1 Chronicles28
World English Bible · Public Domain
1David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.
2Then David the king stood up on his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.
3But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’
4However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
5Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
6He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall 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 continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’
8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
10Take heed now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
11Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat;
12and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
13also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house—
14of gold by weight for the gold for all vessels of every kind of service, for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;
15by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand;
16and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
17and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
18and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant.
19“All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”
20David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed, for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
21Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who has skill for any kind of service shall be with you in all kinds of work. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely 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