1 Chronicles 22:14—How could David have given 100,000 talents of gold when 1 Chronicles 29:4 says he gave only 3,000 talents?

Problem: In preparation for the building of the temple, David states in 1 Chronicles 22:14 that he had donated 100,000 talents of gold. However, 1 Chronicles 29:4 affirms that David had given only 3,000. Which is correct?

Solution: Both amounts are correct. Each of these passages records a different donation given by David. The 1 Chronicles 29 text clearly distinguishes the 3,000 talents of gold here recorded from the 100,000 talents given earlier. David points out in 29:3, that “because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold andsilver.”

First Chronicles 22:14 records the amount given for the preparation of the building of the house of God. First Chronicles 29:4 states the amount given out of David’s own private treasures, over and above what was raised by David for the preparation of the temple.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.