The Bible — World English Bible
1 Chronicles 28
In brief
In 1 Chronicles 28, David gathers the leaders of Israel and explains that God did not allow him to build the temple, because he had shed blood. He presents Solomon as the chosen son and urges him to know the God of his father and to serve him. David then gives him the plan of the temple and encourages him to act without fear, because God will be with him until the work is finished.
The chapter in 4 parts
1David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the captains of thousands, 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.
2Then 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 Yahweh’s covenant, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.
3But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’
4However 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.
5Of 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.
6He 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.
7I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’
8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, 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.
9You, 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.
10Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
11Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat;
12and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
13also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house;
14of 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;
15by 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;
16and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
17and the forks, 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;
18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant.
19“All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”
20David 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 Yahweh’s house is finished.
21Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service, shall be with you in all kinds of work. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
Key verses
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.’
David receives a refusal: because he is a man of war who has shed blood, God does not allow him to build the temple. A legitimate project can be entrusted to someone else.
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.
David calls Solomon to know the God of his father and to serve him with all his heart. The verse adds that God searches every thought, that he lets himself be found by the one who seeks him and that he rejects the one who forsakes him.
Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
David reminds Solomon that the Lord has chosen him to build a sanctuary, and urges him to be strong and act. God's choice comes with a task to carry out.
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 Yahweh’s house is finished.
David passes on a promise of presence: God will not leave Solomon until the work is finished. The courage that is asked rests on this presence, not on the skills of the king.
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Frequently asked questions about 1 Chronicles 28
What does 1 Chronicles 28:20 mean?
David tells his son Solomon to be strong, to take courage and to act without fear, because the Lord will be with him and will not forsake him until the work is finished. Courage rests on God's presence. The verse is often read as an encouragement to keep going in a difficult task.
Why did David not build the temple?
According to 1 Chronicles 28:3, God told him that he would not build his house because he was a man of war and had shed blood. God chose his son Solomon for this task. David still prepared the building site by handing him the plan of the temple and encouraging him.
What is the message of 1 Chronicles 28?
The chapter is about handing on: David entrusts a mission to his son, passes on a plan and reminds him of what matters most, knowing God and serving him sincerely. It teaches that you can prepare a work whose completion you will not see, and that success comes from God's presence.
Articles quoting 1 Chronicles 28
World English Bible translation — public domain.