, for the course which is chosen, for the principles which are professed. Thus regarding them, we may gather from the text

I THAT IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE STRONG TO GAIN THE FAVOUR OF GOD for themselves and for the community. "Set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God" (ver. 19); i.e. strenuously and perseveringly endeavour to gain God"s approval, to do his will and win his smile. That is the "beginning of wisdom" and the end of it, in all cases now, with all leaders everywhere. They are to do this by

(1) taking earnest heed to his revelation of himself;

(2) accepting him who is the Manifestation of his mind and will;

(3) fashioning their own lives and directing those of others according to his holy Word.

II THAT THE WISDOM OF THE STRONG IS IN MAKING THE MOST OF FAVOURABLE OPPORTUNITY. David urged the princes to activity on the ground that the time had come for action. "Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side?" etc. (ver. 18). Now that the energy of the people needed not to be devoted to the art of war, it was most fitting that it should be given to the building of a house for the Lord. The time of peace is the hour of national industry and progress, when the useful arts and religious institutions should receive particular attention. It is the part of wise and conscientious leaders, in the Church as well as in the state, to watch for the time of opportunity, to make the utmost of the "golden hour," to strike when the blows will tell. Carefulness or negligence in this matter may make all the difference between success and failure. These are favourable times for

(1) reorganization,

(2) reconciliation,

(3) evangelization.

III THAT IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE STRONG TO BUILD UP THAT WHICH HOLDS THE MOST SACRED THINGS. "Build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house" (ver. 19). The princes could do nothing better for Israel than build the house in which the ark would abide; for the Lord himself would dwell above the mercy-seat, and so long as Israel worshipped purely in the house they were building they might count on his presence and his favour. Our leaders do well to incite us to build

(1) houses of the Lord in which he himself will dwell, and receive the homage of his people and teach them his truth;

(2) institutions Churches, societies, families in which the holy principles Christ has taught us shall be incorporated;

(3) national character, which shall contain and embody those pure and righteous habits which are found in the lifo of the great Exemplar. These are of more value than all the "holy vessels" which David"s zeal could collect. C.

Vers. 17-19.

David"s charge to the princes of Israel.

After charging so solemnly his son, David turned to the princes of Israel, giving them an equally solemn charge to help his son Solomon in his great work. Every line of this charge to the princes is replete with spiritual instruction. The first line is a precious one: "Is not the Lord your God with you?" The presence of God is the Christian"s great power for all work. "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." Moses knew its importance when he said, "If thy presence go not with us, lead us not up thence." The second line is equally precious: "Hath he not given you rest on every side?" The true Christian has indeed found "rest" in Christ the true David, and for the reason assigned here in David"s third line he hath given the inhabitants of the land the Canaanites into mine hand." Every enemy the child of God has is in the hand of Christ. Every sin he has committed, as well as the broken Law, and everything else that shut him out from God, have all been laid on Jesus. Everything that could injure or stand in the Christian"s way, in the present or in the future, is all in the hand of Jesus. "Subdued" is the word written by Christ"s cross on all his sins, on all his foes, on everything against him. Nay more: in all these things "he is more than conqueror through him that loved him." This being so, to what end is it all? David tells us: "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God." Every affection, every desire, every energy, every aim, everything within us, is to be "set." And where? Christ-ward. On him who has done such great things for us. And does such grace tend to sloth or indifference? Far otherwise. "Arise therefore." Get up out of sloth, out of sin, out of earthliness of every kind. Get higher. "Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee." And how is this rising to show itself? "Build ye the sanctuary." Let every thought and energy, every heart and every hand, be put to build up the kingdom of God the true sanctuary of God in this world. And the last word in this charge is the climax the great end to which everything points: "Build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built to the Name of the Lord." Observe the sanctuary was fur this end bring in the ark of the covenant and the holy vessels." So is it now. That ark is Christ. The "holy vessels" are everything that pertains to that ark. This is the great end of every building to bring in Christ and everything that is of Christ. Is the sanctuary the believer"s soul? Then let Christ and everything Christlike be brought in there. Is the "sanctuary" a Church any of the Churches of Christ or the entire Church the body of Christ? Then see that the ark is brought in and its vessels-Christ and everything that will glorify him. The house was "to be built to the Name of the Lord." This Name is on the Christian, on every Christian Church, on every Christian duty, on every Christian nation, on every Christian work. See that the ark and its vessels are where the name is. See that we have not the name without the ark and its vessels. We may have the name in baptism, in the Holy Communion, in the Church and its ordinances, but the grand question is, "Are the ark and its vessels there? W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Is not the Lord your God with you?.... Blessing them with wealth and riches:

and hath he not given you rest on every side? from all enemies within and without; so that they had peace and quietness, and leisure to attend the service he recommended to them:

for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; meaning the rest of the Canaanites, who before were unsubdued, as even the Jebusites in Jerusalem:

and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his people; and the extent of it carried to its utmost bounds, as God had promised.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Yahweh your God is with you

This is an idiom that implies that Yahweh will help Israel to prosper. (See: Idiom)

your ... you

These pronouns are plural in 1 Chronicles 22:18-19. (See: Forms of You)

has given you peace on every side

"has caused all the nations who live around Israel to live peacefully with you"

He has given the region's inhabitants into my hand

Here "hand" refers to power to defeat his enemies. AT: "He has given me power over everyone who lives around us" (See: Metonymy)

The region is subdued before Yahweh and his people

This can be stated in active form. "The other nations no longer attack Yahweh and his people" (See: Active or Passive)

Now

This word introduces something important that David is about to say.

seek Yahweh your God

Seeking Yahweh represents either 1) asking God for help or 2) thinking about God and obeying him. (See: Metaphor)

with all your heart and your soul

Here "heart" and "soul" refer to the whole person. AT: "with your whole being" (See: Synecdoche)

Get up and build the holy place

It is understood that Solomon will not do the work personally, but he will direct others to do it. AT: "Get up and direct the workers as they build the holy place" (See: Metonymy)

the house built for Yahweh's name

Here "name" refers to honor. This can be stated in active form. AT: "the temple you will build to honor Yahweh" (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

translationWords

David

Israel

Solomon

peace

hand

holy place

ark of the covenant

house of God

name

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.