1 Chronicles 29:23

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Then.—And.

Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord.—Comp. 1Chronicles 28:5.

As king instead of David his father.—It is not meant that David abdicated. 1Chronicles 29:23-25 are anticipative of the history of Solomon’s reign. At the same time, their introduction here is natural, not only as relating the immediate sequel of Solomon’s coronation, but also as showing how David’s last wishes in regard to his son were realised.

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:23. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord — On the throne of Israel, which is called the throne of the Lord, because the Lord himself was, in a peculiar manner, the king and governor of Israel. He had the founding, he had the filling of their throne, by immediate direction.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:20-25 This great assembly joined with David in adoring God. Whoever is the mouth of the congregation, those only have the benefit who join him, not by bowing down the head, so much as by lifting up the soul. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord. Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The throne of David is called here "the throne of the Lord," as in 1 Chronicles 28:5 it is called "the throne of the kingdom of the Lord," because God had set it up and had promised to establish it.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord—As king of Israel, he was the Lord's vicegerent.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

On the throne of the Lord, i.e. on the throne of Israel, which is called the throne of the Lord, either more generally, as all thrones are the Lord’s, by whom kings reign, Proverbs 8:15, and magistrates are ordained, Romans 13:1,2; or more specially and peculiarly; either,

1. Because the Lord himself was in a peculiar manner the King and Governor of Israel, not only in the time of the judges, but afterward, Psalm 44:4 89:18 149:2 Isaiah 33:22. Or,

2. Because it was the throne of Christ the Lord, whose vicegerents David, and Solomon, and their successors were, for whom this throne was reserved, and by whom it was to be established and enjoyed for ever, Luke 2:32,33. Or,

3. The throne of the Lord is put for the throne of the people of the Lord, by a concise and short manner of speech, which is frequent in the Hebrew language; as when the key of David is put for the key of the house of David; and the mountain of the Lord, for the mountain of the Lord’s house. Or,

4. Because this throne fell to Solomon not by right of inheritance, for he had elder brethren, but by the special appointment and gift of the Lord. And so this of the Lord is the genitive case of the efficient, as the learned call it, and signifies which the Lord gave him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord,.... Who had given it to him, and established him on it, and whose vicegerent he was, and over whose people he ruled:

as king instead of David; he was viceroy to him in his life time, and succeeded him at his death, when he had the full power of government:

and prospered; his reign was happy and peaceable:

and all Israel obeyed him; at once; whereas it was some time, even years, before all Israel obeyed David.

Geneva Study Bible

Then Solomon sat on the {n} throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

(n) This declares that the kings of Judah were figures of Christ, who was the true anointed, and to whom God gave the chief government of all things.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23–25. The Beginning of Solomon’s Reign

23. the throne of the Lord] See 1 Chronicles 28:5, note.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - For the happy expression, the throne of the Lord, see 1 Chronicles 28:5. And for evidence that Solomon did really exercise royal authority before David's death, see 1 Kings 1:32, 45-48; 1 Kings 2:1. 1 Chronicles 29:23

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Solomon's accession and David's death, with a statement as to the length of his reign and the sources of the history. - 1 Chronicles 29:23-25. The remarks on Solomon's accession and reign contained in these verses are necessary to the complete conclusion of a history of David's reign, for they show how David's wishes for his son Solomon, whom Jahve chose to be his successor, were fulfilled. On יהוה על־כּסּא see the commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:5. ויּצלח, he was prosperous, corresponds to the hope expressed by David (1 Chronicles 22:13), which was also fulfilled by the submission of all princes and heroes, and also of all the king's sons, to King Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:24). There can hardly, however, be in these last words a reference to the frustrating of Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne (cf. 1 Kings 1:15.). תּחת יד נתן equals to submit. But this meaning is not derived (Rashi) from the custom of taking oaths of fidelity by clasping of hands, for this custom cannot be certainly proved to have existed among the Israelites; still less can it have arisen from the ancient custom mentioned in Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:9; Genesis 47:29, of laying the hand under the thigh of the person to whom one swore in making promises with oath. The hand, as the instrument of all activity, is here simply a symbol of power.