Bible Commentaries

The palace - The original word here used is the Hebrew form of a Persian word, and generally designates the residence of the Persian monarch Esther 1:2, Esther 1:5; Esther 2:3, Esther 2:8; Nehemiah 1:1; Daniel 8:2. It is only here and in 1 Chronicles 29:19 that it is applied to the temple.

Glistering stones - Rather, "colored stones;" or, "dark stones" - stones of a hue like that of the antimony wherewith women painted their eyes.

Marble stones - or, "white stones" - perhaps "alabaster," which is found near Damascus. On the use made of the "stones" in building the temple, see 2 Chronicles 3:6 note.

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

The numbers here have also suffered to some extent from the carelessness of copyists (compare the 1 Chronicles 22:14 note). The amount of silver is not indeed improbable, since its value would not exceed three millions of our money; but as the gold would probably exceed in value thirty millions, we may suspect an error in the words "three thousand."

To consecrate his service - literally, as in the margin, "to fill his hand," i. e., "to come with full hands to Yahweh." The words contain an appeal to the assembly for voluntary offerings.

The word here translated "dram" is regarded by most critics as the Hebrew equivalent of the Persian "daric," or ordinary gold coin, worth about 22 shillings of British money (circa 1880's). Not, however, that the Jews possessed darics in David's time: the writer wished to express, in language that would be intelligible to his readers, the value of the gold subscribed, and therefore he translated the terms employed in his documents, whatever they were, into terms that were in use in his own day. The doric became current in Palestine soon after the return from the captivity Ezra 2:69; Ezra 8:27; Nehemiah 7:70-72.

Compare Exodus 35:27. The same spirit prevailed now as at the setting up of the tabernacle. Each offered what he had that was most precious.

The people rejoiced for that they offered willingly - i. e., the munificence of the princes and officers 1 Chronicles 29:6 caused general joy among the people.