1 Chronicles 28

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 28

1¶ And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

3But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed blood.

4Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath 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 liked me to make [me] king over all Israel:

5And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he 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 for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

8Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave [it] for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do [it].

11¶ Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

12And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

13Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

14[He gave] of gold by weight for [things] of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; [silver also] for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

15Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, [both] for the candlestick, and [also] for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.

16And by weight [he gave] gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and [likewise] silver for the tables of silver:

17Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons [he gave gold] by weight for every bason; and [likewise silver] by weight for every bason of silver:

18And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out [their wings], and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19All [this, said David], the LORD made me understand in writing by [his] hand upon me, [even] all the works of this pattern.

20And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

21And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, [even they shall be with thee] for all the service of the house of God: and [there shall be] with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people [will be] wholly at thy commandment.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

King David gathers all the princes and leaders of Israel in Jerusalem to make a significant declaration regarding the future of the Temple. He explains his desire to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant, but God forbade him, stating David was a man of war. Instead, God chose David's son Solomon to build the Temple, promising to establish his kingdom forever if he remained obedient. David then solemnly charges Solomon to know and serve God with a perfect heart and willing mind, emphasizing that God searches all hearts. He proceeds to give Solomon the detailed, divinely inspired patterns for the Temple's structure, courts, and all its sacred vessels and furnishings, specifying weights for gold and silver. David concludes by encouraging Solomon to be strong, courageous, and fearless, assuring him that the Lord God would be with him and that the priests, Levites, and skilled workers would assist him.

Long Summary

King David convenes a grand assembly in Jerusalem, gathering all the princes, captains, stewards, officers, and valiant men of Israel. He addresses them, explaining his heartfelt desire to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant, but reveals that God had prohibited him from doing so because he was a man of war who had shed much blood. David then recounts God's sovereign choice of him to be king over Israel, and subsequently, God's selection of Solomon, among all his sons, to sit upon the throne and build God's house. God promised to be a father to Solomon and establish his kingdom forever, provided Solomon remained constant in obeying His commandments. David then exhorts the entire congregation to diligently keep God's commandments to retain possession of the land. Turning to Solomon, David charges him to know God, serve Him with a perfect heart and willing mind, for God searches all hearts; he warns that seeking God leads to finding Him, but forsaking Him leads to rejection. David then physically presents Solomon with the complete, divinely revealed pattern for the Temple, including the porch, various chambers, treasuries, the mercy seat, and the courts. He also specifies the designs and weights for all the sacred vessels, such as candlesticks, tables of shewbread, fleshhooks, bowls, cups, basons, and the altar of incense, even the pattern for the cherubim chariot. David explicitly states that all these detailed instructions were given to him in writing by the hand of the Lord. Finally, David encourages Solomon to be strong, courageous, and undismayed, assuring him that the Lord God would not fail or forsake him until the work was finished. He also promises Solomon the full support of the priests, Levites, skilled workmen, princes, and all the people.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Selection of SolomonGod chose Solomon, rather than David, to build the Temple, explaining that David was a man of war. This divine selection established Solomon's specific role in God's plan.
  • Covenantal Promise to SolomonGod promised to establish Solomon's kingdom forever and be his father, contingent upon Solomon's faithful obedience to God's commandments and judgments.
  • David's Charge to SolomonDavid earnestly exhorted his son Solomon to know God and serve Him with a perfect heart and willing mind, emphasizing God's omniscience regarding human thoughts and intentions.
  • Divinely Inspired Temple PatternDavid received and transmitted to Solomon a detailed, written pattern for the Temple's architecture, furnishings, and vessels, explicitly stating that this design was revealed by God's hand.
  • Importance of ObedienceBoth David's address to the congregation and his charge to Solomon underscore the necessity of diligently keeping God's commandments for continued blessing and the establishment of the kingdom.
  • Support for the Temple ProjectDavid assures Solomon that God will be with him, and that the priests, Levites, skilled craftsmen, princes, and the entire populace will be available and willing to assist in the construction of the Temple.