1 Chronicles 28
OGCSUMMARY QUESTIONS LESSON THIRTEEN 27-29
How many special officials were appointed each month to serve David in Jerusalem?
Name the person responsible for each course of special officials.
Who was the Benaiah of 1 Chronicles 27:5?
What additional information outside of Chronicles is provided concerning Asahel?
Name the princes of each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Who specifically represented the house of Aaron?
To whom did Jehovah promise increasing Israel like the stars of heaven?
Twelve rulers of David’s substance are named. List the names and responsibilities of each.
Name David’s counsellors.
For what purpose did David call a meeting of all his princes, captains, and mighty men?
Which of all the tribes of Israel did Jehovah choose for the kingly tribe?
What did Jehovah intend to do for Solomon?
What did David mean when he charged his people to possess the land of Israel?
How should Solomon serve Jehovah?
How does the Word account for the origin of the pattern of the Temple?
How would the fashion and weight of the candle-stick, basins, and bowls be determined?
Concerning the work, what promise did David make to Solomon?
What would Solomon do about skilled workmen for the Temple?
Explain David’s word, the palace is not for man. (1 Chronicles 29:1)
List the various kinds of materials David had prepared for the building of the Temple.
What did David do with his personal fortune?
Carefully locate Ophir.
In addressing the people what challenge did David propose?
Describe the response of the princes, captains, and rulers.
According to 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 what was David’s concept of Jehovah?
What did David mean in the last part of 1 Chronicles 29:14?
Historically, who were the fathers of the Hebrew people?
What request did David make of Jehovah for Solomon?
How can an assembly of people bless Jehovah?
Why was Solomon made king a second time?
How did Solomon’s kingdom compare with other kingdoms?
What was the total length of David’s reign over God’s people?
Name three men who wrote accounts of David’s reign. Carefully identify each man.
1 Chronicles 28:1-10
- DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON (1 Chronicles 28:1-10)
TEXT
1 Chronicles 28:1. And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and 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, unto Jerusalem. 2. Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building. 3. But God said unto me, -Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.-’ 4. Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel; 5. and of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel. 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. 7. -And I will establish his kingdom forever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.-’ 8. Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
- 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 Jehovah 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 forever. 10. Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
PARAPHRASE
1 Chronicles 28:1. David now summoned all of his officials to Jerusalemthe political leaders, the commanders of the twelve army divisions, the other army officers, those in charge of his property and livestock and all the other men of authority in his kingdom. 2. He rose and stood before them and addressed them as follows: My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a temple in which the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord could resta place for our God to live in. I have now collected everything that is necessary for the building, 3. but God has told me, -You are not to build my temple, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.-’ 4. Nevertheless, the Lord God of Israel has chosen me from among all my father’s family to begin a dynasty that will rule Israel forever; he has chosen the tribe of Judah, and from among the families of Judah, my father’s family; and from among his sons, the Lord took pleasure in me and has made me king over all Israel. 5. And from among my sonsthe Lord has given me many childrenhe has chosen Solomon to succeed me on the throne of his Kingdom of Israel. 6. He has told me, -Your son Solomon shall build my temple; for I have chosen him as my son and I will be his father. 7. And if he continues to obey my commandments and instructions as he has until now, I will make his kingdom last forever.-’ 8. Then David turned to Solomon and said: Here before the leaders of Israel, the people of God, and in the sight of our God, I am instructing you to search out every commandment of the Lord so that you may continue to rule this good land and leave it to your children to rule forever.
- Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your fathers. Worship and serve him with a clean heart and a willing mind, for the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every thought. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will permanently throw you aside. 10. So be very careful, for the Lord has chosen you to build his holy temple. Be strong and do as he commands.
