1 Chronicles 28:1

EXPOSITION

The contents of this chapter may be said to form one scene with those of the next up to verse 25. They represent David in the presence of a magnificent company of witnesses, the flower of the Church, the military and the civil elements of his kingdom, devolving upon his son both the building of the temple and the throne itself.

One Hebrew word ( שׂרֵי ) stands for the princes (twice), captains (three times), and stewards (once) of this verse. The classification of the verso speaks for itself. There are the princes of Israel; i.q. the princes of the tribes ( 1 Chronicles 27:16 , 1 Chronicles 27:22 ). Otherwise the former of these expressions may be of an entirely generic kind, and apply to all that succeeds. There are, secondly , the princes of the twelve military companies… by course of the months ( 1 Chronicles 27:1-15 ). Thirdly , there are the princes of thousands and hundreds ( Deuteronomy 1:15 ; 1 Samuel 8:12 ; 1 Samuel 17:18 ; 1 Samuel 18:13 ; 1 Samuel 23:7 ; 1 Chronicles 12:14 ; 1 Chronicles 27:1 ). There follow, fourthly , the princes of all the substance and cattle of the king , and (as seems to be added here) of his sons . There can be no doubt that the Hebrew text does say this, and does not merely register the fact of the attendance and presence of the sons of the king, as also it does not specialize the attendance of Solomon himself, though it is certain that he was present. Otherwise it may be doubtful, considering the facts of the occasion, and comparing 1 Chronicles 29:24 , whether the original document is not misrepresented here. Next, fifthly , mention is made of the officers ( סָרִיסִים ), the Hebrew for which word generally means "eunuch," and such use of it must have become much more familiar during and after the Captivity, and, therefore, of course, at the time of the compilation of this work; but it does not necessarily mean it. Eunuchs are never mentioned elsewhere in David's reign. There is no reason to suppose the word means "eunuch," for instance, in Genesis 37:36 ; Genesis 39:1 ; 1 Samuel 8:15 ; 1 Kings 22:9 ; 2 Kings 24:12 ; 2 Kings 25:19 ; Jeremiah 34:19 . Under any circumstances, it would seem unnecessary that such officers of a royal establishment as eunuchs should be under summoned that description to an assembly of this kind. Sixthly , the mighty men ( 1 Chronicles 11:10-25 ) were called to the assembly. And perhaps a seventh division may be made of all the valiant men ( 1 Chronicles 11:26-40 ), who belonged to other places, or who were at this time more especially in Jerusalem, as residents.