(11) The Lord be with thee.--See 1Chronicles 9:20. (1Samuel 3:19; 2Kings 18:7 : "The Lord was with him.") The phrase is the origin of the familiar liturgical formula, "The Lord be with you."

And prosper thou, and build the house.--Not a command, but a wish, i.e., mayest thou prosper and build. The verb "prosper" (literally, carry through, make succeed) is used transitively in 2Chronicles 7:11 and Genesis 24:40.

As he hath said of (upon) thee.--This phrase (dibber 'al) is specially used of Divine threats and promises. (See Genesis 18:19; Isaiah 37:22; and comp. 1Chronicles 22:8, above: "And the word of the Lord became upon me.")

22:6-16 David gives Solomon the reason why he should build the temple. Because God named him. Nothing is more powerful to engage us in any service for God, than to know that we are appointed thereto. Because he would have leisure and opportunity to do it. He should have peace and quietness. Where God gives rest, he expects work. Because God had promised to establish his kingdom. God's gracious promises should quicken and strengthen our religious service. David delivered to Solomon an account of the vast preparations he had made for this building; not from pride and vain-glory, but to encourage Solomon to engage cheerfully in the great work. He must not think, by building the temple, to purchase a dispensation to sin; on the contrary, his doing that would not be accepted, if he did not take heed to fulfil the statutes of the Lord. In our spiritual work, as well as in our spiritual warfare, we have need of courage and resolution.Now, my son, the Lord be with thee, &c. Or "shall be with thee" (r), as some; and if it be as a prayer, it was no doubt a prayer of faith; the Targum is,"may the Word of the Lord be thine help:"

and prosper thee; may success attend thee:

and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee; foretold he should, and therefore would assist him to do it, which was an encouragement to go about it.

(r) "erit", Pagninus, Montanus; "futurus est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.