26 Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

Which Shelomith

and his brethren [were] over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the 27 host, had dedicated. Out of the spoils won in battles did they 28 dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD. And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, andi Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated: [and] whosoever had dedicated [any thing, it was] under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. .

29

Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the out-30 ward business over Israel, for officers and judges. [And] of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, [were] officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, Among the Hebronites [was] 31 and in the service of the king. Jerijah the chief, [even] among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among 32 them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead. And his brethren, men of valour, [were] two thousand and seven hundred · chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

CHAP. XXVII.

The twelve captains for every several month ; and the princes of the twelve tribes.

WOW the children of Israel after their number, [to wit,] the chief fathers and captains of thousands and 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 2 and four thousand. Over the first course for the first month [was] Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel : and in his course [were] 3 twenty and four thousand. Of the children of Perez [was] the 4 chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. And over the course of the second month [was] Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course [was] Mikloth also the ruler in his course 5 likewise [were] twenty and four thousand. The third captain of the host for the third month [was] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest and in his course [were] twenty and four 6 thousand. This [is that] Benaiah, [who was] mighty [among] the thirty, and above the thirty and in his course [was] Am7 mizabad his son. The fourth [captain] for the fourth month [was] Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after 8 him and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand.

The

fifth captain for the fifth month [was] Shamhuth the Izrahite? 9 and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 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] 11 twenty and four thousand. The eighth [captain] for the eighth month [was] Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in 12 his course [were] twenty and four thousand. The ninth [captain] for the ninth month [was] Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites and in his course [were] twenty and four thou13 sand. The tenth [captain] for the tenth month [was] Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course [were] 14 twenty and four thousand. 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.

16

:

Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites [was] Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, 17 Shephatiah the son of Maachah: Of the Levites, Hashabiah the 18 son of Kemuel of the Aaronites, Zadok: Of Judah, Elihu,

[one] of the brethren of David: Of Issachar, Omri the son of 19 Michael Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naph20 tali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel: Of the children of Ephraim,

:

Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel 21 the son of Pedaiah: Of the half [tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of 22 Abner: Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These [were] the princes of the tribes of Israel.

23

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel 24 like to the stars of the heavens. Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

25

And over the king's treasures [was] Azmaveth the son of Adiel and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, [was] Jehonathan the son of 26 Uzziah: And over them that did the work of the field for tillage 27 of the ground [was] Ezri the son of Chelub: And over the

vineyards [was] Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars [was] Zabdi the Shiphmite : 28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that [were] in the low plains [was] Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the 29 cellars of oil [was] Joash And over the herds that fed in

Sharon [was] Shitrai the Sharonite and over the herds [that 30 were] in the vallies [was] Shaphat the son of Adlai : Over the camels also [was] Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses [was]

31 Jehdeiah the Meronothite: And over the flocks [was] Jahziz the Hagerite all these [were] the rulers of the substance which 32 [was] king David's. Also Jonathan David's uncle was a coun

:

sellor, a wise man, and a scribe and Jehiel the son of Hach33 moni [was] with the king's sons: And Ahithophel [was] the king's counsellor and Hushai the Archite [was] the king's 34 companion: And after Ahithophel [was] Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar and the general of the king's army [was] Joab.

CHAP. XXVIII.

David, in a grand assembly, declares God's choice of Solomon to build him an house; David's exhortation to the people and Solomon to be religious; the plan and materials of the temple delivered to Solomon, who is encouraged to set about it.

1

ND David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant 2 men, unto Jerusalem.* Then David the king, who was sitting on the throne, and his son by him, stood up upon his feet, out of respect to this great and honourable assembly, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [as for me,] I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it might not be carried about as before, and for the footstool of our God, or, even the footstool of our God; the divine glory resting between the cherubims over the ark, was called the mercy seat, so that the ark was his footstool; and I had 3 made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou [hast been] 4 a man of war, and hast shed blood. Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all 5 Israel † And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel; this was God's design, not a partial fondness of my own; therefore you should

* In 1 Kings chap. i. we find David was ill; but whether the sickness then went off, or Adonijah's conspiracy roused his spirits, or his joy at Solomon's elevation gave him fresh vigour, we find by the course of the story that he was willing to have Solomon's advancement recognized and made public. He therefore called together the chief men of the kingdom, from the court, the camp, and every other department.

