Day 120: 2 Chronicles 4-6

(The previous post covered Solomon's asking God for wisdom and Solomon's building of the temple.)

2 Chronicles 4

(This chapter covered the furnishings for the temple.)

¹ Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

(The altar of brass was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.)

(Verses 2-6: the washing basins for the temple.)

² Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

(The molten sea (round basin) was 15 feet across, 7 1/2 feet deep and, about 45 feet in circumference.)

³ And under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
⁴ It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
⁵ And it was a handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.

(The round basin was able to hold about 16,500 gallons of water.)

⁶ He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

(The ten lavers (smaller basins) were for washing the utensils for burnt-offerings. The round basin was for the priests to bath in.)

⁷ And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
⁸ He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold.
⁹ Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
¹⁰ And he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.

(The "molten sea" (the large round basin) was placed in the southeast corner of the temple.)

(Verses 11-17: the work of Huram from Tyre.)

¹¹ And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of God:
¹² the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,
¹³ and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars.
¹⁴ He made also the bases, and the lavers made he upon the bases;
¹⁵ one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.
¹⁶ The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels thereof, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Jehovah of bright brass.

(Huram made all these things as Solomon had commanded.)

¹⁷ In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.

(Verses 18-22: the summary of the furnishings in the temple.)

¹⁸ Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

(There was so much brass used that its weight could not be found out.)

¹⁹ And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the showbread;
²⁰ and the candlesticks with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;
²¹ and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;
²² and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, were of gold.

(This listed all the vessels that were made for inside the temple.)




2 Chronicles 5

(This chapter covered the Ark of the Covenant being brought to the temple.)

¹ Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
² Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' houses of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.

(The temple was complete, so Solomon gathered the congregation to bring up the Ark of the Covenant.)

³ And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.
⁴ And all the elders of Israel came: and the Levites took up the ark;
⁵ and they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the priests the Levites bring up.
⁶ And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.

(There was so many sheep and oxen sacrificed that they could not be numbered.)

⁷ And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
⁸ For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
⁹ And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there it is unto this day.
¹⁰ There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

(The two tablets were placed in the Ark.)

(Verses 11-14: the Glory of God filled the temple.)

¹¹ And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests that were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their courses;
¹² also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brethren, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets;)
¹³ it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Jehovah; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Jehovah, saying, For he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah,

(The trumpeters and singers were as one and made one sound praising and thanking God. The temple filled with a cloud which was the Glory of God. This represented God's agreement with this event.)

¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of God.

(The temple was so filled with the cloud that the priests could not stand to minister.)




2 Chronicles 6

(This chapter covered Solomon's prayer of dedication.)

¹ Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
² But I have built thee a house of habitation, and a place for thee to dwell in for ever.

(Verses 3-9: Solomon blessed the people and blessed God.)

³ And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.

(Remember, God is light. Therefore He dwells in the thick darkness because there is no light apart from Him. In other words, since God is the Light, He has no choice but to dwell in darkness. Solomon blessed the whole congregation and they all stood.)

⁴ And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
⁵ Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:
⁶ but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

(God chose Jerusalem as the place to put His Name and David to rule His people.)

⁷ Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
⁸ But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:

(2 Samuel 7:5-16 did not document God stating David's heart was right in wanting to build God a temple. In fact, God asked if He had ever said, "Why build ye not me an house of cedar?" However 1 Kings 8:18 documented Solomon stated the same thing that Solomon stated here in verse 8.)

⁹ nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.

(Verses 10-11: Solomon presented the finished temple unto the Lord.)

¹⁰ And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

(Solomon declared God’s promise to David as being fulfilled.)

¹¹ And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.

(Verses 12-42: Solomon's prayer.)

(Verses 12-14: humility before and praise unto the Lord.)

¹² And he stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands;
¹³ (for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;)

(Solomon kneeled before the entire congregation of Israel, spreading his hands towards heaven. Remember, the Ark was present. Solomon was praying to God in front of the people.)

¹⁴ and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven, or on earth; who keepest covenant and lovingkindness with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart;

(Solomon knew that God kept His covenants and lovingkindness with those who walked before them with all their heart. Solomon recognized he was praying to God.)

