Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 3:9
And the weight of the nails [was] fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
The upper chambers – Compare 1Ch 28:11. Their position is uncertain. Some place them above the holy of holies, which was ten cubits, or fifteen feet lower than the main building (compare 1Ki 6:2, 1Ki 6:20); others, accepting the height of the porch 120 cubits 2Ch 3:4, regard the upper chambers or chamber huperoon, Septuagint), as having been a lofty building erected over the entrance to the temple; others suggest that the chambers intended are simply the uppermost of the three sets of chambers which on three sides surrounded the temple (see 1Ki 6:5-10). This would seem to be the simplest and best explanation, though we cannot see any reason for the rich ornamentation of these apartments, or for Davids special directions concerning them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. The weight of the nails was fifty shekels] Bolts must be here intended, as it should be preposterous to suppose nails of nearly two pounds’ weight.
The supper chambers] Probably the ceiling is meant.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of the nails, i.e. of each of the nails or heads of those nails whereby the plates were fastened to the boards.
The upper chambers; of which See Poole “1Ch 28:11“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
[See comments on 2Ch 3:1].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold.Literally, And a weight for nails for shekelsfifty in gold. The LXX. and Vulg. take this to mean that the weight of each nail was fifty shekels; and this is probably right, for fifty shekels as a total would be a trifling sum to record along with six hundred talents. The nails were used to fasten the golden plates to the wooden wainscoting of the edifice.
Whatever may be thought of the apparently incredible quantities of gold and silver stated to have been amassed by David for the Temple (1Ch. 22:14; 1Ch. 29:4; 1Ch. 29:7), it is clear that no inconsiderable amount of the former metal would be required for the plating of the chambers as described in this chapter. And it is well known, from their own monuments, that the Babylonian sovereigns of a later age were in the habit of thus adorning the houses of their gods. Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, who restored the great temple of Borsippa, says: E-zida, the strong house, in the midst thereof I caused to make, with silver, gold, alabaster, bronze . . . cedar I caused to adorn (or, completed) its sibir. The cedar of the roof (?) of the shrines of Nebo with gold I caused to clothe. In another inscription we read: The shrine of Nebo, which is amid E-Sagili, its threshold, its bolt, and its babnaku, with gold I caused to clothe. And again: The cedar roof of the oracle I caused to clothe with bright silver. The Assyrian Esarhaddon, a century earlier, boasts that he built ten castles in Assyria and Accad, and made them shine like day with silver and gold.
And he overlaid.And the upper chambers he covered with gold. The chambers over the Holy of holies are mentioned in 1Ch. 28:11. The two statements of this verse are peculiar to the chronicle. The Syriac and Arabic omit the verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 3:9. The upper chambers This would have been rendered more properly here, the ceiling, the upper part of the house.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 3:9 And the weight of the nails [was] fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
Ver. 9. And he overlaid the upper chambers. ] These were, saith Diodate, certain principal rooms of the building of the porticoes, appointed for the holy ministers to make their meals in, like unto refectories; or else for places of meetings and counsel. See 1Ch 28:11 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
weight of the nails. These small and simple things not excluded. They held all together; and, though out of sight, are remembered and named by God.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Exo 38:20 – the pins 1Ch 28:11 – upper chambers Jer 35:2 – into one Eze 40:7 – General