1 Chronicles 28King James Version
David's last public act. He gathers all the leaders and charges Solomon before them. He gives him the pattern for the temple, received, the text says, from the hand of the Lord. Then the tender last words to his son: 'Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not.'
David assembles all Israel's leaders and addresses them publicly about the temple. He tells the assembly that God chose him to be king, chose Solomon to build the temple, and established an everlasting covenant with David's house. He gives Solomon the detailed plans for the temple, received by the Spirit. He charges Solomon publicly to be strong and build.
David's public commissioning of Solomon and transfer of temple plans is the culmination of everything the Chronicler has been building toward since chapter 1.
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., Every word is load-bearing: be strong, do it, God will not fail you.
The old king stands before the assembled leaders of Israel and speaks plainly. He tells them he wanted to build it himself. He tells them why he could not. He hands his son the plans he received from God, detailed beyond what human imagination alone could have produced. Then he says: do not be afraid. God will be with you until it is finished.
David, giving his final public address; Solomon, receiving the plans and the charge; all the leaders of Israel assembled to witness the transfer; God, who gave David the plans by the Spirit.
The Chronicler presents the temple plans as divinely revealed, parallel to the tabernacle plans given to Moses. This is not human architectural vision; it is sacred blueprint. For post-exile readers who had just rebuilt a temple that did not fully match Solomon's specifications, knowing that God gave the plans through David was both humbling and reassuring.
For when you are about to take on a task that was given to you by someone who loved it more than you know how to yet. Solomon is receiving everything David spent his life preparing.
1And 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.
2Then 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:
3But 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.
4Howbeit 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:
5And 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.
6And 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.
7Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
8Now 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.
9And 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.
10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
11Then 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,
12And 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:
13Also 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.
14He 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:
15Even 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.
16And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
17Also 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:
18And 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.
19All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
20And 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.
21And, 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.