1 Chronicles 28:7

Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever.—So 1Chronicles 22:10 (at end).

If he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments.—The same condition is attached to the same promise in 1Kings 9:4-5. (Comp. also 1Kings 3:14, where the promise is length of days.)

As at this day.—As we are doing in our present work. The same words occur in the same sense at the end of Solomon’s Prayer (1Kings 8:61).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:1-10 During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were at Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build a temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divine grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledge of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whole character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God. But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, yet expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If he be constant - The conditional character of the promise made to David, as to the continuance of his posterity on the Jewish throne (marginal reference; 2 Samuel 7:14), is now clearly declared.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments—The same condition is set before Solomon by God (1Ki 3:14; 9:4).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

As he hath begun and hitherto continued in some good measure to do.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever,.... The same is said in 2 Samuel 7:13.

if he be constant to do my commandments, and my judgments, as at this day; if he continued in the observance of them, as he had begun, and went on in until that day; this is added here, and was not spoken by Nathan, when what goes before was; for Solomon was not then born, but must be suggested to David since, and as it should seem at this time.

Geneva Study Bible

Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at {c} this day.

(c) If he continues to keep my law as he does now and doesn't depart from it.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Moreover I will establish] R.V. And I will establish. Cp. 1 Chronicles 17:11.

if he be constant] Lit. if he be strong; cp. 1 Chronicles 28:10; 1 Chronicles 28:20, be strong (same word in Heb.). Cp. 1 Kings 9:4-5.

1 Chronicles 28:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The address, "My brethren and my people," is expressive of condescending goodwill; cf. on אחי, 1 Samuel 30:23; 2 Samuel 19:13. What David here says (1 Chronicles 28:3-7) of the temple building, he had in substance already (1 Chronicles 22:7-13) said to his son Solomon: I, it was with my heart, i.e., I purposed (cf. 1 Chronicles 22:7) to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jahve, and the footstool of the feet of our God, i.e., for the ark and for the capporeth upon it, which is called "footstool of the feet of our God," because God was enthroned above the cherubim upon the capporeth. "And I have prepared to build," i.e., prepared labour and materials, 1 Chronicles 22:2-4 and 1 Chronicles 22:14.; on 1 Chronicles 28:3, cf. 1 Chronicles 22:8. - In 1 Chronicles 28:4 David states how his election to be king was of God, who had chosen Judah to be ruler (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:2); and just so (1 Chronicles 28:5, 1 Chronicles 28:6) had God chosen Solomon from among all his many sons to be heir to the throne, and committed to him the building of the temple; cf. 1 Chronicles 22:10. The expression, "throne of the kingdom of Jahve," and more briefly, "throne of Jahve" (1 Chronicles 29:23, or מלכוּתי, 1 Chronicles 17:14), denotes that Jahve is the true King of Israel, and had chosen Solomon as He had chosen David to be holder and administrator of His kingdom dominion. - On 1 Chronicles 22:6 and 1 Chronicles 22:7, cf. 1 Chronicles 22:10 and 1 Chronicles 17:11.; and with the condition וגו יחזק אם, cf. 1 Kings 3:14; 1 Kings 9:4, where God imposes an exactly similar condition on Solomon. הזּה כּיּום, as is done at this time; cf. 1 Kings 8:61, and the commentary on Deuteronomy 2:30. On this speech J. H. Mich. well remarks: "tota haec narratio aptata est ad prospositum Davidis: vult enim Salomoni auctoritatem apud principes et fratres conciliare, ostendendo, non humana, sed divina voluntate electum esse," To this David adds an exhortation to the whole assembly (1 Chronicles 28:8), and to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:9), to hold fast their faithfulness to God.