(7) And gave . . . of gold.--And they gave . . . gold, five thousand talents; between thirty and forty millions sterling (!).

Ten thousand drams.--Rather, Darics. The Daric (Greek, ????????) was a Persian gold coin, value about 1 2s., first struck by the great Darius, son of Hystaspes (B.C. 521-485). It remained current in Western Asia long after the fall of the Persian Empire. The Hebrew word ('?darkonim) occurs again only once, viz., at Ezra 8:27, where it clearly means Darics, and is so rendered by the Syriac (d?rik-ne). The darkon (or darbon) is mentioned in the Talmud as a Persian coin. The chronicler, or his authority, has evidently substituted a familiar modern term for some ancient expression of value. No real coins are mentioned in Scripture before the age of the exile.

Silver ten thousand talents.--About 4,000,000 in modern value (see 1Kings 10:21; 1Kings 10:27); or, according to Schrader, who argues from Assyrian data, 3,750,000. The value of the bronze and the iron must have been much greater then than now. (See Note on 1Chronicles 22:14.)

Verse 7. - The Authorized Version translation drams occurs also twice in Ezra and twice in Nehemiah. There is no doubt that the coin referred to is the Persian daric, with which the Jews became familiar during the time of their exile. The Hebrew word appears in three different forms.

1. As אֲדַרְכְּמון; here and Ezra 8:27.

2. As דַּרְכְּמון; Ezra 2:69; Nehemiah 7:70-72.

3. As דַּכְרוֹן; in rabbinical writings, but not in Scripture.

Respecting the possible derivations of the words in the first and second forms, see Gesenins's 'Lexicon,' sub voce, and Conder's 'Handbook to the Bible' (2nd edit., p. 181). The obverse of the coin shows the image of a king, with bow and spear. The value of the coin is variously computed at thirteen shillings and sixpence or twenty. two shillings and sixpence. Keil suggests that the mention of darics as well as talents in this verse may point to some of the gold being contributed in the shape of coin instead of talents-weight. This does not seem likely, however, because, of course, the daric itself was not in use in Jerusalem in David's time, and any gold coin that was then in use might have received mention on its own account, even if translated also into the daric. The Septuagint translates in this verse merely by the word χρυσοῦς, the Vulgate by solidos. Under any circumstances, the coin is to be distinguished from the δραχνή. Specimens of the daric, both in gold and silver, exist in the Paris and Vienna Museums. The Hebrew word for the ten thousand preceding the so-called drams of this verse is the word for "myriad" (רִבּו, a shortened form of רבּות), found also in Ezra 2:64; Nehemiah 7:66; Daniel 11:12; Jonah 4:11.

29:1-9 What is done in works of piety and charity, should be done willingly, not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. David set a good example. This David offered, not from constraint, or for show; but because he had set his affection to the house of God, and thought he could never do enough towards promoting that good work. Those who would draw others to good, must lead the way themselves.And gave for the service of the house of God,.... For building and adorning it, and providing proper utensils for it:

of gold five thousand talents; which, according to Scheuchzer (l), came to 61,100,000 ducats of gold: and these, with "the 10,000 drachms"; make of our money, according to Brerewood (m), 22,507,500 pounds; some reckon a drachm at two ducats and a half, and somewhat more (n):

and of silver ten thousand talents; which, according to the former writer, amounted to 450,000,000 imperials, or rix dollars; and, according to the latter, they made of our money 3,750,000 pounds:

and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron; the weight of each of which were so much.

(l) Ut supra. (Physica Sacra, vol. 4. p. 631.) (m) Ut supra. (Physica Sacra, vol. 4. p. 631.) (n) Eisenschmidius apud Scheuchzer. ib. p. 635.