1 Chronicles 22:13

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Then shalt thou prosper.—The verse makes it quite clear that obedience was an indispensable condition to the full realisation of the promise. (Comp. 1Chronicles 22:10 with the actual after-course of history.) Yet the word of the Lord does not return unto Him void; and if the earthly dynasty of David came to an end through disobedience, in due time was born an heir of David and Solomon, who is at this day the Lord of a spiritual dominion which will endure throughout the ages.

If thou takest heed to fulfil.—Literally, if thou keep to do the statutes and judgments: language which is obviously a reminiscence of Deuteronomy. (Comp. Deuteronomy 7:11; Deuteronomy 11:32.)

Be strong, and of good courage.—Or, Be stout and staunch! a frequent phrase in Joshua (1Chronicles 1:7, &c.).

Dread not, nor be dismayed.—So Deuteronomy 1:21; Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:9.

Dismayed.—Broken, i.e., in spirit: metu fractus. (Comp. “Solomon my son is young and timid,” 1Chronicles 22:5.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:6-16 David gives Solomon the reason why he should build the temple. Because God named him. Nothing is more powerful to engage us in any service for God, than to know that we are appointed thereto. Because he would have leisure and opportunity to do it. He should have peace and quietness. Where God gives rest, he expects work. Because God had promised to establish his kingdom. God's gracious promises should quicken and strengthen our religious service. David delivered to Solomon an account of the vast preparations he had made for this building; not from pride and vain-glory, but to encourage Solomon to engage cheerfully in the great work. He must not think, by building the temple, to purchase a dispensation to sin; on the contrary, his doing that would not be accepted, if he did not take heed to fulfil the statutes of the Lord. In our spiritual work, as well as in our spiritual warfare, we have need of courage and resolution.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Be strong ... - David adopts the words of Moses to the Israelites (compare the marginal references) and to Joshua.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1Ch 22:6-19. He Instructs Solomon.

6. Then he called for Solomon … and charged him—The earnestness and solemnity of this address creates an impression that it was given a little before the old king's decease. He unfolded his great and long cherished plan, enjoined the building of God's house as a sacred duty on him as his son and successor, and described the resources that were at command for carrying on the work. The vast amount of personal property he had accumulated in the precious metals [1Ch 22:14] must have been spoil taken from the people he had conquered, and the cities he had sacked.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then shall thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes,.... See 1 Kings 2:2 where the same things are said as here: which shows that this was spoken by David a little before his death.

Geneva Study Bible

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. be strong, and of good courage] Cp. Joshua 1:9.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - The references to olden time, and the pointed reference to Moses, must be regarded as emphatic. In 1 Chronicles 28:20 we find the additional words, "and do it," inserted after the animated and intensely earnest exhortation, Be strong, and of good courage. This inspiriting summons was no new one. It was probably already hallowed in the name of religious language, and would be often quoted (Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 31:5-8; Joshua 1:5-9). 1 Chronicles 22:13

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The condition of obtaining the result is the faithful observing of the commands of the Lord. The speech is filled with reminiscences of the law, cf. Deuteronomy 7:11; Deuteronomy 11:32; and for the exhortation to be strong and of good courage, cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:9, etc.