Ver. 1. This is the house.] This is that very place foretold by Moses. (Deuteronomy 12:11)
Ver. 2. To gather together the strangers.] A notable type of the calling of the Gentiles: and the like we may say of the temple’s being built on the ground of a Jebusite, and by the help of Tyrians and Zidonians, and adorned with the spoils of various nations. (1 Chronicles 18:7-11)
Ver. 3. And David prepared iron in abundance, &c.] Many parents prepare guilt in abundance, hoards and heaps of evil gotten goods—and there with God’s curse—to spend on their lusts, &c. As for pious and charitable uses, they cry out, with Judas, Whereto is this waste?
Ver. 5. Must be exceeding magniflcal.] Heb., To make great; to be above: Magnificentissimum, et excellentissimum, et nominatissimum, Vat. The second temple was nothing like it, though the glory of it was far greater, (Haggai 2:3,9) by the presence and preaching of Jesus Christ in it.
Ver. 8. Thou hast shed much blood upon tho earth in my sight,] i.e., Me sciente et vidente: haply God here meaneth the blood of Uriah, and of those that fell with him.
Ver. 9. For his name shall be Solomon,] i.e., Peaceable: so Frederic, Solyman the Magnificent; but these answered not the signification of their names.
Ver. 10. [See Trapp on “2Sa 7:13”] [See Trapp on “2Sa 7:14”]
Ver. 11. The Lord be with thee; and prosper thou.] This is both votura et vaticinium, a prayer and a promise.
Ver. 12. Only the Lord give thee wisdom.] Solomon remembered what his father had prayed, and prayed himself accordingly. (1 Kings 3:9,12) And give thee charge concerning Israel,] i.e., Make use of thy service for the good of his Israel.
Ver. 14. Now, behold, in my poverty.] In my modesty, he might have said. For as poor as he was, he had prepared for the building of the temple gold and silver to the worth of seven hundred and fifty millions of pounds, after the old rate; which is now much raised. Sir Walter Raleigh casteth it up to be more than any king in the world is worth. He maketh it to come to three thousand three hundred and thirty-three cart-loads of silver; allowing two thousand weight of silver, or six thousand pounds sterling to every cart-load; besides threescore and seven millions of French crowns. And yet when he had done all, In my poverty, saith he, have I done this: q.d., Lord, what is all this in respect of thee, who art the glorious God, and the great proprietary? what are they, I say, but parva et pauca, mean matters, which if thou wilt but accept of, I shall be infinitely bound to thee. And thou mayest add thereto.] He might do so, indeed, if that were true which Villapandus affirmeth, viz., that the wealth and yearly revenues of David and Solomon did far exceed the wealth and tributes of the Romans, Chaldeans, and Persians, &c. Marginal reading Hoc dicit modestiae causa. -Vat. Hist. of the World, part ii. cap. 17.
Ver. 16. There is no number.] See 1 Chronicles 22:14. Arise therefore, and be doing.] Up and at it, laying hold on the opportunity of time, which is, saith one, aliquid aggrediendi atque conficiendi facultas, the best advantage of any business.
Ver. 17. David also commanded all the princes.] This he did out of his holy zeal, which is an extreme heat of all the affections.
Ver. 18. Is not the Lord your God with you?] This is his συμπερασμα παροξυντικον, his conclusion full of incitation; as being framed and uttered verbis vivis, animatis sententiis, et spiritus fervoribus flagrantissimis, in most lively terms and affectionate expressions.