1 Chronicles 29:3

3. Moreover] R.V. Moreover also.

I have of mine own proper good] R.V. Seeing that I have a treasure of wine own.

which I have given] R.V. I give it. The point of 1Ch_29:3-5 is missed in A.V. owing to the unfortunate translation of 1Ch_29:3. David announces that he will give from his private fortune (1Ch_29:3) a heavy contribution (1Ch_29:4), and challenges the chief men to follow his example (1Ch_29:5).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, [which] I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

Ver. 3. The house of my God.] His interest in God, and love to his house, made him thus liberal. He could have found in his heart to have done as Tithonus and his son Memnon are said by Cassiodorus {a} to have done, in building of the city Susa in Persia: they joined the stones together with gold.

I have of mine own proper good.] Ex meo peculio, Out of my cabinet cash.

Which I have given.] Love is liberal: woe to Church robbers.

{a} Lib. vii. var. Epist.

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.

His great zeal toward the furtherance of the Temple made him to spare no expenses, but to bestow his own peculiar treasure.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Moreover . . . I have of mine own proper good, &c.--In addition to the immense amount of gold and silver treasure which David had already bequeathed for various uses in the service of the temple, he now made an additional contribution destined to a specific purpose--that of overlaying the walls of the house. This voluntary gift was from the private fortune of the royal donor, and had been selected with the greatest care. The gold was "the gold of Ophir," then esteemed the purest and finest in the world (Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Isa 13:12). The amount was three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(3) I have set my affection to the house.—1Ch_28:4 (he liked, râçâh: Psa_26:8).

I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver.—I have a personal property in gold and silver. For the word sĕgullâh, peculium, see Exo_19:5.

I have given—i.e., I give (1Ch_21:23).

Over and above (lĕma‘lâh).—1Ch_22:5.

All that I have prepared.—The Hebrew again omits the relative. (Comp. 1Ch_15:12.)

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

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God,.... Had a good will to it, and was earnestly desirous of having it built, and that in a grand manner:

I have of my own proper good; which he had treasured up for his own use:

of gold and silver, even that I have given to the house of my God; to build or ornament it, or make vessels for it:

over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house; for the building of the temple, which is made mention of in the preceding chapter.

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

Of mine own proper good - i. e., from his own private estate. He makes the offering publicly in order to provoke others by his example 1Ch 29:5.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Own. What he had already vowed, he esteemed no longer his. (Worthington) --- Temple. Hebrew, "houses," including the various apartments belonging to the temple. The sum which David had formerly set apart out of the spoils of war, &c., amounted to 835,000,000l. What he now adds, is 16,125,000l. sterling, according to Brerewood, who deems the sums exorbitant; and others have suspected that there is a mistake in the former numbers. We have seen with what foundation, chap. xxii. 14. David was so convinced, that the sum which he had been able to collect was too small, that he exhorted the princes to contribute, with all their power, and set them this noble example, which they endeavoured to imitate. (Haydock) --- He had collected some of the gold of Ophir, which was esteemed the best. (Calmet) See 3 Kings ix. 28. (Menochius) --- We have before remarked, that Solomon went beyond the expectations of his father, and used no silver.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Of mine own proper good; of that which I have reserved as a peculiar treasure to my own use, after I had separated those things which I had devoted to God.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Translate, And, moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, what I have as mine own treasure of gold and of silver I have given to the house of my God, over and above all I have prepared for the holy house. The word hLGus, on the seven other occasions of its use (Exo_19:5; Deu_7:6 Deu_14:2 Deu_26:18; Psa_135:4; Ecc_2:8; Mal_3:17) is found in the Authorized Version as "peculiar treasure" or "special treasure" and once "jewels," but in every instance it is evident that the specialness denoted is at one with the idea of the affection that is borne by a person to his own possession and property.

Affection for God"s house.

It would be absurd to compare David"s attachment to the projected temple to a Christian"s attachment to any material structure. The tabernacle and temple occupied under the old dispensation a position no building can now occupy. The true comparison is with the spiritual temple, the house of God the great edifice constructed of living stones, even of consecratedhearts.

I REASONS FOR DAVID"S AFFECTION TO THE LORD"S HOUSE.

1. Mainly his attachment to the Lord himself, in whose honour it was to bereared.

2. Secondarily, the fact that the project was one which he himself hadformed.

3. And further, his knowledge that the work would be accomplished by hisown loved son.

II PRACTICAL PROOFS OF THIS AFFECTION.

