📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 29:5
What does 1 Chronicles 29:5 mean?
"of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to Yahweh?”"
— 1 Chronicles 29:5 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the brass for the things of brass, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;
of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to Yahweh?”
Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly;
and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents.
People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of Yahweh’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Explanation
1 Chronicles 29:5 comes at the climax of King David's speech to the assembled leaders of Israel, in which he announces the enormous personal contribution he has made toward building the Temple that his son Solomon will construct. In the verses just before this one, David lists staggering quantities of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and precious stones he has given from his own personal wealth, above and beyond the national treasury. Verse 5 explains the purpose of these materials — gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, all of it to be shaped by skilled craftsmen into the furnishings and fixtures of the Temple. Then David turns from listing his own gift to issuing a challenge: "Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to Yahweh?"
The historical context is the final days of David's reign, near the end of his life, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 28–29. David has been forbidden from building the Temple himself because he was a man of war, but he pours himself into preparing everything so Solomon can complete the task smoothly. This speech is delivered before "all the assembly," including military commanders, officials, and the wealthy leaders of the tribes, in a public ceremony meant to inspire similar generosity throughout the nation.
Theologically, this verse captures a vision of worship as costly, voluntary, and personal. David does not simply command others to give; he first gives sacrificially himself, then invites others to respond freely. The phrase "consecrate himself" links material giving to spiritual devotion — the offering of possessions is treated as
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