1 Chronicles 28:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

David, weighed down by the effects of old age and illness, often found himself either reclining or sitting. Although he could have taken his place upon the throne to address the gathering, out of a deep respect for the divine message he was entrusted to share and out of genuine humility, he deemed it fitting to stand before the assembly, possibly aided by his attendants. He opened his address with the words, "My brethren and my people." By using the first term, he demonstrated his humility, acknowledging his shared dependence on the Almighty alongside all others; with the second term, he affirmed his awareness of his royal status—referring to them as my people, synonymous with my subjects. Following this, after recalling his long-held desire to construct the temple, and recognizing that, as a warrior who had shed much blood, the Lord had not permitted him to realize this dream himself, David proceeded.