1 Chronicles Chapter 28

At a Glance

  • 1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 28.
  • In 1 Chronicles 28, the narrative pivots from David’s preparations for worship to a thunderous, personal commissioning of Solomon.
  • David’s public address grounds the future in divine sovereignty.
  • In sum, the chapter charts a ceremonial and theological transition: David’s dynasty initiates a move toward the temple era, but only as Solomon seeks God with a humble, wholehearted devotion.
  • Historical & Literary Context.

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 28

Chapter Overview

In 1 Chronicles 28, the narrative pivots from David’s preparations for worship to a thunderous, personal commissioning of Solomon. After assembling Israel’s political and military leaders, David speaks directly to the nation, recounting his own desire to build a house for the ark and God’s gracious turn: he would not build it, because he was a man of war, but his son Solomon would. This pivot underscores a central theme: legacy and leadership are rarely solitary acts; they are transmitted through a vow, a pattern of obedience, and a communal witness.

David’s public address grounds the future in divine sovereignty. He recalls God’s choice: the Lord selected him from among his father’s house to reign, chose Judah, and singled out Solomon to sit on the throne. He emphasizes that the success and continuity of the kingdom depend on faithful adherence to God’s commandments rather than human cleverness or military power. The king’s charge Then shifts to a pastoral, apostolic exhortation: the people are to seek, keep, and obey all of God’s commandments so that they may possess the land and leave an inheritance to future generations. The emphasis is not simply on rule but on covenant faithfulness.

Solomon receives a direct exhortation to know the God of David with a “perfect heart and a willing mind.” The reasons for this condition—God searches hearts and understands thoughts—place the chapter within a theology of heart-knowledge rather than mere ritual compliance. The foundation of Solomon’s kingship, and Israel’s national mission, rests on relationship with God that is honest, passionate, and surrendered.

In sum, the chapter charts a ceremonial and theological transition: David’s dynasty initiates a move toward the temple era, but only as Solomon seeks God with a humble, wholehearted devotion. The chapter blends recollection, exhortation, and a call to future fidelity—an archival speech that links history with destiny and binds the people to a shared, sacred purpose.

Historical & Literary Context

Date and setting: Chronicles is generally dated to the post-exilic period, though it retells earlier monarchic material with a distinctive emphasis. 1 Chronicles 28 sits in the later stretch of David’s story, functioning as a royal memoir and a covenantal sermon. The book as a whole aims to present Israel’s history through a theological lens: God’s faithfulness, the centrality of the Davidic line, and the temple as the locus of worship.

Genre: This chapter is a blend of public oration, royal biography, and covenantal exhortation. It uses a liturgical cadence—commands, blessings, and a call to obedience—that fits Chronicles’ broader aim to shape memory and identity around proper worship and rightful leadership.

Placement within the book: 1 Chronicles 28 comes after David’s concluding public acts and before Solomon’s rise to the throne in 1 Chronicles 29. It serves as a transitional hinge, moving from David’s private longing and plans to public adoption of a temple-centered, theologically rooted future. This framing invites readers to see leadership as stewardship under God’s gaze, with continuity motivated by covenant faithfulness rather than personal ambition.

Key Themes

- Covenant fidelity and rightful leadership: David’s admission that he cannot build the temple, paired with the appointment of Solomon, frames leadership as stewardship within God’s plan.

- Heart-and-mind devotion: The call to Solomon to serve God “with a perfect heart and a willing mind” foregrounds inner disposition over outward ritual alone.

- The continuity of blessing through obedience: God’s promise to establish Solomon’s throne “if he is constant to do my commandments,” ties royal stability to covenant faithfulness.

- Communal memory and exhortation: David’s address to “all Israel” guarantees that faithful obedience is a communal task, not merely a personal vow.

- The temple as the center of worship and identity: Although Solomon will build the temple, the speech centers the people’s life around fidelity to God’s commands, shaping Israel’s shared vocation.

Modern Application

- Leadership as service, not domination: Today’s leaders can take David’s model—recognizing personal limits, deferring self-glory, and disciplining plans to God’s wider purposes.

- Whole-hearted faith: The demand for a “perfect heart and willing mind” invites readers to examine inner life—motivations, desires, fears—in worship and daily decisions, not just outward compliance.

- Sacred memory guiding mission: By recounting God’s choice and promises, the chapter teaches communities to ground strategic goals (like building a temple or ministry) in God’s revealed purposes, ensuring projects serve worship and justice rather than ego.

- Generational stewardship: The “inheritance for your children after you” motif challenges readers to consider long-term faithfulness—what is passed on to the next generation in discipleship, culture, and spiritual practice?

- Worship as public life: The emphasis on the temple’s building points to the integration of spiritual formation with public life; contemporary readers can seek spaces where communal worship shapes social and civic commitments.

- 1 Chronicles 22 (David’s preparation and summons for temple-building)

- 2 Samuel 7 (God’s covenant with David—kingdom foundation and promise)

- 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (call to Solomon to know God with a perfect heart)

- 1 Chronicles 29 (David’s offering and communal devotion in support of the temple)

- Exodus 25-31 (Temple details and holiness motifs as foundational worship)

Recommended Personas (Which Biblical personas would provide unique insight)

- David (for leadership clarity, covenant memory, and pastoral exhortation)

- Solomon (for wisdom, temple-building vision, and divine-human collaboration)

- Moses (for covenant pedagogy, public exhortation, and formation of worship)

- Jesus (for the deeper heart of worship and the New Testament fulfillment of temple imagery)

- Paul (for interpreting covenant faithfulness in a community and intergenerational heritage)

Chapter Text

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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

Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

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.

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.

10

Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and 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:

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:

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:

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.

19

All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

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.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

Explore 1 Chronicles Chapter 28 with Biblical figures who can provide unique perspectives grounded in Scripture.

Ask Apostle PaulAsk MosesAsk King DavidAsk Jesus Christ
← 1 Chronicles 271 Chronicles 29 →