1 Chronicles — Chapter 22

David said: This is the house of God, and this is the altar for a holocaust for Israel. Lapide: At this place — the threshing floor of Ornan on Mount Moria — God commands the Temple to be built. The commentary on this verse opens chapter 22.

David said: Solomon my son is a very young child, and the house which I would build to the Lord must be such as to be renowned in all countries. Lapide: Solomon was actually about twenty years old, but called \"a little child\" in comparison with the greatness of the Temple's construction — a fitting humility. Lest the work be unworthy, David prepares everything.

But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou hast shed much blood, and fought many battles: thou canst not build a house to my name, having shed so much blood before me. Lapide (following Calmet's note which he quotes): The ancient interpreters and most modern ones recognise wars alone as the cause; Jerome and some Hebrews add the blood of Urias. But since David conceived the plan of building the Temple before the death of Urias (II Sam. 7), the blood of an innocent man could not have been the primary cause. The plurality of wars is the sole cause expressly repeated by Scripture.

A son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest... and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; and his name shall be called Peaceful; and I will give peace and quietness to Israel all his days. Lapide: Solomon is a figure of Christ the Prince of Peace. The \"man of rest\" who builds the Temple of God is the peaceable Son, in contrast to David the warrior-king. The Temple built by Solomon typifies the Church built by Christ.

I have with great labour prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold... Now arise and build. Lapide on the enormous sum: God can easily provide such wealth to David. \"Mine is the silver and mine is the gold\" (Agg. 2:9). As St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis de Paula — one founder of the Minors, the other of the Minimites — being poor yet called by God to build a temple, built it through the alms of the devout; so much more, if we are called by God to build the mystical temple of perfection in our souls, we should confidently do it, for God will provide strength and spirit.

Is not the Lord your God with you, and hath He not given you rest on every side... arise therefore and build the sanctuary to the Lord your God. Lapide: David's final exhortation to the princes — public persons are called to use their authority for sacred purposes. The laity too have a role in building the house of God.