أخبار الأيام الأول ٢٩:١٥

O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared,.... Of gold, silver, &c. that he and his people had provided and contributed: the gold, according to Jacob Leon (r), amounted to 59,766 tons of gold, and 46,123 gilders, each ton to be reckoned at least 1000 pounds sterling; the silver, reduced to the value of gold, made 46,337 tons, and two hundred and fifty gilders; but both, according to Witsius (s), amounted to 20,585 tons of gold; and if the talents were talents of the sanctuary, and they double the common talents, as some say they were, it was as much more, and may well be expressed by all this store, besides the brass, iron, &c. to build thee an house for thine holy name; to perform holy and religious worship in it, for the glory of his name: cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own: this he repeats, that God might have all the glory of all they had and did. (r) Relation of Memorable Things in the Tabernacle and Temple, ch. 3. p. 14, 15. (s) Miscellan. tom. 2. p. 258.

David has said what he had to say to Solomon. But he had something more to say to the congregation before he parted with them. I. He pressed them to contribute, according to their ability, towards the building and furnishing of the temple (Ch1 29:1-5). II. They made their presents accordingly with great generosity (Ch1 29:6-9). III. David offered up solemn prayers and praises to God upon that occasion (Ch1 29:10-20), with sacrifices (Ch1 29:21, Ch1 29:22). IV. Solomon was hereupon enthroned, with great joy and magnificence (Ch1 29:23-25). V. David, soon after this finished his course (Ch1 29:26-30). And it is hard to say which shines brighter here, the setting sun or the rising sun.