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28:1 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.
28:2 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: 28:3 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.
28:4 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: 28:5 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.
28:6 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.
28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
28:8 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.
28:9 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.
28:10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
28:11 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, 28:12 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: 28:13 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.
28:14 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: 28:15 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.
28:16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: 28:17 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: 28:18 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.
28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
28:20 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.
28:21 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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Everything King James Bible:1 Chronicles
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: 1 Chronicles
Book: 1 Chronicles
Chapter: 28

Overview:
David exhorts the people to the fear of the Lord. (1-10) He
gives instructions for the Temple. (11-21)

1-10 During David's last sickness, many chief priests and
Levites were at Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of
his purpose to build a Temple for God, and of God's disallowing
that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes
concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to
God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless
we Put On resolution, and fetch in strength from Divine Grace.
Religion or Piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledge
of God, the second is Worship of God. David says, Know thou the
God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect Heart and a
willing mind. God is made known By his Works and Word.
Revelation alone shows the whole character of God, in his
Providence, his holy Law, his condemnation of sinners, his
blessed Gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true
believers. The natural Man cannot receive this knowledge of God.
But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's Atonement, and of
the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to
walk in all his Commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper
place at the foot of the Cross, as a Poor, guilty, helpless
Worm, deserving wrath, yet expecting every thing needful from
the free Mercy and Grace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to
Love much.

11-21 The Temple must be a sacred thing, and a Type of Christ;
it must be framed By Divine teaching. Christ is the true Temple,
the Church is the Gospel Temple, and Heaven the Everlasting
Temple; all are framed according to the Divine counsels, and the
plan laid in the Divine Wisdom, ordained before the world, for
God's Glory and our good. David gave this pattern to Solomon,
that he might go By rule. Materials were provided for the most
costly utensils of the Temple. Directions were given which way
to look for help in this great undertaking. Be not dismayed; God
will help thee, and thou must look up to him in the first place.
We may be sure that God, who owned our fathers, and carried them
through the services of their Day, will, in like manner, never
leave us, while he has any work to do in us, or By us. Good work
is likely to go On, when all concerned are hearty in furthering
it. Let us Hope in God's Mercy; if we seek him, he will be found
of us.

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