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8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be 'Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

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15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.

16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee. 17¶ David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,

18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. (1) That is, Peaceable. (2) Or, in my poverty. (3) That is, masons and carpenters.

You are told in the course of the former chapter, that where the angel of the Lord

was seen when the pestilence was stayed, David was commanded to erect an altar to the Lord (v. 18). You are, also, told that he did so; and that the Lord was pleasedto grant some visible token of his gracious favour and acceptance (v. 26). Thenceforth David worshipped there. Where the Lord had granted his mercy, there he offered his sacrifices. A holy fear, lest he might expose himself to the divine displeasure, coupled with these indications of mercy, forbad his sacrificing any more at Gibeon, and fixed his devoted attention to this now sacred and

hallowed spot. "When he saw that the Lord had answered him by fire at the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there." He was, therefore, "afraid" to go to Gibeon, "because of the sword of the angel of the Lord." God will be had in reverence by all them that are round about him. Even in the pardon of sin, and the exercise of his mercy and grace, he will teach us how great and glorious he is; that he may be feared, as well as loved and obeyed (ch. xxi. 28-30).

We notice these things because of what follows in this chapter. Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel" (v. 1). The meaning is, this is the place for the house of the Lord, and this is the place where the altar of burnt offering for Israel shall be fixed. How did he know this? How could he speak with such certainty on this subject? Was it an inference; or a revelation? Perhaps both. The one, to exercise the mind; the other, to call forth his faith; and both under the special guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to confirm him in the design which lay near his heart.

Satisfied on this point, he now began to make preparations for the building of the temple. The strangers that dwelt in Israel were to be employed in this labour. Masons were set to work to hew stones for the house of God. All sorts of materials were collected together in vast abundance. Knowing how young and tender Solomon was, and that the house for the Lord was to be "exceeding magnifical, of fame and glory throughout all countries," he determined to make abundant preparations for it before his death, that

every thing might be ready for Solomon's use when he came to the throne (v. 2-5). How wisely were all these things done by David! What thought and reflection must he have exercised on this occasion! What persevering zeal and love did he display! Instead of relaxing his diligence as he grew in years, he became even more zealous; nor did he cease his labours till he closed his life. Is

not this a lively and lovely pattern for the imitation of all ministers and all believers? Are you not to be "steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord," even to the end?

Nor let us forget to notice his solemn and affectionate anxiety for the welfare of Solomon. He calls him to his presence. He tells him what had been the desire of his heart. He reminds him of the word and promise of the Lord. He deputes to him the appointed work. He charges him to follow the truth and the word of God in all his ways. He prays the Lord to be with him, and bless him, and prosper him in all his proceedings. What a pattern for all parents is here! Are you thus anxious for your children's welfare? Do you charge them, and warn them, and beseech them, and pray for them, and admonish them, after this eminent pattern? How can you be free from their blood, if you do not; or if they perish through your default?

As for the liberality of David, it may be safely said, that there never has been seen on this earth such an instance of royal and princely munificence as that evinced by this man of God on this occasion. An hundred thousand talents of gold, reckoning each talent of gold at the standard value of £5075 15s. 7d., would amount to the amazing sum of £507,577,916 13s. 4d. sterling; and a thousand thousand talents of silver, reckoning each talent of silver at the standard value of £353 11s. 10d., would amount to the enormous sum of £353,591,666 13s. 4d. sterling; and both these sums together amount to £861,169,583 6s. 8d. sterling! Such a sum as this, probably, was never before, and has been never since, found in any nation upon earth. Perhaps it may be doubtful if all the current money of all the nations in existence, were it put together,

would bear any proportion to this amazing mass of wealth which had been accumulated by David's conquests, and which was all devoted to God! Men talk of their liberality; but where is it? Many think it a great matter if they give a penny, a shilling, a pound, to the service of God! A man that gives five, ten, twenty, or a hundred pounds, is lauded to the skies as a prince of givers! But, oh, come and look at David! and let all such towering thoughts hide their heads in the dust! In this respect, also, David was the man after God's own heart.

But there is one thing which requires particular notice in this respect. In verse 14 we are told that he had made these immense preparations in "his trouble;" and in the margin it is, "in my poverty." Observe, then, he never forgat the cause of God amidst his many trials; and he thought nothing of himself in his greatest prosperity and abundance. What a mind is this! Under all possible circumstances, he was nothing; and the Lord his God was all in all. Let us keep this bright example of ardent devotion and deep humility always before us. In all our trials let us never lose sight of the cause of Christ; and under all our comforts and blessings let us never forget our poverty, and always confide in Jesus as all our salvation and desire.

CHAPTER XXIII.

1 David in his old age maketh Solomon king. 2 The number and distribution of the Levites. 7 The families of the Gershonites. 12 The sons of Kohath. 21 The sons of Merari. 24 The office of the Levites.

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O when David was old and full of days, he

And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

4 Of which, twenty and four thousand were 'to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:

5 Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

6 And David divided them into 'courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7¶ Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.

8 The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

9 The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

10 And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.

12 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.

14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

17 And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very

many.

