tiuue the subject of the "chambers round been covered goblets, is only found here and a.bout" " for the treasures of the house of in Ezra. i. 10; viii. 27. God," eto., Rlso for the convenience" of the Ver. 18.-By the oha.riot of the oherubima, courses of the priests," eto., Rnd "for all is of oourso not meant that the cherubim the work," etc., a.nd for keeping "all the had a cha.riot, but thRt they constituted the vessels of service,'' etc. Bertheau and Keil chariot of Jehovah (Ps. xvlii. 11). somewhat scout the former supposition, a.nd Ver. 19.-This abrupt bringing in of adhere to the la.tier. David a.s the speaker himself has already Vers. 14, 15.-The genera.I meaning of had one illustration in oh. xxiii. 5. (See on these verses is that, if the question were the mo.Uer of this verse, note on ver. 11 ; one of gold, or one of silver, David assigned a.nd comp. 2 Kings iii. 15 for the parallel for ea.eh vessel a.nd each pa.rt of the candle- of au expression which evidently intends to sticks, the proportionate weight of gold assert an inspiring hand of the Lord.) that wa.s to be employed. Vers. 20, 21.-These verses, as above seen, Ver. 16.-So too as regards the tables of continue a.nd close David's urgent and last shewbrea.d, whether in sort of gold or of exhortation to Solomon. He has now done silver, he assigned the due weight of metal with admonition and urgent appeal, but he for either sort. We should have been at a offers prayer for him (eh. xxix. 19). loss to understand the plural l1ere employed, Ver. 20.-David in this verse enlarges showing more than one table (Exod. xxv. 23; upon the certainty of God's faithful steady 1 Kings vii. 48; 2 Chron. :n:i.x. 18), but for presence with Solomon and support of his 2 Chron. iv. 8, 19; in the former of whioh work to the end. verses we read of '' ten ta.bles " being made Ver. 21.-In this verse David reminds a.nu placed on "the rig-1,t side and on the Solomon what servants a.nd helpers he ha.s left, in the tern pk," and in the latter verse, ready to hand en earth, as well as his God yet more distinctly, of "tables, whereon the above-priests and . . . Levites, . . . a.ll shewbread was set." manner of workmen, . . . willing a.nd skilto.l, Ver. 17.-It is to be observed that the . . . princes a.nd . . . people, term ba.sou (c•:ii;:i:r), which appear to have
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-10.-Well worth reproduction by the annalist of centuries afterwards was the solemn and inspiring scene pourtrnyed in this and following sections. For the same reason that particulars, however gloriously interesting or terribly interesting, yet of merely individual concernment, are absent from the Chronicles, those of the highest national significance are sketched afresh, and engraved with deeper-cut lines. Much of the sorrow and misfortune of David, much of wherein he sinned, or was sinned against, would be inexplicably denied to the reader but for the steady observance on the part of the annalist-we doubt not under inspiration's guidance-of the principle that the nation's religious history is to be his grand subject, its lessons his theme, Well, too, might the religious teacher of a nation that had passed through a stran11:e stretch of apostasy, a stranger severity of punishment on account of it, and had now, strangest of all, another oiler of opportunity priceless in prospect, be supremely anxious to give a.II legitimate prominence to such a scene. History enabled them once more with fidelity to produce it. 'Ibey rested in it themselves with delight. 'fhey longed to imbue the people with its spirit and its ancient original fascination. All things considered, the sun had scarcely risen, through the reii:i:n and whole life of David, on a day of more real grandeur, more essential honour to himself-certainly not among the number of those that were inevitably declining days, and their brightest, warmest suns, those of mellow light and temperature, subdued. .Age was now a crown of glory to him. The experience of a life moderately long, of a reign remarkably long, of vicisMitudes and events strangely varied, was di~nity higher than anything artificial, than anytliing outward. And wea.knesij of bo<lily force and limb brought out in greater relief the moral deference he had made all his own, while a nation attend his voice, and receive in a young son of bis their future shepherd and king. Nor was David himself at all insensible to what was most peculiar, most characteristic in the scene. A word or two, an ar.tion or two, an atti- tude, betray Lis nervous appreciation ofit. That day, that hour, that scene-what three ways met there and then! The past way of his people, and tlieir undiscovered future path, and not lea.at momentous that by which hi~ own depurt11re must forthwith be mauo, en. xxv.u. 1-21.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 419