1 Chronicles 29:1-9·~1 min

Offerings for the Temple

David frames the temple as a great work for the LORD, recounts the abundance he has prepared, and adds his own treasure out of delight in God’s house. He then asks who else will set himself apart by giving.

T¹hen King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. ²Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God — gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble — all in abundance. ³Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple: ⁴three thousand talents of gold (the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings, ⁵for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who is willing to consecrate himself to the LORD today?”

Israel’s leaders give willingly in great measure, precious stones are placed in the temple treasury, and the people rejoice at this wholehearted offering. David shares in that joy as the assembly gives freely to the LORD.

⁶Then the leaders of the families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. ⁷Toward the service of God’s house they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. ⁸Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹And the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given to the LORD freely and wholeheartedly. And King David also rejoiced greatly.

Section summaryDavid tells the assembly that Solomon is young and the work is for the LORD, then names the costly provision he has gathered and the treasure he gives from his own hand. His appeal draws a willing response from Israel’s leaders and people, and their shared generosity becomes a cause for joy.

Role in the chapterThis opening section gathers David’s preparation for the temple into a public act of willing devotion. It sets the chapter’s tone by joining royal leadership, communal generosity, and joy before the house that will belong to the LORD.