2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the (things of) gold, and the silver for the (things of) silver, and the brass for the (things of) brass, the iron for the (things of) iron, and wood for the (things of) wood; onyx stones, and (stones) to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Glistering stones - Rather, "colored stones;" or, "dark stones" - stones of a hue like that of the antimony wherewith women painted their eyes.
Marble stones - or, "white stones" - perhaps "alabaster," which is found near Damascus. On the use made of the "stones" in building the temple, see 2-Chronicles 3:6 note.
And marble stones - אבני שיש abney shayish, which the Vulgate translates marmor Parium, Parian marble. Paros was one of the Cyclade islands, and produced the whitest and finest marble, that of which most of the finest works of antiquity have been made. That the word shaish means marble is probable from the Chaldee, which has אבני מרמורייה abney marmoraiyah, marble stones. Josephus says that the temple was built of large blocks of white marble, beautifully polished, so as to produce a most splendid appearance. - Joshua., De Bell. Jude., lib. v., c. 5, s. 2.
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God,.... 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, &c.
and the silver for things of silver; as for basins, &c.
and the brass for things of brass; as the brasen altar, brasen laver:
and iron for things of iron; for nails, hinges, &c.
and wood for things of wood; for rafters, ceilings, floors, &c.
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 (y): 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 (z); and so Lucian speaks (a) of Astarte having a splendid stone about her, called 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, &c. 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, &c. 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 (b), found the island of Paros, and which agrees with the word here used.
(y) Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 4. (z) Sueton. Vit. Domitian. c. 14. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 22. Isidor. Origin. l. 16. c. 4. (a) De Dea Syria. (b) "----Pario marmore purius." Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 19.
My might - Work for God must be done with all our might, or we shall bring nothing to pass in it.
*More commentary available at chapter level.