1-Chronicles - 28:1-21



Closing Counsel of David, Teenage Solomon Reigns, David Dies

      1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by division, and the captains of thousands, and 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. 2 Then 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 the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building. 3 But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.' 4 However 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. 5 Of 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. 6 He 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. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.' 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, 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. 9 You, 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. 10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it." 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch (of the temple), and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner rooms of it, and of the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; 13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Yahweh; 14 of gold by weight for the (vessels of) gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; (of silver) for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15 by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, (silver) by weight for (every) lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17 and the forks, and 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; 18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, (even) the cherubim, that spread out (their wings), and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. 19 "All this," said David, "I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern." 20 David 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 the house of Yahweh is finished. 21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command."


Chapter In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Chronicles 28.

Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

David assembles the princes of Israel, and informs them that the temple was to be built by Solomon; to whom God had given the most gracious promises, 1-Chronicles 28:1-7. He exhorts them and him to be obedient to God, that they might continue to prosper, 1-Chronicles 28:8-10. He gives Solomon a pattern of the work, 1-Chronicles 28:11, 1-Chronicles 28:12; directs him concerning the courses of the priests and Levites, 1-Chronicles 28:13; gives also gold, by weight, for the different utensils of the temple, as God had directed him, 1-Chronicles 28:14-19; encourages Solomon to undertake the work, 1-Chronicles 28:20, 1-Chronicles 28:21.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 28
David, having convened the principal men of the nation, declared Solomon his successor, whom God had chosen both to be king, and to build the temple, 1-Chronicles 28:1, and exhorted both them and him to serve the Lord, and build an house for him, 1-Chronicles 28:8, then gave Solomon the pattern of it, and an account of the materials he had prepared for it, 1-Chronicles 28:11, and encouraged him to go about the work with alacrity and intrepidity, 1-Chronicles 28:20.

(1-Chronicles 28:1-10) David exhorts the people to the fear of the Lord.
(1-Chronicles 28:11-21) He gives instructions for the temple.

David's Last Directions, and His Death - 1-Chronicles 28-29
In order to give over the throne before his death to his son Solomon, and so secure to him the succession, and facilitate his accomplishment of the great work of his reign, the building of the temple, David summoned the estates of his kingdom, the court officials, and the heroes of the people in Jerusalem. In a solemn address he designated Solomon as his divinely chosen successor on the throne, and exhorted him to keep the commandments of God, to serve the Lord with devoted heart, and to build Him a house for a sanctuary (1-Chronicles 28:1-10). He then committed to Solomon the sketches and plans for the sacred buildings and sacred objects of various sorts, with the confident promise that he, by the help of God, and with the co-operation of the priests and of the people, would complete the work (1-Chronicles 28:11-21). Finally, he announced, in the presence of the whole assembly, that he gave over his treasures of gold and silver to this building, and called upon the chiefs of the people and kingdom for a voluntary contribution for the same purpose; and on their freely answering this call, concluded with a solemn prayer of thanks, to which the whole assembly responded, bowing low before God and the king (29:1-20). This reverence they confirmed by numerous burnt-offerings and thank-offerings, and by the repeated anointing of Solomon to be king (1-Chronicles 29:21 and 1-Chronicles 29:22).

*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.


Discussion on 1-Chronicles Chapter 28

User discussion about the chapter.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.