1. His own most liberal gifts in preparation for the work.

2. His encouragement to his people to give with generosity.

III RESULTS TO THEIR OWN HEARTS. They could not cherish such feelings of interest, affection, and attachment, and manifest their feelings in so practical a way, without reaping some harvest of profit in their own souls. Their deep and disinterested joy in their gifts is an evidence of the benefit which they received. This example should encourage Christians to cherish and display a religious attachment towards the Church purchased by our Saviour"s blood. T.

HOMILIES BY R. TUCK Ver. 3.

Personal sacrifice for God"s service.

It is a very easy thing for a man to recognize and admit that people should give of their substance for God"s service. And it is as easy a thing to urge other people to do their duty in this respect, and to give for God"s service. But it is never for any one an easy thing to do our own duty in this matter, to make our own personal sacrifices, and to take our full, fair, noble share in religious gifts and works. Precisely in this the soundness of David"s religious principle is declared. He asked no man to do what he was not prepared to do himself. He would even, by his own personal sacrifices, be an inspiration and help to others; on the example of his own generosities lifting them up to nobler things. David might have satisfied his conscience by devoting to the service of God a portion of that national wealth which was entrusted to his keeping as king. We are often tempted to be very liberal with other people"s money or with public money. David felt that such giving cost no personal effort or sacrifice, and so could not carry to God the expression of his own devotion and love. Nothing could satisfy his feeling save a large offering from his own personal and private property. This voluntary gift was selected with the greatest care; the gold was that of Ophir, esteemed the finest in the world, and the amount was three thousand talents of gold, and seven thousand talents of refined silver.

I A MAN HAS WHAT HE MAY CALL HIS "OWN PROPER GOOD." It is quite true that we really have nothing, and that what we seem to have is God"s, and only entrusted to our charge. But it is equally true that God does permit us to cherish the sense of possession, and to feel that some things are ours. The distinction between mine and thine lies at the basis of social morality; and if we can have nothing ours as separate from God, we can have something ours as separate from our fellow-men. If the distinctness of a man"s property is recognized in the common social relations, it may also be recognized in the higher religious spheres; a man"s "own proper good" having this for its peculiarity, that it is under the immediate control of the man"s own will. Press the importance of recognizing the responsibility attending on the sense of personal possession, and the trust of our "own proper good.

II IT IS IN RELATION TO ITS TREATMENT AND USE THAT A MAN"S CHARACTER GAINS EXPRESSION. In public a man makes himself appear oftentimes other than he is. He is revealed in private life. So a man may be very generous indeed in voting away public and society money; and his mean character be shown up in his miserable distributions from his "own proper good." Money is one of the most searching tests of character. Illustrate how some men hoard and reveal their acquisitiveness; others spend wastefully, and reveal their sensuality or love of self-indulgence; yet others use carefully and thoughtfully, and so reveal their caution and, it may be, the power of their religious principle; and yet others again give largely, and reveal their open and generous dispositions. God finds out the very depths of a man"s nature by giving to him a greater or less trust "of his own proper good.

III IN CONNECTION WITH IT, THE RELIGIOUS PROFESSION GETS ITS SEVEREST TESTINGS. In these days, when wealth is so suddenly acquired, we see too often religious men fail, and become indifferent and worldly. Few can stand the increase of riches. Few, indeed, care to pray Agur"s prayer. When men make money, the impulse that grows into a passion is to keep it from God, and keep its use to ones self. And what God asks is that the growing wealth should be so consecrated to his service that it may help to keep the man"s heart true.

Appeal How would God judge you in respect of your "own proper good"? R.T.

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

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God,.... Had a good will to it, and was earnestly desirous of having it built, and that in a grand manner:

I have of my own proper good; which he had treasured up for his own use:

of gold and silver, even that I have given to the house of my God; to build or ornament it, or make vessels for it:

over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house; for the building of the temple, which is made mention of in the preceding chapter.

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.)

General Information:

David continues talking to the people about his provisions for the building of the temple.

three thousand talents

"3,000 talents." This can be stated in modern measurements. AT: "about 100,000 kilograms" or "about 100 metric tons" (See: Biblical Money and Numbers)

gold from Ophir

This was the best quality and most valuable gold.

seven thousand talents

"7,000 talents." This can be stated in modern measurements. AT: "about 230,000 kilograms" or "230 metric tons" (See: Biblical Money and Numbers)

gold for the things to be made of gold ... work to be done by craftsmen

This can be stated in active form. AT: "gold for the craftsmen to make the gold things, silver so they may make the silver things, and things of all kinds for their other work" (See: Active or Passive)

give himself to him

"give himself to God"

translationWords

house of God

gold

silver

holy

works

Yahweh

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

And moreover, since I desired the House of my God The meaning is: because of my great desire, that I desired the House of my God.

I have a treasure I amassed for myself an accumulation of gold and silver, as he explains further.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.