1 Chronicles28
New Living Translation
1David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom.
2David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,
3but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’
4“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
5And from among my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom.
6He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.
7And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’
8“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.
9“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
10So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”
11Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.
12David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the Lord.
13The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the Lord. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.
14David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service.
15He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used.
16He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.
17David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish.
18He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the Lord’s “chariot”—the gold cherubim whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant.
19“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”
20Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.
21The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are 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