New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Chronicles 28
1
David asked all of the officials of Israel to come together at Jerusalem. He sent for the officers who were over the tribes. He sent for the commanders of the companies who served the king. He sent for the commanders of thousands of men and commanders of hundreds. He sent for the officials who were in charge of all of the royal property and livestock. They belonged to the king and his sons. He sent for the palace officials and the mighty men. He also sent for all of the brave fighting men.
Reference
References Israel
1 Chronicles 23:2
2
King David stood up. He said, "All of you, listen to me. With all my heart I wanted to build a house for the Lord. I wanted it to be a place of peace and rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The ark is the stool for our God's feet. I made plans to build the Lord's house.
Reference
3
But God said to me, 'You are not the one who will build a house for my Name. That is because you are a fighting man. You have spilled people's blood.'
Reference
4
"But the Lord chose me. He is the God of Israel. He chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah to lead the tribes. From the families of Judah he chose my family. From my father's sons he chose me. He was pleased to make me king over the whole nation of Israel.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Samuel 16:1
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 5:2
References Lord
1 Chronicles 17:27
1 Chronicles 17:23
5
"The Lord has given me many sons. From all of them he has chosen my son Solomon. He wants Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord's kingdom. He wants him to rule over Israel.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Chronicles 23:1
6
He said to me, 'Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards. I have chosen him to be my son. And I will be his father.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 3:6
7
I will make his kingdom secure. It will last forever. That will happen if he does not turn away from my commands and laws. He must continue to obey them, just as he is doing now.'
Reference
8
"So I'm giving you a command in the sight of all of the people of Israel. The Lord's community is watching. And our God is listening. I command you to be careful to follow all of the commands of the Lord your God. Then you will own this good land. You will pass it on to your children after you as their share forever.
Reference
9
"My son Solomon, always remember the God of your father. Serve him with all your heart. Do it with a mind that wants to obey him. The Lord looks deep down inside every heart. He understands the real reasons for everything you think. If you look to him, you will find him. But if you desert him, he will turn his back on you forever.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 29:13
Psalm 139:2
References God
Jeremiah 24:7
1 Kings 8:61
John 4:24
References Lord
2 Chronicles 15:2
Psalm 9:10
1 Samuel 16:7
Jeremiah 17:10
Jeremiah 9:24
10
Think about it. The Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a holy place where he can live. So be strong. Get to work."
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 28:6
11
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the porch of the temple. He gave him the plans for its buildings and its storerooms. He gave him the plans for its upper parts and its inside rooms. He gave him the plans for the place where sin is paid for and forgiven.
Reference
12
He gave him the plans for everything the Spirit of the Lord had put in his mind. There were plans for the courtyards of the Lord's temple. There were plans for all of the rooms that were around it. There were plans for the places where the treasure of God's temple would be kept. There were plans for the places where the things that were set apart for God would be kept.
Reference
References God
1 Chronicles 26:20
13
David told Solomon how to separate the priests and Levites into groups. He gave him directions for all of the work they should do when they served in the Lord's temple. He also showed him how all of the articles should be used at the temple.
14
Different articles were used for different purposes. David told Solomon how much gold should be used for each gold article. He also told him how much silver should be used for each silver article.
15
He told him how much gold should be used to make each gold lampstand and its lamps. He told him how much silver should be used to make each silver lampstand and its lamps. The amount depended on how each lampstand would be used.
16
David told Solomon how much gold should be used to make each table for holy bread. He told him how much silver should be used to make the silver tables.
17
He told him how much pure gold should be used to make the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers. He told him how much gold should be used to make each gold dish. He told him how much silver should be used to make each silver dish.
18
And he told him how much pure gold should be used to make the altar for burning incense. David also gave Solomon the plan for the chariot of the gold cherubim. They spread their wings over the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19
David said, "I have written everything down. The Lord's powerful hand helped me. He helped me understand every part of the plan."
Reference
20
David also said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and brave. Get to work. Don't be afraid. Don't lose hope. The Lord God is my God. He is with you. He won't fail you. He won't desert you until all of the work for serving in the Lord's temple is finished.
Reference
Good
1 Chronicles 22:13
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 16:13
Hebrews 13:5
References God
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 8:31
Isaiah 41:13
References Lord
1 Chronicles 28:10
21
The groups of the priests and Levites are ready to do all of the work on God's temple. Every worker who is willing and skilled can help you do all of the work. The officials and all of the people will obey every command you give them."
