1 Chronicles28

King David assembles all the leaders of Israel to declare God's choice of Solomon, not himself, to build the Temple, explaining that he was a man of war. David charges Solomon to serve God faithfully and provides him with the divinely inspired architectural patterns and material specifications for the Temple. He encourages Solomon to be strong and courageous, assuring him of God's presence and the support of the people and skilled workers.

David Assembles the Leaders

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.

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 the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.

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.’

However the LORD, 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.

Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the LORD’s kingdom over Israel.

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.

I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the LORD’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD 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.

Take heed now; for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”

The Divine Pattern for the Temple

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;

and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the LORD’s house, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;

also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the LORD’s house, and for all the vessels of service in the LORD’s house;

of 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;

by 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;

and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;

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;

and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

“All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of the LORD, even all the works of this pattern.”

Final Charge and Assurance

David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the LORD’s house is finished.

Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God’s house. 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.”

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 28

Verse 1

David gathers all the key personnel—military, civil, and tribal leaders—to formally announce Solomon’s succession and prepare the nation for the massive Temple construction project.

Verse 2

David refers to the Ark of the Covenant as the 'footstool of our God.' This imagery emphasizes God's transcendence; the ultimate resting place is in heaven, and the Ark merely serves as the earthly point of contact.

Verse 3

God denied David the right to build the Temple because he was 'a man of war.' The Temple, representing peace and holiness, required a builder whose reign was characterized by rest (Solomon, whose name means 'peace').

Verse 4

David traces the divine election through the generations: from the nation of Israel, to the tribe of Judah, to Jesse’s house, and finally to David himself. This emphasizes the covenantal certainty of the Davidic line.

Verse 5

Solomon’s kingship is presented not as a dynastic right but as a divine appointment, sitting upon the 'throne of the kingdom of the LORD.' This establishes the monarchy as fundamentally a theocracy.

Verse 7

The promise to establish Solomon’s kingdom 'for ever' is conditional on his obedience. While the Davidic dynasty is eternally chosen, the prosperity of the individual king depends upon his faithfulness.

Verse 8

David addresses the entire assembly, underscoring that the responsibility for possessing the covenant land rests on the collective obedience of the people to God’s commandments.

Verse 9

This is David's central charge to his son: serve God with sincerity ('perfect heart') and enthusiasm ('willing mind'). The warning that God searches the heart anticipates Solomon's later moral and spiritual compromise.

Verse 10

The phrase 'be strong, and do it' is a common biblical exhortation for undertaking a massive, God-ordained task, previously given to Joshua as he prepared to conquer the land.

Verse 11

David provides Solomon with the detailed architectural blueprint (the 'pattern'). This physical transfer emphasizes the seriousness and divine authority behind the plans.

Verse 12

The pattern was received 'by the spirit' (or divine inspiration). This elevates the Temple design beyond human architecture, paralleling the divinely revealed plans for the Mosaic Tabernacle.

Verse 18

The 'chariot of the cherubims' refers to the imagery of the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes God’s mobile throne (cf. Psalm 18:10 and Ezekiel 1).

Verse 19

David affirms that the Lord gave him the entire design 'in writing.' This unique claim ensures Solomon that the plans are authoritative and must be followed precisely, just as Moses received written instructions for the Tabernacle.

Verse 20

David reiterates the command to 'be strong and of good courage.' He assures Solomon that God’s presence ('my God, will be with thee') guarantees the completion of the massive undertaking.

Verse 21

David confirms that Solomon will have all necessary human resources: the divinely organized courses of priests and Levites, skillful craftsmen, and the full cooperation of the political leaders and people.

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1 Chronicles28

David Assembles the Leaders

The Divine Pattern for the Temple

Final Charge and Assurance

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