1 Chronicles 29:5

The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) The gold for things of gold.—Literally. as for the gold, for the gold, and as for the silver for the silver—Scil., “I give it” (1Chronicles 29:3)—and for every work by hand of craftsmen.

And who then is willing to consecrate his service?—Literally, And who volunteers (Judges 5:1) to fill his hand to-day for Jehovah? To fill his hand: that is, with a liberal offering (Exodus 32:29).

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:5. Who then is willing to consecrate to this service? — To offer an offering, as I have done. Hebrew, to fill his hand unto the Lord. They that engage themselves in the service of God will have their hands full: there is work enough for the whole man in that service.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:1-9 What is done in works of piety and charity, should be done willingly, not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. David set a good example. This David offered, not from constraint, or for show; but because he had set his affection to the house of God, and thought he could never do enough towards promoting that good work. Those who would draw others to good, must lead the way themselves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To consecrate his service - literally, as in the margin, "to fill his hand," i. e., "to come with full hands to Yahweh." The words contain an appeal to the assembly for voluntary offerings.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. who then is willing to consecrate his service—Hebrew, "fill his hand"; that is, make an offering (Ex 32:29; Le 8:33; 1Ki 13:33). The meaning is, that whoever would contribute voluntarily, as he had done, would be offering a freewill offering to the Lord. It was a sacrifice which every one of them could make, and in presenting which the offerer himself would be the priest. David, in asking freewill offerings for the temple, imitated the conduct of Moses in reference to the tabernacle (Ex 25:1-8).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

To consecrate his service, Heb. to fill his hand, i.e. to offer an offering, as Exodus 32:29 Leviticus 8:33, as I have done.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The gold for things of gold, the silver for things of silver,.... The one for what was to be overlaid with gold, the other for what was to be overlaid with silver:

and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers; what remained was to be made use of in employing artificers in making vessels for the temple that were needful:

and who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord; or fill his hand? (k) and give largely and liberally towards building an house for the service and worship, honour and glory, of God; and David, having set so good an example, could with the better grace recommend the good work to his nobles and people, and which had its desired effect, as follows.

(k) "impleat manum suam", V. L. "ut impleat manum suam", Vatablus, Piscator.

Geneva Study Bible

The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is {d} willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

(d) He was not only liberal himself but provoked others to set forth the work of God.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. the gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver] R.V. of gold for the thing of gold, and of silver for the things of silver.

And who then is willing to consecrate his service] R.V. Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself. The phrase to consecrate himself (Hebrew, to fill his hand) means properly to make himself a priest. The offering of gifts is regarded as a priestly act, in the performance of which the layman “makes himself a priest.” Cp. 2 Chronicles 13:9, note.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - The Authorized Version, to consecrate his service, might in this instance seem to be not merely an inaccurate but an incorrect translation. For David's evident meaning was, after rehearsing his own example, to base on it the appeal, Who is... willing to bring all ungrudging handful this day to the Lord? and 2 Chronicles 13:9 might perhaps be cited as a confirmatory instance. But on the other hand, the idiom was evidently, by the witness of many passages, a general one, and the meaning of it is not incorrectly conveyed in the Authorized Version, where service means in every ease active and practical help (Exodus 28:41; Exodus 29:9; Exodus 32:29; Numbers 3:3, etc.). The question now is not one of consecrating heart and affection, but rather of giving the practical proof of them. 1 Chronicles 29:5

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

לזּהב לזּהב, for every golden thing, etc., cf. 1 Chronicles 29:2. וּלכל־מלאכה, and in general for every work to be wrought by the hands of the artificer. וּמי, who then is willing (uw expressing it as the consequence). To fill one's hand to the Lord, means to provide oneself with something which one brings to the Lord; see on Exodus 32:29. The infinitive מלּאות occurs also in Exodus 31:5 and Daniel 9:4, and along with מלּא, 2 Chronicles 13:9.