(Verses 15-17: Solomon recognized God as the promise keeper.)

¹⁵ who hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst promise him: yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day.

(Solomon built his faith through experience.)

¹⁶ Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.

(Solomon referenced Justice by stating the promise God had made including the condition required of the Israelites.)

¹⁷ Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David.

(Solomon made a request: for God to keep His promise.)

(Verses 18-21: request that God would dwell in this place and honor those who seek Him there.)

¹⁸ But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have builded!
¹⁹ Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee;

(Solomon humbled himself before he asked that God have respect on his prayer.)

²⁰ that thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this place.
²¹ And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest forgive.

(Solomon asked that God would turn His Eyes to this place and listen to the prayers of those who prayed towards the temple. God's Eyes represented His understanding. God's Ears represented His obeying/granting the prayer.)

(Verses 22-39: Solomon covered different circumstances in which he requested that God hear the prayer.)

²² If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and he come and swear before thine altar in this house;
²³ then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

(Solomon asked for God to equal out Justice.)

²⁴ And if thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
²⁵ then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
²⁶ When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:
²⁷ then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

(Solomon mentioned confession and repentance in verse 26.)

²⁸ If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague or whatsoever sickness there be;
²⁹ what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house:
³⁰ then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place and forgive, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of the children of men;)

(God knows the hearts of men.)

³¹ that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
³² Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thine outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house:
³³ then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

(Remember, this Dispensation of the Law focused on all people who obeyed the Law, even people who were not of Israel.)

³⁴ If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
³⁵ then hear thou from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
³⁶ If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near;

(Every man is a sinner.)

³⁷ yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;
³⁸ if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

(Solomon asked God to take Israel into captivity and then to hear the prayers of those who were held captive if they return to God with their whole heart. We know God did fulfill this prayer. Why did people not realize their captivity was supposed to be a sign that they ought to return to God with their whole heart?)

³⁹ then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee.

(Verses 40-42: Solomon's conclusion.)

⁴⁰ Now, O my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.
⁴¹ Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
⁴² O Jehovah God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember thy lovingkindnesses to David thy servant.

(Solomon finished his prayer in which he asked that God pay close attention to the prayers in and towards the temple with His Eyes and Ears...His understanding and obedience.)

(This post covered the completion of the temple and Solomon's dedication of the temple.)

Day 121

Day 119: 2 Chronicles 1-3

(Much like the two Books of Kings, Chronicles was one book in the Jewish Old Testament. The Greeks divided the book into two parts. Both will serve as a review of the previous four books. Many experts believe the Books of Chronicles were compiled by Isaiah (~683 BC) and Ezra (~461 BC) from the records of scribes and prophets from 1279-461 BC. The Book of 2 Chronicles was the ninth of the twelve books that made up the historical section of the Old Testament. While the Book of 1 Chronicles covered the same time period as the Book of 1 Samuel and the Book of 2 Samuel: The kingships of Saul and David. The Book of 2 Chronicles covered the same time period as the Book of 1 Kings and the Book of 2 Kings (Israel's history from Solomon until the captivity), however, the focus was Judah. For example, the Book of 1 Chronicles had some details not present in the Book of 1 Kings and the Book of 2 Kings. Basically, the Books of Chronicles were more concerned with the kings' actions as king. David's battle with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) was not mentioned because David was not the king when this occurred. Also, David's relationship with Jonathan (1 Samuel 18) was not mentioned because this had nothing to do with David's kingly duties. We will focus more on these points and treat the rest of the text as review.)

2 Chronicles 1
¹ And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

(God was with Solomon and magnified him exceedingly. Magnify meant "to grow.")

² And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' houses.
³ So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness.
⁴ But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

(Solomon brought the leaders of Israel to the tabernacle.)

⁵ Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it.
⁶ And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it.
⁷ In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

(After David's public prayer, God appeared to Solomon and asked Solomon what He should give him: 1 Kings 3:5.)

⁸ And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead.
⁹ Now, O Jehovah God, let thy promise unto David my father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
¹⁰ Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

(Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge and gave his reason: 1 Kings 3:9. In verse 10, "knowledge" was the Hebrew word madda. We saw in 1 Kings 3, this was the ability to understand the process of thinking.)

