Divrey Hayamim Alef 29:2

2 Now I have provided with all my ko’ach for the Bais Elohai the zahav for things to be made of zahav, and the kesef for things of kesef, and the nechoshet for things of nechoshet, the barzel (iron) for things of barzel (iron), and etzim for things of etzim; onyx stones to be set, turquoise, and stones of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble, all in abundance.

Divrey Hayamim Alef 29:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:2

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God,
&c.] According to the utmost of his ability for the building and decorating of it:

the gold
for the things to be made of gold; as the candlesticks, shewbread tables

and the silver for [things] of silver;
as for basins

and the brass for [things] of brass;
as the brasen altar, brasen laver,

and iron for [things] of iron;
for nails, hinges

and wood for [things] of wood;
for rafters, ceilings, floors

onyx stones;
the Targum, stones of beryl: and stones to be set; other precious stones to be set in gold and silver:

glistering stones;
the Targum, emeralds; the word is used for stibium, or black lead, with which women painted their eyes; and so may signify black stones, like black lead; as white marble is after mentioned, perhaps black is here meant, or such stones Solomon paved the ways with leading to Jerusalem ^F25: but as such stones are not very glistering, there seems to be no reason for such an epithet; unless the stone "phengites" should be meant, which was a clear bright stone, and served for looking glasses. Domitian the Roman emperor, when under suspicion of being murdered by persons he had offended, garnished the porticos of his palace with this stone, which was of such brightness, that by the images formed in it he could see what was behind him ^F26; and so Lucian speaks ^F1 of Astarte having a splendid stone about her, called (lucniv) , which in the night gave much light to the temple, but shone weakly in the day time, and looked like fire:

and of divers colours;
that is, stones of various colours, as jaspers, amethysts Kimchi interprets it of embroidered clothes, and garments of needlework, and in these precious stones were sometimes inserted:

and all manner of precious stones;
as pearls, diamonds it is hard to say what all these precious stones were for; Jarchi and Kimchi think they were to decorate the walls overlaid with gold, in which they were set; it is certain they were for garnishing and beautifying the house, see ( 2 Chronicles 3:6 )

and marble stones in abundance;
for pillars, tables, and pavement, as Jarchi; this was Parian marble, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; the whitest of marble ^F2, found the island of Paros, and which agrees with the word here used.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 4.
F26 Sueton. Vit. Domitian. c. 14. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 22. Isidor. Origin. l. 16. c. 4.
F1 De Dea Syria.
F2 "----Pario marmore purius." Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 19.

Divrey Hayamim Alef 29:2 In-Context

1 9 Furthermore Dovid HaMelech said unto kol HaKahal, Sh’lomo beni (my son), the one Elohim hath chosen, is yet na’ar and tender, and the melachah (work, task) is gedolah; for the palace is not for adam, but for Hashem Elohim.

2 Now I have provided with all my ko’ach for the Bais Elohai the zahav for things to be made of zahav, and the kesef for things of kesef, and the nechoshet for things of nechoshet, the barzel (iron) for things of barzel (iron), and etzim for things of etzim; onyx stones to be set, turquoise, and stones of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble, all in abundance.

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the Bais Elohai, I have of mine own segullah (treasure) zahav and kesef, which I have given to the Bais Elohai, over and above all that I have prepared for the Beis HaKodesh.

4 Even shloshet alafim talents of zahav, of the zahav of Ophir, and shivat alafim talents of refined kesef, to overlay the walls of the buildings;

5 The zahav for things of zahav, and the kesef for things of kesef, and for all manner of melachah (work) to be made by the hands of charashim (artisans). And who then is willing to consecrate his yad today unto Hashem?