David Declares to All Leaders that Solomon Will Build the Temple

When David had established his reign and government of his kingdom, and having made the preparations for the temple, he gathered all the leaders and officials of the kingdom, all his mighty men and people of influence. David made the announcement to them all that although he would have liked to build the temple, God had forbidden him to do so since he had been a man of war. Instead God had chosen his son to build the temple and David clearly named his successor as Solomon, who will be the one to build the temple. In addition David reminded them that they are supposed to continue to walk in God's ways and obey Him, so that they can continue to possess the land of Israel and pass it to the next generations.

David's encouragement extended to Solomon, saying that "If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever". David also knew God well when he said, "LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts". Then David gave the detailed plan of the Temple to Solomon as well as the contents of the Temple and the people who will serve there. David explained that "the LORD made me understand in writing" the plans of the Temple. For the great task of building the Temple, David had provided every part of the plan and all the people necessary for the task would be available for Solomon to command.

Unlike other monuments of ancient civilisations which are solely build for grandeur to enable their leaders to boast about their achievements and power, the Temple in Jerusalem would be solely focused on the LORD God of Israel. It was not to show the power of David or Solomon or even Israel, though foreigners may tend to think so. David and Solomon and the rest of the Israelites knew the Temple was not for their pride but instead to glorify God. The Temple would be lavished with so much gold and precious materials, simply because nothing is too good for the Almighty God.




1 Chronicles 28

Solomon Instructed to Build the Temple

 1 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor.
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has 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 was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who 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 forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD. 14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service; 15 the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstandshowbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver; 17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl; 18 and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed 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, all the works of these plans.”
20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.”