Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
all this store that we have prepared—It may be useful to exhibit a tabular view of the treasure laid up and contributions stated by the historian as already made towards the erection of the proposed temple. Omitting the brass and iron, and precious stones, which, though specified partly (I Chronicles 29:7), are represented in other portions as "without weight" (I Chronicles 22:3, I Chronicles 22:14), we shall give in this table only the amount of gold and silver; and taking the talent of gold as worth £5475 (the talent being 125 pounds in weight), the value of the gold will be about 73s. per ounce. The talent of silver is given at £342 3s. 9d., or 4s. 41/2d. per ounce. The total amount of the contributions will be:
Sum accumulated, and in public treasury (I Chronicles 22:14):
Gold £547,500,000
Silver 342,187,500
Contributed by David from his private resources [I Chronicles 29:4]:
Gold 16,425,000
Silver 2,395,312
Contributed by the assembled rulers [I Chronicles 29:7]:
Gold 28,000,000
Silver 3,421,875
A grand total of approximately £939,929,687
Though it has been the common practice of Eastern monarchs to hoard vast sums for the accomplishment of any contemplated project, this amount so far exceeds not only every Oriental collection on record, but even the bounds of probability, that it is very generally allowed that either there is a corruption of the text in I Chronicles 22:14, or that the reckoning of the historian was by the Babylonian, which was only a half, or the Syrian, which was only a fifth part, of the Hebrew talent. This would bring the Scripture account more into accordance with the statements of JOSEPHUS, as well as within the range of credibility.
HIS THANKSGIVING. (1Ch. 29:10-25)
Wherefore David blessed the Lord—This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervor of devotional feeling—in the ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to the care and blessing of God.
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