Discovery Box1 Chronicles 28:1--29:30
Context28:1 David assembled in Jerusalem 1 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.
28:2 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. 2 I have made the preparations for building it. 28:3 But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, 3 for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’ 28:4 The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty. 4 Indeed, 5 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. 6 28:5 From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel. 7 28:6 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. 28:7 I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’ 8 28:8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this: 9 Carefully observe 10 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.
28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, obey 11 the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, 12 for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, 13 but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. 28:10 Realize 14 now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”
28:11 David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch, 15 its buildings, its treasuries, 16 its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room 17 for atonement. 28:12 He gave him 18 the blueprints of all he envisioned 19 for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.
28:13 He gave him the regulations 20 for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord’s temple.
28:14 He gave him 21 the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the Lord’s temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service, 22 28:15 for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand, 28:16 for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables, 28:17 for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl, 28:18 and for the refined gold of the incense altar.
He gave him 23 the blueprint for the seat 24 of the gold cherubim that spread their wings 25 and provide shelter for the ark of the Lord’s covenant.
28:19 David said, 26 “All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.” 27
28:20 David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 28 For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is finished. 28:21 Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service. 29 The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.” 30
29:1 King David said to the entire assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man, 31 and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. 29:2 So I have made every effort 32 to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, 33 as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster. 29:3 Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple. 29:4 This includes 3,000 talents 34 of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, 29:5 for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the Lord today?”
29:6 The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly. 29:7 They donated for the service of God’s temple 5,000 talents 35 and ten thousand darics 36 of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. 29:8 All who possessed precious 37 stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite. 29:9 The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude; 38 King David was also very happy. 39
29:10 David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: 40
“O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! 29:11 O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign 41 over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler 42 of all. 29:12 You are the source of wealth and honor; 43 you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. 44 29:13 Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!
29:14 “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? 45 Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. 46 29:15 For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; 47 our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security. 48 29:16 O Lord our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you. 29:17 I know, my God, that you examine thoughts 49 and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives 50 I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. 29:18 O Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you. 51 29:19 Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.” 52
29:20 David told the entire assembly: “Praise the Lord your God!” So the entire assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors; they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the Lord and the king.
29:21 The next day they made sacrifices and offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord (1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs), along with their accompanying drink offerings and many other sacrifices for all Israel. 29:22 They held a feast 53 before the Lord that day and celebrated. 54
Then they designated Solomon, David’s son, as king a second time; 55 before the Lord they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest. 29:23 Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him. 56 29:24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 57 29:25 The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him. 58
29:26 David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 29:27 He reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem 59 thirty-three years. 29:28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. 60 His son Solomon succeeded him. 29:29 King David’s accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Samuel the prophet, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the prophet. 61 29:30 Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms. 62
[28:1] 1 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[28:2] 2 tn Heb “I, with my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the
[28:3] 3 tn Heb “for my name.”
[28:4] 4 tn Heb “out of all the house of my father to become king over all Israel permanently.”
[28:4] 6 tn Heb “and among the sons of my father he desired to make me king over all Israel.”
[28:5] 7 tn Heb “from all my sons, for many sons the
[28:7] 8 tn Heb “if he is strong to do my commands and my regulations like this day.”
[28:8] 9 tn The words “I say this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:8] 10 tn Heb “Watch! Seek!”
[28:9] 12 tn Heb “with a complete heart and a willing being.”
[28:9] 13 tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
[28:11] 15 tn Heb “for the porch.” The word “temple” was supplied in the translation for clarity.
[28:11] 16 tn Or “storerooms.”
[28:12] 18 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:12] 19 tn Heb “the pattern of all which was in the spirit with him.”
[28:13] 20 tn The words “he gave him the regulations” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:14] 21 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:14] 22 tn Heb “for the gold, by the weight, for the gold, for all the items of service and service, for all the items of silver by weight for all the items of service and service.”