¹¹ And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
¹² wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.

(God gave Solomon wisdom and knowledge as he requested and God gave him more: 1 Kings 3:11-14. Again, "knowledge" in both verse 11 and verse 12 was madda. Notice, madda was given by God. For example, in Daniel 1:17 God gave madda to Daniel and his friends.)

¹³ So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, unto Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
¹⁴ And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
¹⁵ And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
¹⁶ And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.

(Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and multiplied gold and silver to himself (1 Kings 10:28), which was a violation of Deuteronomy 17:16-17.)

¹⁷ And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.




2 Chronicles 2
¹ Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.

(Solomon was ready to build the temple and a house of his own.)

² And Solomon counted out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

(He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers (bearers of burdens), 80,000 men to quarry stone (hewers) in the hill country, and 3,600 supervisors/overseers.)

(Verses 3-16: Solomon's correspondence with the king of Tyre.)

³ And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.

(Solomon sent a message to Huram about the work they were to accomplish.)

⁴ Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Jehovah our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
⁵ And the house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
⁶ But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
⁷ Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that knoweth how to grave all manner of gravings, to be with the skilful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.

(He wanted a man who was skillful, who could work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, crimson (scarlet), and blue cloth. This man also had to know how to engrave.)

⁸ Send me also cedar-trees, fir-trees, and algum-trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon: and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
⁹ even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
¹⁰ And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

(In exchange for the men from Tyre who could cut wood, Solomon offered Huram 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil.)

¹¹ Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because Jehovah loveth his people, he hath made thee king over them.
¹² Huram said moreover, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
¹³ And now I have sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,

(Huram blessed God and stated that God created heaven and earth. Then he agreed to send a man, of his brethren, who was skilled and had understanding.)

¹⁴ the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to grave any manner of graving, and to devise any device; that there may be a place appointed unto him with thy skilful men, and with the skilful men of my lord David thy father.
¹⁵ Now therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
¹⁶ and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

(Huram also agreed to the exchange concerned with the wood cutters. There was no documentation that David provided wood.)

¹⁷ And Solomon numbered all the sojourners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
¹⁸ And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people at work.

(Solomon numbered all of the foreigners in the land. They numbered 153,600 of which Solomon assigned 70,000 of them as laborers, 80,000 as quarry workers, and 3,600 as supervisors.)

2 Chronicles 3

¹ Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where Jehovah appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

(After much preparation by David and Solomon himself, Solomon began building the temple.)

² And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

(It took Solomon over four years to start building.)

³ Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.

(The dimensions of the foundation of the temple were 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.)

⁴ And the porch that was before the house, the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height a hundred and twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

(The porch, or entry room, was 30 feet wide running along the width of the temple and 30 feet high.)

⁵ And the greater house he ceiled with fir-wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and wrought thereon palm-trees and chains.
⁶ And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
⁷ He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.

(This covered some of the decorations of the temple.)

⁸ And he made the most holy house: the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.

(The Holy of Holies, where the Ark lived, was 30 feet wide according to the width of the temple and 30 feet deep. Solomon overlaid its interior with 23 tons of gold.)

⁹ And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

(Solomon used golden nails. Each weighed about 1 1/4 lbs.)

¹⁰ And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
¹¹ And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

(The two cherubim standing side by side had a total wingspan of 30 feet.)

¹² And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
¹³ The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.

(Each cherub had a 15 foot wingspan and the tips of the most outward wings touched the walls of the temple.)

¹⁴ And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.

(The veil was embroidered with cherubim.)

¹⁵ Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.

(In the front of the temple stood two pillars, each being 27 feet high with an additional 7 1/2 foot capital on each.)

¹⁶ And he made chains in the oracle, and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
¹⁷ And he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

(Each pillar was named:
-The one on the right, Jachin which meant "He will establish."
-The one on the left, Boaz which meant "in it is strength."

It was therefore said of the temple that this house of God was established by God and built by the strength of God.)

(This post covered Solomon's asking God for wisdom and Solomon's building of the temple.)

