Gill, in his commentary, gives us a useful summary of this chapter.
‘In this chapter, we read of the place David pitched upon by divine direction for building the temple on, 1 Chronicles 22:1, the preparation he made of artificers to build it, and of matter to build it of as iron, brass, and wood, 1 Chronicles 22:2, the charge and instructions he gave to Solomon to set about it, 1 Chronicles 22:6, and to the princes of Israel to assist him in it, 1 Chronicles 22:7.’
The remainder of this book is more or less devoted to a discussion of David’s extensive preparations to build the temple. The temple was going to be built on the land that David bought from Araunah for his personal sacrifice for the sin he committed in numbering Israel.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There is no parallel elsewhere for what is given in this chapter, aside from obvious references to the Law of Moses, to Joshua and Nathan’s prophecy delivered to David in 2 Samuel 7.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning 1 Chronicles 22:1.
‘The double miracle, that of the angelic appearance and that of the fire from heaven, had convinced David that here he had found the destined site of that ‘house’ which it had been told him that his son should build, 1 Chronicles 22:10. Hence, this public announcement. This was the very place called, ‘one of the mountains of Moriah,’ upon which Abraham prepared to offer Isaac as a burnt offering, Genesis 22:22, as confirmed by our Chronicler in 2 Chronicles 3:1. Today it is occupied by the Dome of the Rock Mosque.’
The foreigners, 1 Chronicles 22:1, mentioned here are those Canaanites whom the Israelites had conquered and put to forced labour, 2 Chronicles 2:17 / 2 Chronicles 8:7-10 / 2 Samuel 20:24. David then proceeded to gather a huge amount of materials which were going to be used to build the temple, 1 Chronicles 22:3-4.
God’s temple, which Solomon would build, was to be magnificent, famous, and glorious, 1 Chronicles 22:5. It appears that David wanted a temple built which was better than any other temple the pagans had built. This would also send a powerful message out to all the other nations that God was the only true God.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The exact age of Solomon at this time is uncertain, but it cannot have been more than 24 or 25. It may have been as little as 14 or 15, 1 Kings 2:2.’
Before David died, he designated Solomon as his successor. The reason for this was simply to stop any rivalry between the sons of David after his death. Once Solomon was anointed as David’s successor before he died, David could watch the behaviour of the other sons in reference to their accepting Solomon as their king.
He charges Solomon with building the temple and notice that David admits that the building of the temple wasn’t God’s idea but his. Building a temple was never a part of God’s plan, and so, God allowed the building of the temple, but claimed the temple after it was built.
The reason David wasn’t allowed to build the temple was that he shed too much blood, 1 Chronicles 22:6-8 / 2 Samuel 8:2 / 2 Samuel 8:5 / 2 Samuel 10:18 / 2 Samuel 12:31 / 1 Kings 11:16. This task was left to Solomon, a king who inherited a kingdom of peace from his father.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning 1 Chronicles 22:9.
‘The words used here in 1 Chronicles 22:9 show that David was referring to the words of God through Nathan, 2 Samuel 7:12-14. Yes, God promised that son, all right, but David failed to understand what God said about WHEN that son would be born. It would not happen during David’s lifetime, but when thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, 2 Samuel 7:12. Furthermore, the kingdom of that son would be established after David, 2 Samuel 7:12, but Solomon’s kingdom was established during David’s lifetime. Solomon was made king before David’s death, 1 Kings 1:32-40 / 1 Chronicles 23:1; there was a co-regency of four years.’
It is a mistake to read these words as revealing the name that God Himself gave to that Great One who would build David a house, 1 Chronicles 22:9. This clause is the word of David, not the Word of God. God indeed gave Solomon a name, but that name was Jedidah, 2 Samuel 12:25. God certainly didn’t name Solomon twice!
The word of the Lord came not by Nathan, 1 Chronicles 17:4-15, but on some other occasion, 1 Chronicles 28:3. The words, ‘He will be my son, and I will be his father’ 1 Chronicles 22:10, are quoted in 2 Samuel 12:14 / 2 Samuel 7:13, and are applied to Christ, Hebrews 1:5.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The significance here is the reference to the Law of God through Moses, a reference to Exodus 20:1, and the direct quotations from Exodus 3:4 and Joshua 1:6-9, and Deuteronomy 31:24, thus providing incontrovertible evidence of the prior existence of the Pentateuch long centuries prior to the discovery of that allegedly ‘false document’ in the reign of Josiah.’
David tells Solomon that God is with him, and may he have success and build the house of God, as he said you would, 1 Chronicles 22:11. He asks God to hive Solomon discretion and understanding when he puts him in command over Israel, so that he may keep the law of God, 1 Chronicles 22:12 / 1 Kings 3:5-14 / 2 Chronicles 1:7-12.
He tells him that then he will have success if he is careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel, 1 Chronicles 22:13. He finished by telling him to be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, 1 Chronicles 22:13.
David refers to the multiple troubles of his reign, which had prevented him from accumulating very much treasure. Israel was equipped with many killed workers, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, gold and silver workers and ironworkers, 1 Chronicles 22:14-16.
Solomon had no building skills whatsoever, and so, David enlisted the help of the leaders to help Solomon, 1 Chronicles 22:17. They would help Solomon with their advice, and with their purses, and by overseeing the workmen, directing, and encouraging them.
David reminds them that God is with them and God gave them rest, He has given the inhabitants of the land into David’s hands, and the land is subject to the LORD and to His people, 1 Chronicles 22:18.
He encourages them to devote their heart and soul to seeking God, and they to begin to build the sanctuary of God, so that they may bring the ark of the covenant and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD, 1 Chronicles 22:19.
Gill, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They are to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, which was now in a tent of David’s erecting and pitching, and the holy vessels of God, which were in the tabernacle at Gibeon, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord, so that they might be together, and made use of, which in times past had been separated, and much neglected.’