1 Chronicles 28

God's Choice of Solomon 1 Chronicles 28:3–5

³Verse 3. 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.’ ⁴Verse 4. However 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. ⁵Verse 5. Of 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.

Instructions to Solomon and Israel 1 Chronicles 28:6–8

⁶Verse 6. 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. ⁷Verse 7. I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’ ⁸Verse 8. Now 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.

Serving God with Heart and Mind 1 Chronicles 28:9–10

⁹Verse 9. 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. ¹⁰Verse 10. Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”

Plans for the Temple 1 Chronicles 28:11–19

¹¹Verse 11. Then 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; ¹²Verse 12. and 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; ¹³Verse 13. also 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;

¹⁴Verse 14. 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; ¹⁵Verse 15. 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; ¹⁶Verse 16. and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;

¹⁷Verse 17. and 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; ¹⁸Verse 18. and 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. ¹⁹Verse 19. “All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”

Encouragement and Support 1 Chronicles 28:20–21

²⁰Verse 20. 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. ²¹Verse 21. Behold, 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.”