Day 120

Day 118: 1 Chronicles 26-29

(The previous post covered the beginning of Solomon's reign, the building of the temple, and the division of labor within the temple.)

1 Chronicles 26

(This chapter covered the Doorkeepers of the Temple.)

(Verses 1-12: the division of the doorkeepers, also known as "gatekeepers" or "porters.")

¹ For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
² And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
⁴ And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
⁶ Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
⁷ The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
⁸ All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.
⁹ And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.
¹⁰ Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief),
¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
¹² Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.

(Verses 13-19: the lot for each family of the doorkeepers.)

¹³ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate.

(Again, all of the doorkeepers had to draw lots regardless of their individual experience.)

¹⁴ And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
¹⁵ To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.
¹⁶ To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, watch against watch.
¹⁷ Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
¹⁸ For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
¹⁹ These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

(The doorkeepers were divided according to the lot they drew. These men were descendents of Korah and Merari, two of Levi’s sons.)

(Verses 20-25: overseers for the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.)

²⁰ And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
²¹ The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
²² The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah.
²³ Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
²⁴ and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
²⁵ And his brethren: of Eliezer came Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.

(Verses 26-28: Shelomith, an important leader of the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.)

²⁶ This Shelomoth and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
²⁷ Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.
²⁸ And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brethren.

(Verses 29-32: other servants for the kingdom of Israel.)

²⁹ Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

(Chenaniah and his sons were responsible for administrative duties, like scribes or secretaries.)

³⁰ Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.
³¹ Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
³² And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers' houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.

(The business of God and service of the king was covered. Men were responsible for lands east and west of the Jordan.)




1 Chronicles 27

(This chapter covered leaders of the tribes and officers of the kingdom.)

(Verses 1-15: Leaders over the army of Israel.)

¹ Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers' houses and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year-of every course were twenty and four thousand.

(This began the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by leading his army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops.)

² Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
³ He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
⁴ And over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁵ The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁶ This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and of his course was Ammizabad his son.
⁷ The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁸ The fifth captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁹ The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁰ The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹¹ The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹² The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹³ The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁴ The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁵ The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

(Each of the twelve divisions was named with their leader.)

(Verses 16-22: the leaders of each tribe.)

¹⁶ Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:
¹⁷ of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:
¹⁸ of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
¹⁹ of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:
²⁰ of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
²¹ of the half -tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
²² of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

(Verses 23-34: officers in king David's government.)

²³ But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.
²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.

(David’s numbering of the Israelites was not finished because God’s anger on Israel came before the numbering was completed. Therefore, the number of the Israelites at this time was not recorded.)

²⁵ And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah:
²⁶ And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
²⁷ and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
²⁸ and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
²⁹ and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
³⁰ and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
³¹ All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.

(David’s rulers/officials were named. These men were in charge of David’s substance: property, goods, possessions.)

³² Also Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:

(Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe.)

³³ And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend:
³⁴ and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king's host was Joab.

(Remember, Ahithophel sided with Absalom and once his counsel was ignored, he killed himself (2 Samuel 17:23). Joab was mentioned again as David’s general.)




1 Chronicles 28

(King David publicly endorsed Solomon.)

¹ And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, unto Jerusalem.

(David assembled the whole congregation.)

(Verses 2-8: David's final instructions before he died.)

² Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.
³ But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.

(David said to the entire congregation that God told him to not build the temple because he had been a man of war. What was really going on here?
1) David could have been wrong and remembered his interaction with God wrong.
2) David could have been trying to distract everyone from the fact that he was a tenth generation bastard.
3) He could also have been trying to hide that God's actual response (2 Samuel 7) was that David had initiated his will instead of asking God what He wanted, and Nathan had initially supported David.)

⁴ Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;

(God chose David to be the king of Israel. God chose Judah to be the prince/ruler: Genesis 49:10.)

⁵ And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.
⁶ And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
⁷ And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.

(David made the entire congregation aware of Solomon being king and God’s intentions regarding him and his kingdom.)

⁸ Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever.

(Verses 9-10: David spoke to Solomon.)

⁹ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

(David was giving his "charge" to Solomon in front of the whole congregation. He told Solomon to serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God searches all hearts and He understands all imaginations of the thoughts.