It was proper to specify this, to show that there was nothing of hereditary right in this case Judah was not the eldest son; Jesse was not the most considerable family in it; David was the youngest son of this family; and Solomon one of his youngest.

6 submit to him. And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him [to be] 7 my son, and I will be his father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day; hitherto he had done well, and he hoped he would persevere, and answer the expectations which he S and the people had entertained of him. Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the LORD, (addressing them as the representatives of all Israel) and in the audience of our God, who is witness to this solemn remonstrance, and all their engagements, I exhort and charge you to keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God, study them, and endeavour to understand them, that ye may possess this good land, and leave [it] for an inheritance for your children after you for ever; this is the only way in which you can expect God's favour. Then, with a noble and affecting apostrophe, he addresses Solomon.

9

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, inquire after him, endeavour to know more of him, so as to love and trust him; and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; let your obedience be cheerful and universal; for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; one argument is, the divine omniscience, which extends to the hearts of the greatest men: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever; another argument is, that the promise is conditional; as thou behavest to God, so God will do to thee. As great as David was, he minded the divine favour; and how howerful soever Solomon might be, if he forsook God, he would be cast 10 off and abhorred. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong and do [it :] though thou art so young, be not discouraged at the greatness of

the work.

Then David gave to Solomon his son the plan of the temple, containing the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, of the holy and most holy place, and the several apartments, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things; not only those which David had dedicated, or added above what was sufficient to finish the temple, but the tabernacle of Moses and its utensils, which, having been so long sacred, 13 were carefully laid up: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of 14 the LORD. [He gave] of gold by weight for [things] of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; [silver also] for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service; he gave materials in due proportion to the things

:

13 that were to be made of them: Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, [both] for the candlestick, and [also] for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick; there were ten large ones of gold to be fixed, and silver ones to be carried 16 about. And by weight [he gave] gold for the tables of shew bread, for every table; and [likewise] silver for the tables of silver: 17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons [he gave gold] by weight for every bason; and [likewise silver] by weight for every bason of silver; such a proportion of gold and silver, as would make the tables and 18 basons as large as he proposed: And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out [their wings,] and covered the 19 ark of the covenant of the LORD.* All [this, said David,] the LORD made me understand in writing by [his] hand upon me, [even] all the works of this pattern; he had it by particular and divine direction, as plainly as if God had written every idea on his mind, or had delivered it to a prophet, and he had given it in writing to David.†

20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it:] fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord GOD, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. David urges his own experience of God's goodness, and his appointment of Solomon to the work; that God would both help him, and restrain his enemies ; and make all quiet and prosperous till the work was finished. 21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, [even they shall be with thee] for all the service of the house of God: and [there shall be] with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people [will be] wholly at thy commandment; many were ready to help him, some to advise him, and some to labour; all would lend an helping hand to finish this great and pious design.

1.

REFLECTIONS.

T is the duty of every one, even the greatest of men, to seek and keep God's commandments. They are our rule. We should inquire after them, study them carefully, and pray for understanding hearts. We should be excited hereto, by considering that God and man are witnesses to the engagements we are

God is described as riding on the wings of angels, because the glory rested upon the cherubims; therefore it is called his chariot, Psalm xviii. 10.

+ It is probable that the Roman and Greek architecture was derived from this. It is certain that the earliest models of the Grecian buildings are most perfect. Human wisdom, industry, and study, never made any improvement in this art, through so many ages, though in all other arts they have improved.