John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then David said , etc.] Within himself, or to some principal persons about him: this is the house of the Lord God ; the place where the temple was to be built, hinted at in ( Deuteronomy 12:5) and elsewhere; the meaning is, here, or in “this” place, shall be the house of God, so Noldius f88 , for as yet there were none; but it was now made known to David that here it should be built, and so the words in ( 2 Chronicles 3:1) should be rendered, then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, which was shown to David his father, which he prepared in the place of David, that which he bought in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite: and this is the altar for the burnt offering for Israel ; not which he had built here; but this is the place where one should be built for the people of Israel to bring their offerings to, and to be here offered for them by the priests: this he said by a divine impulse upon his mind, or which he concluded from the acceptance of his sacrifice here, signified by fire that came down from heaven and consumed it; and this being in the threshingfloor of the Jebusites, might prefigure the church of God to be built up among the Gentiles.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - On occasion of the terrible judgment inflicted on Israel for the sin of David, God pointed out the place where he would have the temple built upon which, David was excited to make preparations for the great work David must not build, but he would do all he could; he prepare abundantly before his death. What our hands find to do for God, and ou souls, and those round us, let us do it with all our might, before ou death; for after death there is no device nor working. And when the Lord refuses to employ us in those services which we desired, we mus not be discouraged or idle, but do what we can, though in a humble sphere.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 דויד1732 זה2088 הוא1931 בית1004 יהוה3068 האלהים430 וזה2088 מזבח4196 לעלה5930 לישׂראל׃3478