Imagination is a conscious brain ability that animals do not have. We can intentionally remember and we can intentionally imagine. This passage stated God can take forward with imagination all our thoughts to determine their outcome. Again, this was another passage that showed God knows what we will do as a response of our thoughts...our choices.)

¹⁰ Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

(Verses 11-19: plans for the temple.)

¹¹ Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat;
¹² and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
¹³ also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah;

(David gave Solomon the pattern (model, plan) for the temple and all the surrounding buildings, courts, and even the items within the temple.)

¹⁴ of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;
¹⁵ by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick;
¹⁶ and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
¹⁷ and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
¹⁸ and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.

(David also gave Solomon the plans/model for the amount of material (gold, silver, etc.) needed to build the temple and its parts.)

¹⁹ All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.

(David gave credit to God for giving him the understanding to create this model.)

(Verses 20-21: David's final charge to Solomon.)

²⁰ And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.
²¹ And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

(David made Solomon aware of the Levites and the others who were commanded to help in this venture.)




1 Chronicles 29

(This chapter covered the end of king David's reign.)

¹ And David the king said unto all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God.

(David continued speaking in front of the whole congregation.)

² Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
³ Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

(David gave his own treasures to the temple which also included stone. He called it "the house of my God." This was personal to David.)

⁴ even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, wherewith to overlay the walls of the houses;

(In addition to what David collected for the temple, he gave 112 tons of gold and 262 tons of refined silver.)

⁵ of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto Jehovah?
⁶ Then the princes of the fathers' houses, 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;
⁷ and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents.
⁸ And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Jehovah, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

(The leaders of Israel also gave willingly. Aside from the precious stones they offered, there was about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins (darics), 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of brass, and 3,750 tons of iron collected from this offering.)

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

(Verses 10-20: David blessed God before all the people.)

¹⁰ Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

(This is the first time in the Bible that God is addressed directly as a "father" over His people.)

¹¹ Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.
¹² Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
¹³ Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
¹⁴ But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
¹⁵ For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.
¹⁶ O Jehovah our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name cometh of thy hand, and is all thine own.
¹⁷ I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.

(God tries (to examine, test, prove) our hearts and has pleasure in uprightness. David recognized God, built his faith in God through understanding and experience, and referenced Justice. All that was left to turn this into a prayer was a request...)

¹⁸ O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee;
¹⁹ and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.

(David made a request to God for the people and Solomon. Was God's giving Solomon madda understanding as documented in 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1 the fulfillment of David's prayer?)

²⁰ And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king.

(Verses 21-30: the end of David's reign, the beginning of Solomon's reign.)

²¹ And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
²² and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.

(Solomon was anointed king a second time in front of the entire congregation.)

²³ Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
²⁴ And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.
²⁵ And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
²⁶ Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
²⁷ And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
²⁸ And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

(David died and Solomon was king of Israel. What happened to the story from 1 Kings 1 about Abishag (the virgin that kept David warm)? What happened to the story (also from 1 Kings 1) about Adonijah exalting himself and attempting to take the kingdom from Solomon? How would Adonijah have been able to convince the people he was king instead of Solomon when David twice stated in front of everyone that Solomon was king?)

²⁹ Now 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,
³⁰ with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

(We have seen, this book focused on king David's actions as king. While the Book of 2 Samuel covered the same time period, it covered more of David's personal story. Would we get even more resolution on what God said to David when He prevented David from building the house for God? Would we get even more resolution on how Satan was able to stand against David?)

(The Book of Nathan the Prophet??? The Book of Gad the Seer???)

(The Book of 1 Chronicles was the eighth of the twelve books that made up the historical section of the Old Testament. The Book of 1 Chronicles covered the same time period as the Books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel: The kingships of Saul and David. The Book of 2 Chronicles covered the same time period as the Books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, however, the focus was Judah. Many experts believed the Books of Chronicles were compiled by Isaiah (~683 BC) and Ezra (~461 BC) from the records of scribes and prophets from 1279-461 BC.)

