John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God , etc.] According to the utmost of his ability for the building and decorating of it: the gold for the things to be made of gold; as the candlesticks, shewbread tables, etc. and the silver for [things] of silver ; as for basins, etc. and the brass for [things] of brass ; as the brasen altar, brasen laver, and iron for [things] of iron ; for nails, hinges, etc. and wood for [things] of wood ; for rafters, ceilings, floors, etc. onyx stones ; the Targum, stones of beryl: and stones to be set; other precious stones to be set in gold and silver: glistering stones ; the Targum, emeralds; the word is used for stibium, or black lead, with which women painted their eyes; and so may signify black stones, like black lead; as white marble is after mentioned, perhaps black is here meant, or such stones Solomon paved the ways with leading to Jerusalem f138 : but as such stones are not very glistering, there seems to be no reason for such an epithet; unless the stone “phengites” should be meant, which was a clear bright stone, and served for looking glasses.
Domitian the Roman emperor, when under suspicion of being murdered by persons he had offended, garnished the porticos of his palace with this stone, which was of such brightness, that by the images formed in it he could see what was behind him f139 ; and so Lucian speaks of Astarte having a splendid stone about her, called lucniv , which in the night gave much light to the temple, but shone weakly in the day time, and looked like fire: and of divers colours ; that is, stones of various colours, as jaspers, amethysts, etc. Kimchi interprets it of embroidered clothes, and garments of needlework, and in these precious stones were sometimes inserted: and all manner of precious stones ; as pearls, diamonds, etc. it is hard to say what all these precious stones were for; Jarchi and Kimchi think they were to decorate the walls overlaid with gold, in which they were set; it is certain they were for garnishing and beautifying the house, (see Chronicles 3:6) and marble stones in abundance ; for pillars, tables, and pavement, as Jarchi; this was Parian marble, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; the whitest of marble f141 , found the island of Paros, and which agrees with the word here used. Ver. 3 . Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God , etc.] Had a good will to it, and was earnestly desirous of having it built, and that in a grand manner: I have of my own proper good ; which he had treasured up for his own use: of gold and silver, [even that] I have given to the house of my God ; to build or ornament it, or make vessels for it: over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house ; for the building of the temple, which is made mention of in the preceding chapter.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - What is done in works of piety and charity, should be done willingly not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. David set a goo example. This David offered, not from constraint, or for show; but because he had set his affection to the house of God, and thought he could never do enough towards promoting that good work. Those who woul draw others to good, must lead the way themselves.
Original Hebrew וככל3605 כחי3581 הכינותי3559 לבית1004 אלהי430 הזהב2091 לזהב2091 והכסף3701 לכסף3701 והנחשׁת5178 לנחשׁת5178 הברזל1270 לברזל1270 והעצים6086 לעצים6086 אבני68 שׁהם7718 ומלואים4394 אבני68 פוך6320 ורקמה7553 וכל3605 אבן68 יקרה3368 ואבני68 שׁישׁ7893 לרב׃7230
