1 Chronicles 28 (NET)

David Commissions Solomon to Build the Temple

1 David assembled in Jerusalem1 all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.

2 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord’s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God.2 I have made the preparations for building it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me,3 for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’ 4 The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty.4 Indeed,5 he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel.6 5 From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.7 6 He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’8 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this:9 Carefully observe10 all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.

9 “And you, Solomon my son, obey11 the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit,12 for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him,13 but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. 10 Realize14 now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

11 David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch,15 its buildings, its treasuries,16 its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room17 for atonement. 12 He gave him18 the blueprints of all he envisioned19 for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.

13 He gave him the regulations20 for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord’s temple.

14 He gave him21 the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the Lord’s temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service,22 15 for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand, 16 for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables, 17 for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl, 18 and for the refined gold of the incense altar.

He gave him23 the blueprint for the seat24 of the gold cherubim that spread their wings25 and provide shelter for the ark of the Lord’s covenant.

19 David said,26 “All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.”27

20 David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!28 For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is finished. 21 Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service.29 The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.”30

1map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 2tn Heb “I, with my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for a stool of the feet of our God.” 3tn Heb “for my name.” 4tn Heb “out of all the house of my father to become king over all Israel permanently.” 5tn Or “for.” 6tn Heb “and among the sons of my father he desired to make me king over all Israel.” 7tn Heb “from all my sons, for many sons the Lord has given to me, he chose Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.” 8tn Heb “if he is strong to do my commands and my regulations like this day.” 9tn The words “I say this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 10tn Heb “Watch! Seek!” 11tn Heb “know.” 12tn Heb “with a complete heart and a willing being.” 13tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.” 14tn Heb “see.” 15tn Heb “for the porch.” The word “temple” was supplied in the translation for clarity. 16tn Or “storerooms.” 17tn Heb “house.” 18tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 19tn Heb “the pattern of all which was in the spirit with him.” 20tn The words “he gave him the regulations” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 21tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 22tn Heb “for the gold, by the weight, for the gold, for all the items of service and service, for all the items of silver by weight for all the items of service and service.” 23tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 24tc The Hebrew text reads מֶרְכָּבָה (merkavah, “chariot”), but the final he (ה) is probably dittographic – note the prefixed he (ה) on the immediately following word. It is preferable to read מֶרְכָּב (merkav, “seat”). 25tc The Hebrew text does not have “their wings,” but the word כְּנָפַיִם (kÿnafayim, “wings”) has probably been accidentally omitted by homoioteleuton. Note that the immediately preceding לְפֹרְשִׂים (lÿforsim) also ends in mem (ם). 26tn The words “David said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons. 27tn Heb “the whole in writing from the hand of the Lord upon me, he gave insight [for] all the workings of the plan.” 28tn Or perhaps, “don’t be discouraged.” 29tn Heb “and with you in all work, for every willing [one] in skill for all service.” 30tn Heb “and the officials and all the people to all your words.”