Day 119

Day 117: 1 Chronicles 22-25

(The previous post covered the same events that concluded 2 Samuel while skipping over many events that occurred after the Davidic Covenant: Amnon raping Tamar, Absalom's exile, Absalom's rebellion, Absalom's death, David's exile, Joab's maneuverings, etc.)

(This post covered events not mentioned after the end of the Book of 2 Samuel.)

1 Chronicles 22
¹ Then David said, This is the house of Jehovah God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
² And David commanded to gather together the sojourners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
³ And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;
⁴ and cedar-trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-trees in abundance to David.
⁵ And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Jehovah must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

(Even though David could not build the temple himself, he still gathered many supplies to prepare Solomon for building the temple. None of this was mentioned in 2 Samuel.)

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Jehovah, the God of Israel.
⁷ And David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.
⁸ But the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

(David told Solomon that he could not build the temple because God said he "shed much blood on the earth in God's sight." 2 Samuel 7:1-17 recorded Nathan speaking to David about Solomon building the temple. Nowhere in that passage did God say David could not build the temple because of blood shed. Remember, God's actual response was that David had initiated his will instead of asking God what He wanted and Nathan had initially supported David.

David may have been trying to hide the fact that he and Nathan had acted apart from God. We have seen David could not build the temple because he was the tenth generation of a bastard (Perez). This law was recorded in Deuteronomy 23:2. It was a fact that David told Solomon that God said David shed too much blood to build the temple. However, this did not mean that God actually said this to David. Was he unaware of this law and came to his own conclusion?)

In addition, David was at a time of peace when he tried to build a house for God. Later, Solomon asked for supplies from other nations because (Solomon said) David was never at peace (1 Kings 5:3) and could not amass supplies. Now, we see David did amass supplies for the house of God. Why did Solomon ask for more supplies? Was it because he wanted to build his house?...a house for his queen?...other houses and buildings?)

⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days:

(Solomon meant "peace.")

¹⁰ he shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

(Verses 11-13: David encouraged Solomon to stay faithful to God and His Word. Would he?)

¹¹ Now, my son, Jehovah be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken concerning thee.
¹² Only Jehovah give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of Jehovah thy God.
¹³ Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed.

(David stated for the Lord to give Solomon understanding and wisdom that he may keep the Law, then he would prosper.)

¹⁴ Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

(Included in the supplies David prepared for Solomon was nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much brass and iron that it could not be weighed. Did Solomon request gold, silver, brass, or iron from other nations?)

¹⁵ Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all men that are skilful in every manner of work:
¹⁶ of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Jehovah be with thee.
¹⁷ David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
¹⁸ Is not Jehovah your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Jehovah, and before his people.
¹⁹ Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.

(David had workmen set aside for Solomon but he also commanded the princes of Israel to help Solomon as well.)




1 Chronicles 23
¹ Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

(David must have known he was not going to live much longer so he made Solomon king in his stead.)

² And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
³ And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

(David gathered the princes of Israel along with priests and 38,000 Levites from thirty years old and up.)

⁴ Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;
⁵ and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
⁶ And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

(David divided the 38,000 Levites according to their clan of Levi:
-Gershon: they were responsible for the care of the skins that covered the tabernacle.
-Kohath: they were responsible for the care of the furniture of the tabernacle (Ark, tables, menorah, etc.).
-Merari: they were responsible for the care of the structural aspects of the tabernacle (pillars, boards, etc.).)

⁷ Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
⁸ The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
⁹ The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan.
¹⁰ And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
¹¹ And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they became a fathers' house in one reckoning.

(The Gershonite family units were defined.)

¹² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
¹³ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, for ever, to burn incense before Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever.
¹⁴ But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
¹⁵ The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
¹⁶ The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
¹⁷ And the sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
¹⁸ The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
¹⁹ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
²⁰ The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.

(The Kohathite family units were defined. Notice, Moses was mentioned among these.)

²¹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
²² And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them to wife.
²³ The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

(The Merarite family units were defined.)

(Verses 24-32: David changed the duties of the Levites.)

²⁴ These were the sons of Levi after their fathers' houses, even the heads of the fathers' houses of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.
²⁵ For David said, Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever:
²⁶ and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.

(David made the Levites aware there no longer being a need for them to carry the tabernacle and the vessels. There would be a temple to hold these things.)

²⁷ For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.
²⁸ For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;
²⁹ for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;
³⁰ and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;
³¹ and to offer all burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Jehovah;
³² and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.

(The Levites had to transition. There work would be different now that the tabernacle would not move.)




1 Chronicles 24

(Verses 1-19: covered the division of Aaron’s sons.)

¹ And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.

(Nadab and Abihu died before their father. Nadab and Abihu were devoured by God because they put incense on the altar and offered strange fire before God: Leviticus 10:1-2. Therefore, this dividing of Aaron’s sons only concerned two of his sons: Eleazar and Ithamar.)

³ And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
⁴ And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.

(David divided the sons of Eleazar, while Ahimelch divided the sons of Ithamar. Since the sons of Eleazar had more chief men (leaders), Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s descendants were divided into eight groups.)

⁵ Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
⁶ And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers' house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

(The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots.)

⁷ Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
⁸ the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
⁹ the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
¹⁰ the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
¹¹ the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
¹² the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
¹³ the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
¹⁴ the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
¹⁵ the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
¹⁶ the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
¹⁷ the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
¹⁸ the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
¹⁹ This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Jehovah according to the ordinance given unto them by Aaron their father, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

(There were twenty-four groups divided for the service of the temple.)

(Verses 20-31: recorded the chiefs of the rest of the families of the Levites.)

²⁰ And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
²¹ Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
²² Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
²³ And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
²⁴ The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
²⁵ The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
²⁶ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
²⁷ The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
²⁸ Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
²⁹ Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
³⁰ And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers' houses.
³¹ These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers' houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.




1 Chronicles 25

(This chapter recorded the division and duties of the singers and musicians.)

¹ Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was:

(Notice, these musicians would prophesy with their instruments.)

(Verses 2-6: the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.)

² of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.
³ Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah.
⁴ Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
⁵ All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
⁶ All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.

(Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.)

⁷ And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto Jehovah, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

(The number of these leaders including their families who sang and played to God was 288. These were all skillful singers and musicians.)

⁸ And they cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

(All of the 288 had to cast lots regardless of their experience and understanding of their duties.)

(Verses 9-31: the division of the musicians.)

⁹ Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve:
¹⁰ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹² the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁴ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁰ for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²¹ for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²² for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²³ for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁴ for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁵ for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁶ for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁷ for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁸ for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
²⁹ for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
³⁰ for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:
³¹ for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

(There were twenty-four groups of twelve men divided by the lots which equaled the total of them being 288.)

(This post covered the beginning of Solomon's reign, the building of the temple, and the division of labor within the temple.)

Day 118

Day 116: 1 Chronicles 19-21

(The previous post covered the Davidic Covenant, David's victories in war, and David looking to keep his Covenant with Jonathan by showing kindness to Jonathan's descendants.)

(The three chapters in this post continued king David's story.)

1 Chronicles 19
¹ And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

(Ammon was from Lot. This story was covered in 2 Samuel 10, and concerned king David's actions as king.)

² And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

(David showed kindness to Hanun because of Justice. David received kindness from Hanun so he showed kindness back.)

³ But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

(Hanun’s princes convinced him that David was being deceptive. Hanun returned evil for good. David's good gesture resulted in embarrassment for David's servants. The shaving of their beards and cutting their clothes were insults of grave proportion. Since these men were servants of David, it was as if these insults were done to David himself.)

⁵ Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.

(The Ammonites recognized they had made themselves "odious" to David and began preparing for battle. Odious meant "to have a bad smell, stink, smell bad." This was representative of these men having an evil nature. The Ammonites knew they messed up and they were trying to get ready for what they knew would come.)

⁷ So they hired them thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
⁸ And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

(David sent his general, Joab, when he heard of the gathering of the Ammonites.)

⁹ And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
¹⁰ Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

(Similar to the term "select" or "elect" in the New Testament, the term "choice" referred to the quality of these men. They weren't excellent men because they were chosen, they were chosen because they were excellent men. It is easy for people to abuse the Principle of Causality here and it damages the correct interpretation of scripture:
-Cause: "choice" men
-Effect: were "chosen.")

