The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 433

;;;ov1rcl.pa., and which would explain both the oomprisP.d vollllltary gifts from the most of Hebrew and the Septuagint words. An those mentioned in oh. xxviii. l ; and de- Indian site for Ophir would also well suit scribed in eh. xxvii. 16-31. For the rulers the mention of the ivory and the particular of the king's work, see eh. xxvii. 26; xxviii. wood which the ships brought. On the 1. As the more general term "work" is other hand, the first occasion of this name employed, we are not bound to confine the Ophir finds it placed among the tribes of expression to inoludeonlythose whomanaged Johtan's descendants, who occupied South "the substance and cattle" of oh. xxviii. 1. Arabia. It is there (Gen. x. 29; eh. i. 23) Ver. 7.-The Authorized Version transla- placed between Sheba and Havilah, both tion drams occurs alsotwieeinEzra and twice abounding in gold. There are other con- in Nehemiah. There is no doubt that the siderations that favour Arabia. Many other coin referred to is the Persian daric, with places have been suggested, and some of which the Jews became familiar during the them supported by respectable authorities, time of their exile. The Hebrew word appears such as Eastern Africa, South America and in three different forms. 1. As JbiJ~; here Peru, Phrygia, etc. If there be a real and Ezra viii 27. 2. As Ji!J~7'!; • E~ra ii question about it, to the prejudice of Arabia, it would be to India we must look. That 69; Neh. vii. 70-72. 3. As Ji:.!~:!; in rab- some of the commodities brought belonged binical writings, but not in Scripture. Re- more especially to India, though even in specting the possible derivations of the that case the majority belonged undoubtedly words in the first and second forms, see to Arabia, is very true. This circumstance Geseoius'e 'Lexicon,' sub voce, and Conder'e throws great probability into the suggestion 'Handbook to the Bible' (2nd edit., p. that whether Ophir were in Arabia or India, 181). The obverse of the coin shows the it was a great emporium, and not simply imai;e of a king, with bow and spear. The an exporter of its own particular produce value of the coin is variously computed at (see Gesenius, 'Lexicon,' sub voce; Smith's thirteen shillings and sixpence or twenty- • Bible Dictionary'). The last sentence of two shillings and sixpence. Keil suggests this verse certainly says that the destined that the mention of darics as well as talents use of the refined silver, as well as of the in this verse may point to some of the gold gold of Ophir, was to overlay the walls of the being contributed in the shape of coin houses. We know that gold was used for instead of talents-weight. Thie does not this purpose (2 Chron. iii. 5-10). But we seem likely, however, because, of course, the do not read of the silver being used for otier- daric itself was not in use in Jerusalem in laying purposes. We also read that none of David's time, and any gold coin that was the drinking-vessels of Solomon were of then in use might have received mention •iltier, as " ft was nothing accoUI1ted of in on its own account, even if translated also the days of Solomon" (1 Kings x. 21; 2 into the daric. The Septuagint translates Chron. ix. 20). It is possible, the order of in this verse merely by the word xpucroiis, the sentences notwithstanding, that the the Vulgate by solidos. Under any circum- mention of the refined silver is only to pre- stances, the coin is to be distinguished from pare the way for the contents of ver. 5, and the '6paXJJ-f/• Specimens of the daric, both tbat it must not be applied to the last sentence in gold and silver, exist in the Faris o.nd of our present verse. Vienna Museums. The Hebrew word for Ver. 5.-The Authorized Version, to con- the ten thousand preceding the so-called secrate his service, might in this instance drams ofthie verse is the word for "myriad" seem to be not merely an inaccurate but an (i:.i'), o. shortened form of n\::ii), found also incorrect translation. For David's evident in Ezra ii. 64 ; N eh. vii. 66 ; Dao. xi. 12 ; meaning was, after rehearsing his own Jono.h iv. ll. example, to base on it the appeal, Who is Ver. 8.-For Jehiel, see oh. xxiii. 7, 8: . . . willing to bring an ungrudging handful :u:vi. 20-22 ; and for the stones contributed th» day to the Lord 1 and 2 Chroo. xiii. 9 among the other gifts, see Exod. xxxv. 9, 27. might perhaps be cited as a confirmatory Of the same chapter in Exodus, especially instance. But on the other hand, the idiom in its vere. 4-9 and 20-29, the whole of was evidently, by the witness of many our present passage so vividly reminds us passages, a ~eoeral one, and the meaning of that the difficulty might be to doubi that it is not incorrectly conveyed in the Autho- it was present as 11, model to the mind of rized Version, where service means in every David himself. case active and practica,1. help (Exod. xxviii. Vere. 10-20.-The majesty and compre- 41; xxix. 9; :z:..uii 29; Numb. iii. 3, etc.). hensiveness of this passage-a national' The question now is not one of consecrating liturgy of itself-are in direct proportion to heart and affection, but rather of giving the the brevity of it. It includes adoration, practical proof of them. aclmowledgmcnt of the inherent nature of V&. 6.-'l'hll respouae wae hearty; it human depeodenoe, self-humili11tion, and Ott, xxix. 1-30.J THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 437