David gives Solomon the plans for building God's house
28:1-21
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.
David assembled all the important men in Israel to Jerusalem.
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:
Then he stood up on his feet and said,
I'd like to build a house for the ark and God's footstool.
I'm about ready to begin building.
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.
But God said to me,
You can't build my house since you've shed blood.
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:
And yet God chose me to be king of Israel forever.
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.
And of all of my sons, God chose Solomon to be Israel's next king.
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.
God said to me,
Solomon will build my house.
7
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my
commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
If he obey's my commandments, I'll establish his kingdom forever.
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.
If everyone in Israel obeys God, you and your descendants will possess this land forever.
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.
And if you, Solomon, seek God, you'll find him.
But if you don't, God will abandon you.
10
Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the
sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
God has chosen you to build his house.
So do it.
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,
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:
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.
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:
David gave Solomon the plans to build God's house and all the paraphernalia associated with it including:
the mercy seat,
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.
16
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table;
and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
candlesticks, lamps,
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:
flesh hooks, bowls, cups, basons,
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.
and the chariot of the cherubim.
19
All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand
upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
David continued, saying,
God wrote to me with his own hand the plan for building his house.
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.
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.
And he said to Solomon,
Be strong, courageous, and do it.
The priests and Levites will help you.