Observe, 1. There were treasures of the house of God. A great house
cannot be well kept without stores of all manner of provisions. Much
was expended daily upon the altar-flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, besides
the lamps; quantities of these were to be kept beforehand, besides the
sacred vestments and utensils. These were the treasures of the house of
God. And, because money answers all things, doubtless they had an
abundance of it, which was received from the people's offerings,
wherewith they bought in what they had occasion for. And perhaps much
was laid up for an exigence. These treasures typified the plenty there
is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. In Christ, the
true temple, are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and
unsearchable riches. 2. There were treasures of dedicated things,
dedicated mostly out of the spoils won in battle (v. 27), as a grateful
acknowledgment of the divine protection. Abraham gave Melchisedec the
tenth of the spoils Heb. vii. 4. In Moses's time the officers of the
army, when they returned victorious, brought of their spoils an
oblation to the Lord, Num. xxxi. 50. Of late this pious custom had been
revived; and not only Samuel and David, but Saul, and Abner, and Joab,
had dedicated of their spoils to the honour and support of the house of
God, v. 28. Note, The more God bestows upon us the more he expects from
us in works of piety and charity. Great successes call for
proportionable returns. When we look over our estates we should
consider, "Here are convenient things, rich things, it may be, and fine
things; but where are the dedicated things?" Men of war must honour God
with their spoils. 3. These treasures had treasurers, those that were
over them (v. 20, 26), whose business it was to keep them, that neither
moth nor rust might corrupt them, nor thieves break through and steal,
to give out as there was occasion and to see that they were not wasted,
embezzled, or alienated to the common use; and it is probable that they
kept accounts of all that was brought in and how it was laid out.