1 Chronicles 28: David's charge to Solomon and the pattern for the house
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What happens?
David gathers the officials, captains and mighty men of Israel in Jerusalem and tells them that it was in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark, but God told him he may not, because he is a man of war and has shed blood. He says Yahweh chose Judah, his father's house and himself to be king, and has chosen Solomon to sit on the throne. He charges the assembly to keep Yahweh's commandments, and Solomon to know God, serve him and seek him. He gives Solomon the plans for the house, its rooms, its vessels of gold and silver, and the chariot, the cherubim. He says he was made to understand all the works of the pattern "in writing from Yahweh's hand upon me", and tells Solomon to be strong and do the work.
Who is speaking?
David speaks in verses 2 to 10: to the assembly in verses 2 to 8 and to Solomon in verses 9 and 10. In verse 3 he tells what God said to him ("God said to me"), and in verses 6 and 7 what "he" said to him. Those are David's words telling what God said, so none of them are in gold. David speaks again in verse 19, and to Solomon in verses 20 and 21. The narrator tells the rest. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
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.
In plain English: David assembled to Jerusalem all the officials of Israel: the leaders of the tribes, the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, the officers over all the property and livestock of the king and of his sons, with the court officials, the mighty men, and every mighty man of strength.
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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.
In plain English: Then King David stood up on his feet and said, "Hear me, my brothers and my people! I had it in my heart to build a house of rest (or: a resting place) for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God, and I had made ready to build.
The Hebrew word: "Rest" is menuchah, which the dictionary gives as "repose", "consolation" and "an abode". It is in only 2 verses of 1 Chronicles: here and , where David tells Solomon of a son who "shall be a man of peace", which word for word is "a man of rest".
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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.’
In plain English: 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.'
Good to know: gives the same word: "You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name." There David says it was Yahweh's word that came to him; here he says God said it to him.
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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.
In plain English: Yet Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as ruler, and in 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.
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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.
In plain English: Of all my sons, for Yahweh has given me many sons, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel.
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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.
In plain English: He said to me, 'Your son Solomon, he will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him.
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7I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’
In plain English: I will establish his kingdom forever if he is strong to do my commandments and my judgments (or: ordinances), as at this day.'
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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.
In plain English: So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God: keep and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.
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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.
In plain English: And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and a willing mind (or: soul), for Yahweh searches all hearts and understands every inclination of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
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10Take heed now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
In plain English: See now that Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it."
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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;
In plain English: Then David gave to his son Solomon the plans (or: pattern; see the note) of the porch, its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the house of the atonement cover (this Bible: the mercy seat);
The Hebrew word: "Plans" is tavnit, which the dictionary gives as "structure; by implication, a model, resemblance". In 1 Chronicles it is in 4 verses (verses 11, 12, 18 and 19 of this chapter), and this Bible says "plans" in 3 of them and "pattern" in 1 (verse 19). Verse 19 calls it "this pattern".
The Hebrew word: "Mercy seat" is word for word "the house of the kapporet", which the dictionary gives as "a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred Ark)". This Bible says "mercy seat" here.
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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;
In plain English: and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit (or: in his spirit; see the note) 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;
The Hebrew word: "The Spirit" is ruach, explained in the note on . The Hebrew says "all that was in the spirit with him".
What changes: Read as "the Spirit", the plans came to David by the Spirit of God. Read as "his spirit", they were what David had in his own mind. Verse 19 says he was made to understand it "in writing from Yahweh's hand".
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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—
In plain English: and 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 the service of Yahweh's house;
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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;
In plain English: of gold by weight for all the vessels of every kind of service, and of silver by weight for all the vessels of every kind of service;
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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;
In plain English: the weight for the lampstands of gold and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
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16and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
In plain English: and the gold by weight for the tables of the row (this Bible: show bread), for each table; and silver for the tables of silver;
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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;
In plain English: and the forks, the basins and the jugs of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for each bowl;
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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.
In plain English: and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans of the chariot, the cherubim (or: the chariot and the cherubim; see the note) that spread out and cover the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
The Hebrew words: "Chariot" is merkavah, which the dictionary gives as "a chariot". The Hebrew says "the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim of gold".
What changes: Read as two things, there is a pattern for a chariot and for the cherubim. Read as one thing, "the cherubim" explains the chariot: the chariot is the golden cherubim that spread out and cover the ark. The text does not say which.
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19“All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”
In plain English: "All this," David said, "in writing from Yahweh's hand upon me, he made me understand, all the works of this pattern" (see the note).
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew has no "David said" in the middle of the verse; this Bible adds it. Word for word it is "everything in writing from the hand of Yahweh upon me he made me understand". "Writing" is ketav, which the dictionary gives as "something written, i.e. a writing, record or book". It is the only place in 1 Chronicles that uses it.
What changes: Read as "from Yahweh's hand" being the writer, the plans were written by Yahweh's hand. Read as "Yahweh's hand upon me", it was Yahweh's hand on David that made him understand, and the writing is what David set down. The text does not say which.
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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.
In plain English: David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not let go of you or forsake you until all the work for the service of Yahweh's house is finished.
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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.”
In plain English: Look, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God's house. With you in all the work is every willing person who has skill for any kind of service. The officials and all the people are at your word."
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