John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Even three thousand talents of gold , etc.] Which, according to Scheuchzer f142 , amount to 36,660,000 ducats of gold; and, according to Brerewood f143 , to 13,500,000 pounds of our money: of the gold of Ophir ; which was reckoned the best gold; not Ophir in India, which was not known till Solomon’s time, but in Arabia, as Bochart has shown; so Eupolemus f145 , an Heathen writer, says, that David having built ships at Achan, a city of Arabia, sent miners to Urphe (supposed to be the same with Ophir) in the island of the Red sea, abounding with gold, and from thence fetched it, ((see Gill on 1 Kings 9:28, and that he was able to give so great a sum out of his own substance, Dr. Prideaux f146 thinks, can only be accounted for by his great returns from this traffic; since these 3000 talents, according to him, amounted to 21,600,000 pounds sterling: and seven thousand talents of refined silver ; amounting, according to Scheuchzer f147 , to 31,500,000 imperials, or rix dollars; and, according to Brerewood f148 , to 2,625,000 pounds of our money: to overlay the walls of the houses withal; the gold was to overlay the walls of the holy and most holy place, the silver to overlay the walls of the chambers built around the temple.
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 שׁלשׁת7969 אלפים505 ככרי3603 זהב2091 מזהב2091 אופיר211 ושׁבעת7651 אלפים505 ככר3603 כסף3701 מזקק2212 לטוח2902 קירות7023 הבתים׃1004
