of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service: 15by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick: 16and the gold by weight for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver: 17and the fleshhooks, and the basons, and the cups, of pure gold: and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl: 18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 19All this, said David, [1]have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of the LORD, even all the works of this pattern. 20And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not,
16. tables of shewbread] Elsewhere, except 2 Chr. iv. 19 (see note on. 2 Chr. iv. 8), only one table for the shewbread is mentioned; cp. 2 Chr. xxix. 18; Ex. xxxv. 13, xxxvii. 10, xl. 22.
and silver] Neither the silver tables of this verse, nor the silver candlesticks of ver 15 are mentioned elsewhere; perhaps they stood in some of the chambers (ver. 12) of the Temple courts for the use of the Levites in their work.
17. fleshhooks] Ex. xxvii. 3; 1 Sam. ii. 13.
basons] These were used for dashing the blood of a victim against the altar. Cp. 2 Chr. xxix. 22.
the cups] Probably the same as the flagons (R.V.) of Ex. xxv. 29 which were used for pouring out the drink offering.
18. the altar of incense] 2 Chr. xxvi. 16; Ex. xxx. 1—10.
the chariot, even the cherubim] Cp. Ezek. i. 5—10, 15—17. The Cherubim were poetically conceived as the chariot of Jehovah. The phrase has its origin in the language of Ps. xviii. 10.
19. All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of the LORD, even all the works of this pattern] Cp. ver. 11, note. As in the case of Moses and the tabernacle (Ex. xxv. 9, 40), so David's plans for the Temple are said to be of Divine origin.
20. Be strong] God's help in the planning is a pledge of God's help in the accomplishment; Cp. ver. 10, which finds its continuation at this point; The work was great, and Solomon young; xxii. 5.
- ↑ Or, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even &c.