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18 Of the sons of Izhar; 'Shelomith the chief.

19 Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first, and Jesiah the second.

21 ¶ The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi; and Jeremoth, three.

Mahli, and Eder,

24 ¶ These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.

25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, "that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

27 For by the last words of David the Levites were "numbered from twenty years old and above:

28 Because 13 their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

29 Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the "pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

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THE great object of the sacred historian seems to be, to narrate the excellences of David's reign. Among other things, his zeal for God, and his anxiety for the welfare of the people, are especially recorded. We have here some account of his making Solomon king before his death; and the arrangements he adopted for the performance of the worship of God in the temple which Solomon was about to build. When he " was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel” (v. 1).

Let us observe this lovely instance of paternal anxiety. Experience had taught David, that to wear a crown, though an high honour, was generally attended with many painful cares. He wished, therefore, to give Solomon some advice suitable to the occaappoint him to the throne Must not all parents know trials of this life, though

sion, as well as of the kingdom. something of the

moving in a more humble sphere than that of David? Can you expect, that your children will be altogether exempt from the cares and anxieties which you have felt? Is it not a kind office, as well as a bounden duty, to admonish and counsel them concerning the perils they may have to encounter; and to teach them where to look for safety? Surely, you cannot well perform a parent's part; nor evince much anxiety for your children's welfare, if you fail, where your most lively sympathies may be expected? Surely, such language as you find in the last chapter, "Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God" (v. 11, 12), may well become every Christian parent to act upon, both living, whilst his children are growing up, and dying, when he is about to leave them behind in the midst of a world full of dangers and troubles. Surely, this must constitute an essential part of the apostle's admonition, when he says, "And ye fathers, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. vi. 4.)

In the arrangements made by David for the performance of the service of the house of the Lord, we may see the beauty and propriety of the apostle's maxim, that "every thing should be done decently and in order." (1 Cor. xiv. 40.) Every part of divine worship should be attended to in a becoming

name.

Some Some

Some were to do the work of the service of the house of the Lord. were to wait on the sons of Aaron. had charge of the chambers, the holy things, the shewbread. Some were to stand every morning and evening to thank and praise the Lord. Some had charge of the burnt offerings and the sabbaths, and the appointed feasts, continually before the Lord. Some kept

the charge of the tabernacle; some the charge of the holy place; some the charge of their brethren in the service of the house of the Lord. In short, none were idle. Every one knew his appointed work and place. All were engaged in the service of the Lord. So should it be with us. All should be devoted to God in the faith of Jesus Christ. Every one in his place; every one with his time, talents, and abilities, should aim to shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. And the more we are thus engaged, the more useful should we become, and the more happy should we be. We should all then know, that, as the Lord's ways are ways of pleasantness, so are all his paths peace.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 The divisions of the sons of Aaron by lot into four and twenty orders. 20 The Kohathites, 27 and the Merarites divided by lot.

spirit; and the whole should be observed NOV

in an orderly manner. The great maxim should be, every thing in its time; and every thing in its place. The same applies to persons. Ministers should be well instructed in their appointed work. People should also know their appointed place. How unseemly is a congregation in a state of confusion! How much to be regretted is a family disjointed and out of order! Regular hours for the service of God, in public and private, are as needful for the healthy enjoyment of public or family worship, as the regular use of our meals, or the stated recurrence of labour, or the seasonable enjoyment of exercise, are requisite for our temporal welfare. Some of those who were appointed by David were to praise the Lord. Some were to burn incense, and to bless in his

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OW these are the divisions of the sons ow these of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.

3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one 'principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

11 The ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 ¶ And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.

21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

22 Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.

23 And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.

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27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no

sons.

29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and

Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

31 These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

(1) Heb. house of the father.

THE inspired historian is here recording more of the arrangements made by David for the due and stated performance of the worship of God, according to the character and design of the Levitical dispensation. How many things are here mentioned! How many names of persons who were thus engaged! How offices to be filled! many How many kinds of service to be performed! Every thing seems to have been set in order by divine appointment. Every person was also assigned to his office and work by divine regulation. If the "lot were cast into the lap, the whole disposing thereof was of the Lord." (v. 5; Prov. xvi. 33.)

These things do certainly teach us, that the service of God is an important service. Indeed, nothing can be of so much importance to an immortal being, as to know how he may worship God with acceptance; and to be enabled to serve him in truth, is the highest honour to which any can attain on this side heaven. All the blessings of the gospel are designed for this end. All that God hath provided for our salvation, in the person of his dear Son; all that Christ hath done and suffered for our redemption; all that the Spirit performs in our regeneration and conversion; all the blessings actually bestowed upon them that are saved; such as pardon, peace, reconciliation, acceptance, adoption and sonship with God; all the privileges to which believers are raised in the faith of their precious Redeemer; all the mercies vouchsafed on earth, and all the glory prepared in heaven; are designed to bring the children of God into such a happy state, that they may love and serve the Lord acceptably in their measure here below; and love and serve him perfectly and for ever in the realms of bliss above. Must not, then, the service of God be an important.

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