1 Chronicles 28:1-8
New English Translation
David Commissions Solomon to Build the Temple
28 David assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.
2 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord’s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God.[a] I have made the preparations for building it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me,[b] for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’ 4 The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty.[c] Indeed,[d] he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel.[e] 5 From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.[f] 6 He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’[g] 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this:[h] Carefully observe[i] all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Chronicles 28:2 tn Heb “I, [it was] with my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for a stool of the feet of our God.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:3 tn Heb “for my name.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:4 tn Heb “out of all the house of my father to become king over all Israel permanently.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:4 tn Or “for.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:4 tn Heb “and among the sons of my father he desired to make me king over all Israel.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:5 tn Heb “from all my sons, for many sons the Lord has given to me, he chose Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:7 tn Heb “if he is strong to do my commands and my regulations like this day.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:8 tn The words “I say this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
- 1 Chronicles 28:8 tn Heb “Keep and seek”
1 Chronicles 28:1-8
Expanded Bible
David’s Plans for the Temple
28 David ·commanded [summoned] all the ·leaders [officials] of Israel to come to Jerusalem. There were the ·leaders [officials; commanders; chiefs] of the tribes, ·commanders [officers] of the army divisions serving the king, commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, ·leaders [officials; overseers] who took care of the property and animals that belonged to the king and his sons, ·men over the palace [palace officials], the ·powerful [mighty] men, and all the ·brave [valiant] warriors.
2 King David stood up and said, “Listen to me, my ·relatives [brothers] and my people. I ·wanted [intended; planned; had my heart set] to build a place to keep the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord. I wanted it to be God’s footstool. So I made ·plans [preparations] to build ·a temple [it]. 3 But God said to me, ‘You must not build a ·temple [L house] for ·worshiping me [my name/Name], because you are a ·soldier [man of war] and have ·killed many people [shed blood; C he completed the conquest of Canaan].’
4 “·But [Yet; Nevertheless] the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole ·family [clan; father’s house] to be king of Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to ·lead [rule], and from the ·people [house] of Judah, he chose my father’s ·family [clan; L house]. From ·that family [L my father’s sons] God was pleased to make me king ·of [over all] Israel. 5 The Lord has given me many sons, and from those sons he has chosen Solomon to ·be the new king [L sit on the throne] of Israel. Israel is the Lord’s kingdom. 6 The Lord said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my ·Temple [L house] and ·its courtyards [my courts]. I have chosen Solomon to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 He is obeying my laws and commands now. If he continues ·to obey them [resolutely; unswervingly], I will ·make his kingdom strong [establish/secure his kingdom] forever.’”
8 David said, “Now, in ·front [the sight] of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of God, I tell you these things: Be careful to ·obey [observe; follow] all the commands of the Lord your God. Then you will ·keep [possess] this good land and ·pass it on [L leave it as an inheritance] to your ·descendants [children] forever.
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