1 Chronicles28
New International Version
1David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.
2King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.
3But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’
4“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
5Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’
8“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
9“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
10Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.
12He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.
13He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.
14He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service:
15the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
16the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables;
17the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish;
18and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”
20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
21The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 28.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David exhorts the people to the fear of the Lord. (1–10). He gives instructions for the temple. (11–21).
vv1-10
During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were at Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build a temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divine grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledge of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whole character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God. But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, yet expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.
vv11-21
The temple must be a sacred thing, and a type of Christ; it must be framed by Divine teaching. Christ is the true temple, the church is the gospel temple, and heaven the everlasting temple; all are framed according to the Divine counsels, and the plan laid in the Divine wisdom, ordained before the world, for God's glory and our good. David gave this pattern to Solomon, that he might go by rule. Materials were provided for the most costly utensils of the temple. Directions were given which way to look for help in this great undertaking. Be not dismayed; God will help thee, and thou must look up to him in the first place. We may be sure that God, who owned our fathers, and carried them through the services of their day, will, in like manner, never leave us, while he has any work to do in us, or by us. Good work is likely to go on, when all concerned are hearty in furthering it. Let us hope in God's mercy; if we seek him, he will be found of us.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
קָהַל: to convoke
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שֵׁבֶט: a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
מַחֲלֹקֶת: a section (of Levites, people or soldiers)
שָׁרַת: to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
מֶלֶךְ: a king
Cross References
1 Chronicles 28David was forbidden to build the house because he shed much blood as a man of war.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Specific promise designating Solomon as the son of peace chosen to build the Temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills the prophetic promise that David's seed would build the house and have an established kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Moses receiving the Tabernacle's divine pattern, just as David received the Temple's design.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Poetic parallel identifying the Ark of the Covenant as the footstool of God's feet.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Traces God's election of Judah, the house of Jesse, and David to rule.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Demonstrates that God searches all hearts and looks at the inward motives.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the covenant principle: if you seek Him, He is found; if you forsake Him, He casts off.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes the cherubim over the mercy seat, forming the chariot of God's presence.
Supported by JFB
Verbal echo of Moses' charge to Joshua, mirroring David's encouragement to Solomon.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Enumerates the captains of the military courses that David assembled in Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB
The heavenly reality serves as the pattern for earthly sanctuaries built by divine instruction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the divine spiritual gifting of artisans to complete holy construction work.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains why David addresses his subjects as 'my brethren' in accordance with kingly law.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Reiterates the conditional promise to establish Solomon's throne if he keeps the commandments.
Supported by JFB