“And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:”
My Notes
What Does 1 Chronicles 29:21 Mean?
The scale of this sacrifice is breathtaking: a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs, plus drink offerings and additional sacrifices described as "in abundance." This is the worship response to Solomon's coronation and David's farewell — the entire nation expressing their joy and consecration through lavish offering.
The phrase "for all Israel" indicates this is a national act, not a royal one. The sacrifices represent the whole people's dedication, not just the king's personal piety. Everyone participates; everyone is invested.
The repetition of "a thousand" three times creates a literary pattern of completeness and extravagance. In Hebrew numerical symbolism, a thousand represents totality and abundance. Three sets of a thousand — one for each category of sacrificial animal — communicates that nothing is held back. The worship is as complete and abundant as it can be.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When was the last time you were genuinely extravagant in your worship or generosity? What prompted it?
- 2.Do you tend toward careful stewardship or lavish expression? What might the other mode teach you?
- 3.What does 'sacrifices in abundance for all Israel' look like translated into your community's worship life?
- 4.Is there an area where God is inviting you to stop counting and start pouring?
Devotional
A thousand bullocks. A thousand rams. A thousand lambs. And then "sacrifices in abundance" on top of that. When Israel worships at this moment, they don't count the cost. They pour out.
This kind of extravagance makes practical people uncomfortable. Three thousand animals and unlimited additional offerings — isn't that wasteful? Couldn't those resources be used more efficiently? But worship isn't about efficiency. It's about expression. And some moments call for an expression that costs more than makes sense.
There's a time for careful stewardship and a time for lavish outpouring. The woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet was criticized for waste too. But Jesus said she'd done a beautiful thing. Some expressions of love and worship are supposed to be disproportionate. They're supposed to exceed what's reasonable. That's the point.
This doesn't mean every day requires a thousand bullocks. But it does mean that a life of faith should include moments of genuine extravagance — times when you give more than makes sense, worship with more abandon than feels dignified, invest more than seems prudent. What would lavish, uncalculating worship look like for you?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And they did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness,.... Before the ark of the Lord, which was in…
With their drink offerings - i. e., with the drink-offerings appropriate to each kind of burnt-offering, and required by…
With their drink-offerings - The Targum says a thousand drink-offerings, making these libations equal in number to the…
We have here,
I. The solemn address which David made to God upon occasion of the noble subscriptions of the princes…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture