John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 17:1-27
See Chapter Introduction read more
See Chapter Introduction read more
Thou shalt not build. The Hebrew marks the personal pronoun here as emphatic, "Not thou shalt build," i.e. but some one else. In the parallel this prohibition is conveyed by that interrogative particle which expects the answer No, and may be thus translated: "Is it thou shalt build for me," etc.? read more
These verses are the unfolding to David of the magnificent and far-stretching purposes of God's grace towards him in his son Solomon and his descendants for ever. The revelation is made by the mouth of Nathan. read more
Plans for a permanent house (16:37-17:27)On being brought to Jerusalem, the ark had been placed in a tent that David prepared for it (see v. 1). David appointed temple servants to remain with the ark to guide the worship, apparently under the direction of the senior priest, Abiathar. The other chief priest, Zadok, was in charge of the worship at the tabernacle, which was still at Gibeon (37-43).One reason why David did not shift the tabernacle from Gibeon was that he was planning to build a... read more
Thou Shalt not build, or, "Thou art not he who shall build. " an = the. read more
The promises of the Davidic Covenant 17:1-15The main reason God did not allow David to proceed with his plans to build Him a house (temple) was that God, not David, was sovereign. A secondary reason was that David was a man of war (1 Chronicles 22:8; 1 Chronicles 28:3). God reserved the right to choose who should build such a place, as well as when and where he should build it. It was inappropriate for David to decide these things, though his desire to honor God in this way was certainly... read more
E. God’s Covenant Promises to David chs. 17-29The dominating theme in 1 Chronicles is the Davidic Covenant, the receiving of which was the most important event in David’s life. God promised to give him an eternal kingdom, and He formalized that promise by making a covenant with him. The writer repeated three times that David’s descendants would be God’s instruments for bringing salvation to the nations.The Chronicler referred to the Davidic Covenant seven times in his book (1 Chronicles... read more
David’s desire to build the Temple disallowedThis chapter is almost identical with 2 Samuel 7:1-29. 17. Hast regarded me.. degree] i.e. hast treated me with great distinction. read more
(4) David my servant.—Samuel, “unto my servant, unto David.”Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in.—Rather, It is not thou that shalt build me the house to dwell in. Samuel, interrogatively, implying a negation, “Wilt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?” The chronicler, thinking of the famous Temple of Solomon, writes, “the house.” read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
Let us observe here, I. How desirous and solicitous good people should be to serve the interests of God's kingdom in the world, to the utmost of their capacity. David could not be easy in a house of cedar while the ark was lodged within curtains, 1 Chron. 17:1. The concerns of the public should always be near our hearts. What pleasure can we take in our own prosperity if we see not the good of Jerusalem? When David is advanced to wealth and power see what his cares and projects are. Not, ?What... read more