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1 Chronicles 28

1 Chronicles book home•Chapter 28 of 29•21 verses

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Chronicles 28 Overview

David gathers Israel’s leaders and publicly explains that God chose Solomon to build the temple. He charges Solomon to know and serve the God of his father with a perfect heart and willing mind, warning that God searches hearts. David then gives him detailed plans for the temple, its courts, chambers, treasuries, priestly and Levitical divisions, and sacred vessels, saying the pattern came to him by the hand of the LORD. He ends by urging Solomon to be strong and finish the work.

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Before you read 1 Chronicles 28

Coming from

Chapter 27 displayed the organized leadership and administration of David’s kingdom.

In this chapter

David now brings those leaders together, names Solomon as the chosen builder, hands over the temple pattern, and charges him publicly to seek God and complete the work.

Leads into

Chapter 29 records David’s own generous offering, the people’s willing gifts, his great prayer of praise, Solomon’s accession, and David’s death.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The charge to Solomon is covenantal and royal. ‘If thou seek him, he will be found of thee’ concerns fellowship, royal faithfulness, and the consequences of rejecting God within Israel’s covenant setting; it should not be turned into a works-based formula for receiving eternal life. The temple pattern is presented as divinely directed, not merely David’s architectural preference.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Solomon’s temple responsibility comes from God’s choice, not merely dynastic ambition.

Truth 2

God cares about the inner disposition of the king as well as outward completion of the project.

Truth 3

David supplies both detailed plans and encouragement, combining structure with personal charge.

Truth 4

Leadership succession is made public before the nation’s recognized leaders.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Chronicles 17 first identifies David’s son as the future temple builder.

Connection 2

First Chronicles 22 gives an earlier private charge to Solomon.

Connection 3

First Kings 2 records David’s final charge to Solomon from another perspective.

Connection 4

Hebrews 8:5 recalls the broader biblical principle that the Mosaic sanctuary pattern was not to be invented casually.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not use the warning to Solomon to teach that eternal life is maintained by works; the immediate issue is covenant faithfulness in kingship.

Keep this clear 2

Do not claim every architectural detail must carry a hidden Christian symbol unless Scripture establishes it.

Keep this clear 3

David’s claim to have received the pattern from God does not mean every later religious building must imitate Solomon’s temple.

Read 1 Chronicles 28 watching for…

The leaders gathered before David.

God’s choice of Solomon.

The heart-and-mind language in David’s charge.

The breadth of the temple plans.

David’s repeated command to be strong and do the work.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-10David tells Israel that Solomon is chosen to build the temple and charges him to serve God 11-19David gives Solomon the temple plans and the pattern for its service and furnishings 20-21David encourages Solomon to be strong and assures him that the workers are ready

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.

Then 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:

But 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.

Howbeit 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:

And 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.

And 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.

Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

Now 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.

And 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.

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

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,

And 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:

Also 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.

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:

Even 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.

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

Also 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:

And 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.

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

And 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.

And, 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.

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1 Chronicles 28:4

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