COMMENTARY
All that has gone before has been but prelude for this grand occasion. David’s remaining days were numbered. In a formal way he must charge Solomon with the awful burden of building Jehovah’s house and ruling as king of Israel. Everybody who had any responsible position in the life and government of Israel was called to the capital city for this memorable occasion. Princes, captains, rulers, officers, military heroes, along with common people assembled to hear King David. The king summoned all his energies so he could stand up and speak with enough volume to be heard. He addressed the hearers as brethren and as my people. Once more he recalled his intention to build God’s house. He reminded all of the leaders of Israel how Jehovah had chosen his tribe, his family, himself, and now, his son, Solomon for kingship. David clearly stated that Jehovah had named Solomon to succeed him as king and to be the one who would build Jehovah’s house and courts. Solomon’s kingdom was to be established forever, provided he was obedient to the Lord. David’s charge to Solomon and the entire assembly was that they should learn Jehovah’s will and practice it. His charge reminds one of Joshua’s word to the twelve tribes when he said possess this good land. Enjoy its blessings and leave it for your children after you. Specifically, David charged Solomon to come to know God. Let God be real to you. Be intimately acquainted with Him. The perfect heart would let Jehovah lead and would think God’s thoughts after Him. The willing mind is the steadfast purpose to do God’s will God’s way. David reminded his son that he would have to answer the searcher of hearts. If you seek Him, you will find Him. If you forsake Him, He will abandon you. Solomon stood alone in that moment before Jehovah as the one man charged to build and to lead.
1 Chronicles 28:11-21
- TEMPLE BUILDING-PLANS (1 Chronicles 28:11-21)
TEXT
1 Chronicles 28:11. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat; 12. and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; 13. also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah; 14. of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15. by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick; 16. and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17. and the flesh-hooks, and 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; 18. and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah. 19. All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.
- And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished. 21. And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
PARAPHRASE
1 Chronicles 28:11. Then David gave Solomon the blueprint of the Temple and its surroundingsthe treasuries, the upstairs rooms, the inside rooms, and the sanctuary for the place of mercy, 12. He also gave Solomon his plans for the outer court, the outside rooms, the Temple storage areas, and the treasuries for the gifts dedicated by famous persons. For the Holy Spirit had given David all these plans. 13. The king also passed on to Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various groups of priests and Levites; and he gave specifications for each item in the Temple which was to be used for worship and sacrifice. 14. David weighed out enough gold and silver to make these various items, 15. as well as the specific amount of gold needed for the lampstands and lamps. He also weighed out enough silver for the silver candlesticks and lamps, each according to its use. 16. He weighed out the gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and for the other gold tables. and he weighed the silver for the silver tables. 17. Then he weighed out the gold for the solid gold hooks used in handling the sacrificial meat and for the basins, cups, and bowls of gold and silver. 18. Finally, he weighed out the refined gold for the altar of incense and for the gold angels whose wings were stretched over the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord.
- Every part of this blueprint, David told Solomon, was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.
- Then he continued, Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don-’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly. 21. And these various groups of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the army and the entire nation are at your command.
COMMENTARY
A building so elaborate as the Temple would require an extensive set of blueprints. When Jehovah was ready to set His Tabernacle in the center of Israel’s camp He provided a complete pattern for the structure. David planned this rather formal presentation of the design for the building to Solomon. One can imagine how David turned the respective pages of the blueprint. The pattern for the porch at the entrance on the east, the plans for the houses (the Holy Place and the Oracle), the diagrams for the treasuries (storerooms built in the walls of the Temple), the blueprints for the inner chambers (the ground level rooms in the Temple walls), the plans for the place of the mercy seat (the Oracle) were all delivered directly to Solomon. The complete pattern in all of its details was given to David by the Spirit. The Spirit of God communicated very clearly with the spirit of David. The design for the courts and store rooms were also submitted to Solomon. The schedule of the courses of priests and Levites was formally presented. The specific dimensions and details of the vessels of gold and silver, of the candlesticks, of the tables of shewbread (of which there were ten2 Chronicles 4:8), of the tools, bowls, flasks, altar of incense, of the cherubim were placed in Solomon’s hands on this occasion. The laws of Jehovah given at Mt. Sinai were written with the fingers of God. Jehovah spoke to Moses face to face. David said with regard to the Temple plans, all of this have I received in writing from Jehovah’s hand. He had no misgivings as to the origin of the total design. David once again charges Solomon to be firm in his commitment to begin and complete the Temple. Jehovah would be with Solomon. The priests, the Levites, master craftsmen, willing workmen, and all the people would provide the human resources to build Jehovah’s House.