¹¹ And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
¹² And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
¹³ Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

(Joab came up with a great strategy that would help him and Abishai if either of them were in trouble. This passage gave the definition for being a man. The phrase "play the man" meant they would focus on the causes (the battle) regardless of the effects (the outcome). In fact, they specifically stated they would leave the effects to God.)

¹⁴ So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
¹⁵ And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
¹⁶ And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
¹⁷ And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
¹⁸ And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

(After David defeated the Syrians to the point they fled, king Hadarezer of the Syrians sought peace with David.)




1 Chronicles 20
¹ And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.

(The times that kings went out to battle, David stayed in Jerusalem. This was when David saw Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:1. Again, David's actions with Bathsheba were not king David as king. They were the individual David being about himself (committing adultery and murdering Uriah). Consequently, these actions were not covered in the Book of Chronicles.)

² And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
³ And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
⁴ And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.

(Sippai, the son of Goliath, was killed.)

⁵ And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

(Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, was killed.)

⁶ And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born unto the giant.

(Another son of Goliath’s, this one with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, was killed.)

⁷ And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
⁸ These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.




1 Chronicles 21
¹ And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

(Satan provoked David to number Israel. This was the first time the word Satan was used in the Bible. This did not mean he was not present until now (e.g., The Book of Job). Also, the word devil did not occur in the Old Testament.)

² And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.

(David told Joab to number the people so he would know the number. Notice, this story was the same as 2 Samuel 24:1 when it was stated the Lord moved David to number Israel.

Two points need to be made:
1) This explained better that God can use Satan to bring about destructive results. For example, in 1 Kings 22:22, God used an evil spirit to lie to Ahab through the prophets. An even more clear explanation for how this worked was in the Book of Job.
2) The previous chapter covered the events from 2 Samuel 11. This chapter covered the events from 2 Samuel 24. The events that have been skipped over (Amnon raping Tamar, Absalom's exile, Absalom's rebellion, Absalom's death, David's exile, Joab's maneuverings, etc.) were not concerned with king David as king.)

³ And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?
⁴ Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

(Joab tried to convince David not to do this but David’s authority overruled Joab.)

⁵ And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
⁶ But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
⁷ And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
⁸ And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

(God was angry regarding the numbering that David commanded. David immediately confessed.)

⁹ And Jehovah spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
¹⁰ Go and speak unto David, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

(God gave David three options of judgment against Israel: 2 Samuel 24:12.)

¹¹ So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Take which thou wilt:
¹² either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before thy foes, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of Jehovah, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Jehovah destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

(The choices were:
1) Seven years famine
2) Flee three months before your enemies
3) Three days plague in your land.)

¹³ And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Jehovah; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

(David chose pestilence at the Hand of God because He was merciful.)

¹⁴ So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
¹⁵ And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
¹⁶ And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Jehovah standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

(David saw the angel that God had sent to destroy Jerusalem.)

¹⁷ And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.

(David prayed that the punishment would fall on him and not the people. David called the people "sheep." David recognized this decision was made as shepherd, as king.)

¹⁸ Then the angel of Jehovah commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
¹⁹ And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of Jehovah.
²⁰ And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons that were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
²¹ And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
²² Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar unto Jehovah: for the full price shalt thou give it me, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
²³ And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal-offering; I give it all.
²⁴ And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for Jehovah, nor offer a burnt-offering without cost.

(2 Samuel 23 showed that David understood right and just. David knew it would not be right or just for him to offer something to God that had cost him nothing.)

²⁵ So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
²⁶ And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon Jehovah; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering.
²⁷ And Jehovah commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

(God commanded the angel to put away his sword.)

²⁸ At that time, when David saw that Jehovah had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
²⁹ For the tabernacle of Jehovah, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.
³⁰ But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Jehovah.

(2 Samuel concluded with God stopping the pestilence. However, the Book of 1 Chronicles still had more chapters...)

(This post covered the same events that concluded 2 Samuel while skipping over many events that occurred after the Davidic Covenant: Amnon raping Tamar, Absalom's exile, Absalom's rebellion, Absalom's death, David's exile, Joab's maneuverings, etc.)

Day 117