[28:18] 23 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:18] 24 tc The Hebrew text reads מֶרְכָּבָה (merkavah, “chariot”), but the final he (ה) is probably dittographic – note the prefixed he (ה) on the immediately following word. It is preferable to read מֶרְכָּב (merkav, “seat”).
[28:18] 25 tc The Hebrew text does not have “their wings,” but the word כְּנָפַיִם (kÿnafayim, “wings”) has probably been accidentally omitted by homoioteleuton. Note that the immediately preceding לְפֹרְשִׂים (lÿforsim) also ends in mem (ם).
[28:19] 26 tn The words “David said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[28:19] 27 tn Heb “the whole in writing from the hand of the
[28:20] 28 tn Or perhaps, “don’t be discouraged.”
[28:21] 29 tn Heb “and with you in all work, for every willing [one] in skill for all service.”
[28:21] 30 tn Heb “and the officials and all the people to all your words.”
[29:1] 31 tn Heb “a young man and tender.”
[29:2] 32 tn Heb “and according to all my strength.”
[29:2] 33 tn Heb “the gold for the gold, and the silver for the silver, and the bronze for the bronze, and the iron for the iron, and the wood for the wood.”
[29:4] 34 tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. Using the “light” standard talent of 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg) as the standard for calculation, David had supplied 101 tons (91,800 kg) of gold and 235.5 tons (214,200 kg) of silver.
[29:7] 35 tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. Using the “light” standard talent of 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg) as the standard for calculation, the people donated 168.3 tons (153,000 kg) of gold, 336.5 tons (306,000 kg) of silver, 605.7 tons (550,800 kg) of bronze, and 3,365 tons (3,060,000 kg) of iron.
[29:7] 36 tn On the “daric” as a unit of measure, see BDB 204 s.v. דַּרְכְּמוֹן. Some have regarded the daric as a minted coin, perhaps even referring to the Greek drachma, but this is less likely.
[29:8] 37 tn The word “precious” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[29:9] 38 tn Heb “with a complete heart.”
[29:9] 39 tn Heb “was rejoiced with great joy.”
[29:10] 40 tn Heb “assembly, and David said.” The words “and David said” are redundant according to contemporary English style and have not been included in the translation.
[29:11] 41 tn The words “and sovereign” are added in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[29:12] 43 tn Heb “wealth and honor [are] from before you.”
[29:12] 44 tn Heb “and in your hand [is] strength and might and in your hand to magnify and to give strength to all.”
[29:14] 45 tn Heb “that we should retain strength to contribute like this.”
[29:14] 46 tn Heb “and from you we have given to you.”
[29:15] 47 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 18, 20).
[29:15] 48 tn Or perhaps “hope.”
[29:17] 50 tn Heb “with integrity of heart.”
[29:18] 51 tn Heb “keep this permanently with respect to the motive of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and make firm their heart to you.”
[29:19] 52 tn Heb “and to Solomon my son give a complete heart to keep your commands, your rules and your regulations, and to do everything, and to build the palace [for] which I have prepared.”
[29:22] 53 tn Heb “they ate and drank.”
[29:22] 54 tn Heb “with great joy.”
[29:22] 55 sn See 1 Chr 23:1, where David had previously designated Solomon as king over Israel.
[29:23] 56 tn Heb “listened to him.”
[29:24] 57 tn Heb “placed a hand under Solomon the king.”
[29:25] 58 tn Heb “and gave to him glory of kingship which there was not concerning every king before him over Israel.”
[29:27] 59 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[29:28] 60 tn Heb “satisfied with days, wealth, and honor.”
[29:29] 61 tn Heb “and the events of David the king, the former and the latter, look they are written in the annals of Samuel the seer, and in the annals of Nathan the prophet, and in the annals of Gad the seer.”
[29:30] 62 tn Heb “with all his reign and his might, and the times which passed over him and over Israel and over all the kingdoms of the lands.”
