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1 Chronicles 29:3, 6, 9-13, 28

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In one of his final official acts as king before dying and leaving his throne to Solomon, David assembles all of the officials of the kingdom together with Solomon and stresses to them the importance that the temple for the LORD be built. During this assembly, David prays a beautiful prayer that acknowledged that the LORD was the source of all of the power, glory and prosperity that he had enjoyed as king.

Verses 1-2: In the previous chapter, David had assembled all of the officials of the kingdom as well as Solomon so that he might speak to them one final time with his instructions that Solomon had been chosen by the LORD to build the temple and that the officials are to assist him as needed (1 Chr. 28). He gives Solomon the floor plans for the temple that he had received from the LORD. Chapter 29 begins with David recognizing Solomon’s inexperience compared to the monumental task of building the temple, since it would not be a building intended to be for man but a house for the LORD (v. 1). He then calls attention to the storehouse of materials he had collected for building the temple and for constructing the articles to be used in the worship of the LORD (v. 2).

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,

“Moreover, because I have set my affection [to be delighted in; to take pleasure] to the house of my God” – The building of the temple was not a minor project in David’s mind, but instead it became the focus of his life in his final years. His love for the LORD caused him to take joy in doing all that he could to ensure that a temple would be built for the glory of God.

“I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God” – David’s enthusiastic desire that the temple of the LORD be built led him to contribute gold and silver from his own personal treasury toward the project.

“over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house” – David had already collected a massive amount of materials and funds for building the temple from Israel’s resources and private contributions. David’s personal contribution of gold and silver from his own personal treasury was in addition to what had already been set aside for the project. He specified in v. 4 that he gave 3,000 talents of gold (112 tons) and 7,000 talents of silver (260 tons). David then invited the officials that he had assembled for this meeting to also contribute toward the temple project (v. 5).

6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

The officials respond to David’s invitation to give by collectively contributing gold (5,000 talents or 187 tons plus 10,000 gold coins), silver (10,000 talents or 375 tons), brass (18,000 talents or 675 tons) and iron (100,000 talents or 3,750 tons) [v. 7]. Some of the officials were able to contribute precious stones as well (v. 8).

9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect [shalem: peaceful] heart they offered willingly to the LORD” – David did not force these men to contribute to the temple, but allowed them to contribute willingly with whatever their love for the LORD led them to give. The Hebrew word translated “perfect” is the modern word “shalom” and means “peace.” Rather than being angry for being forced to give whether they wanted to or not, they were at peace because they were allowed to give out of their love for the LORD. This freedom to express their love for the LORD as they saw fit brought them joy.

“and David the king also rejoiced with great joy” – David was no doubt rejoicing because of the large amount of additional materials being given for the temple of the LORD, but he also rejoiced that these officials were willing to give so generously out of their love for the LORD (v. 17).

10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation” – Verses 10-19 record a beautiful prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD for His provision that David prays in the presence of the people after being inspired by their generosity.

“and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever” – David offers eternal praise to the LORD, Who is the God of Israel (Jacob), the “father” (patriarch) of Israel. The nation of Israel worships and belongs to the LORD God that the father of their nation worshiped.

11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty” – David acknowledges that the LORD is the center of all greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty. No one on earth can legitimately claim any of these things unless the LORD has given it to them.

“for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine” – The LORD is supreme in that He owns everything, whether it is in heaven or in earth, because He created it all. He therefore can do as He pleases with any of his possessions.

“thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head [top; chief] above all” – The kingdom of the LORD encompasses all the kingdoms of the earth, and so David does not try to claim ownership of his own kingdom. He acknowledges that it belongs to the LORD, Who is “head” (ruler) over all kingdoms of the earth, including David and the kingdom of Israel.

12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

“Both riches and honour [glory; reputation] come of thee, and thou reignest over all” – David understands that his wealth and the glory that he has obtained over his lifetime did not come because of his own greatness, intelligence, strength or any other personal ability. He has these things because the LORD was with him and gave these things to him. Because these things came from the LORD, the LORD is able to decide how David is to utilize them and how long he will possess them.

“and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all” – The LORD is a strong and powerful God and can give strength and power to whomever He pleases. David recognizes that he has become a great and powerful king only because the LORD saw fit to give these things to him. This is in contrast with the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who later was lifted up in his pride thinking that the greatness and power of his kingdom was due to himself (Dan. 4:30). The LORD humbled this king to show him that it was the LORD Who gives power and glory to men as He sees fit (Dan. 4:31-35).

13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

David expresses his gratitude for the things mentioned in the previous verse that can only come from the LORD (riches, honor, greatness and strength) that has been given to him and the people of Israel. He praises the glorious name of the LORD for doing this.

Verses 14-19: David continues his prayer, recognizing his own unworthiness and the unworthiness of the people of Israel that the LORD would enable them to willingly give in such abundance toward the building of the temple (v. 14). David acknowledges that all of the materials and money that has been set aside for the temple came from the LORD and already belonged to Him (v. 16). The LORD is pleased with the uprightness of heart that motivated David and the people to give toward the temple (v. 17). David then asks the LORD to help Solomon and the people to retain this uprightness in their hearts so that they could continue to obey His commandments so that the construction of the temple would be completed (v. 18-19).

Verses 20-27: David urges the people to bless and worship the LORD, which they do. The next day they then made thousands of offerings to the LORD and performed a second anointing of Solomon as king (the first time had been done privately - 1 Kings 1:35-39). The officials of the kingdom submitted themselves to Solomon’s rule, as did the other sons of David. The LORD magnified Solomon among the people and blessed him. Verses 26-27 summarize David’s reign, consisting of 7 years in Hebron over Judah and then 33 years in Jerusalem over the entire nation of Israel.

28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

Scripture does not tell us how old David was when he died, only that he was “a good old age, full of days” which implies that he had lived a full life. Josephus, the Jewish historian born in A.D. 37, claims that David was 70 years old. This verse also tells us that David was “full of...riches and honour.” The LORD had been with David and had blessed him by making him a wealthy and well-respected king of his time. Solomon, his son, took the throne at his death and was also blessed of the LORD as long as he was faithful.

Verse 29-30: The writer of 1 & 2 Chronicles lets us know that more documentation on David’s life and deeds could be found in the writings of the prophets Samuel, Nathan and Gad. We have 1 & 2 Samuel, but the writings of Nathan and Gad are not found in scripture.