1 Chronicles28
New King James Version
1Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor.
2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.
3But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’
4However the Lord God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel.
5And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
7Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’
8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.
9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
10Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”
11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;
12and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;
13also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord.
14He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service;
15the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand.
16And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver;
17also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl;
18and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19“All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.”
20And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
21Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your 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