Summary of 1 Chronicles 28
This chapter records one of the most important moments in David's final preparations for the Temple and for Solomon's reign. David gathers the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, including tribal officials, military commanders, administrators, his sons, and other important men. He uses this national assembly to explain God's plan for the future of Israel.
David begins by telling the leaders that he had personally desired to build a permanent house for the Ark of the Covenant. However, God did not allow him to build it because David had been a man of war and had shed blood. Instead, God chose Solomon, David's son, to build the Temple. David accepts this decision and does not treat Solomon's assignment as a disappointment. Instead, he spends his remaining years preparing everything necessary for Solomon to succeed.
David explains that God chose him from the tribe of Judah and established his family as the royal dynasty. Among David's many sons, God selected Solomon to succeed him. David emphasizes that Solomon's position comes with a responsibility: he must remain faithful to God and obey His commandments. Political authority alone will not guarantee the success of his reign.
David then speaks directly to Solomon. He tells his son to know God, serve Him with a loyal heart, and seek Him sincerely. David reminds Solomon that God knows the heart and understands every thought. Solomon is therefore encouraged to maintain a genuine relationship with God rather than simply performing religious duties outwardly.
The central practical section of the chapter concerns the Temple plans. David gives Solomon detailed plans for the Temple, including its rooms, courts, storehouses, furnishings, sacred vessels, lampstands, tables, altar of incense, and the cherubim over the Ark. David also provides instructions concerning the quantities of gold and silver needed for the various objects.
David explains that these plans were given to him through divine guidance. This is important because the Temple is presented as God's house, not merely a royal building designed according to David's personal preferences.
The chapter ends with an encouraging message to Solomon. David tells him to be strong and courageous and to begin the work. Solomon will not be working alone. The priests and Levites are already organized, skilled craftsmen are available, and Israel's leaders are ready to support him.
The chapter therefore shows the remarkable extent of David's preparations for the Temple. Although David himself would never build it, he gathered resources, organized workers, developed plans, established worship divisions, and prepared his successor.
The major lesson is that David's role was not to accomplish every part of the vision himself, but to prepare the way for the person God had chosen to complete it. David willingly transferred the responsibility to Solomon and made every possible preparation for his son's success.
Historically, this chapter stands immediately before Solomon's reign and the construction of the Temple. It represents the transition from David's era of warfare and kingdom expansion to Solomon's era of peace, administration, and Temple building.
David begins by telling the leaders that he had personally desired to build a permanent house for the Ark of the Covenant. However, God did not allow him to build it because David had been a man of war and had shed blood. Instead, God chose Solomon, David's son, to build the Temple. David accepts this decision and does not treat Solomon's assignment as a disappointment. Instead, he spends his remaining years preparing everything necessary for Solomon to succeed.
David explains that God chose him from the tribe of Judah and established his family as the royal dynasty. Among David's many sons, God selected Solomon to succeed him. David emphasizes that Solomon's position comes with a responsibility: he must remain faithful to God and obey His commandments. Political authority alone will not guarantee the success of his reign.
David then speaks directly to Solomon. He tells his son to know God, serve Him with a loyal heart, and seek Him sincerely. David reminds Solomon that God knows the heart and understands every thought. Solomon is therefore encouraged to maintain a genuine relationship with God rather than simply performing religious duties outwardly.
The central practical section of the chapter concerns the Temple plans. David gives Solomon detailed plans for the Temple, including its rooms, courts, storehouses, furnishings, sacred vessels, lampstands, tables, altar of incense, and the cherubim over the Ark. David also provides instructions concerning the quantities of gold and silver needed for the various objects.
David explains that these plans were given to him through divine guidance. This is important because the Temple is presented as God's house, not merely a royal building designed according to David's personal preferences.
The chapter ends with an encouraging message to Solomon. David tells him to be strong and courageous and to begin the work. Solomon will not be working alone. The priests and Levites are already organized, skilled craftsmen are available, and Israel's leaders are ready to support him.
The chapter therefore shows the remarkable extent of David's preparations for the Temple. Although David himself would never build it, he gathered resources, organized workers, developed plans, established worship divisions, and prepared his successor.
The major lesson is that David's role was not to accomplish every part of the vision himself, but to prepare the way for the person God had chosen to complete it. David willingly transferred the responsibility to Solomon and made every possible preparation for his son's success.
Historically, this chapter stands immediately before Solomon's reign and the construction of the Temple. It represents the transition from David's era of warfare and kingdom expansion to Solomon's era of peace, administration, and Temple building.