Open English Translation 1 CHR Chapter 28

28 Now David called all Yisrael’s leaders to assemble in Yerushalem: the tribal leaders, the leaders of the various divisions that served the king, the commanders of army units of thousands and of hundreds, and the supervisors of all the property and cattle belonging to the king and his sons, along with the tops officials, and the warriors including their powerful heroes.

2 Then King David stood up and spoke, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people, I had in my heart to put up a building for the box containing Yahweh’s covenant to rest in. It’s the footstool of our god’s feet of our god and I’ve made preparations to start building,[ref] 3 but God told me that I wouldn’t be the one to build a house to honour him because I’ve been involved in a lot of war and killings.

4 “Yet Yisrael’s god Yahweh chose me from all of my father’s family to be king over Yisrael forever, because he chose a leader from the tribe of Yehudah, my father’ tribe, and among the sons of my father, with me he was pleased to make king over all Israel. 5 Then out of the many sons that he’s given me, he chose my son Shelomoh (Solomon) to be the next king to rule his kingdom of Yisrael.

6 “Then he told me, ‘Your son Shelomoh is the one who will build my temple and the courtyards around it, because I’ve chosen him to be like my son and I’ll be like a father to him. 7 I’ll establish his kingdom forever, if he’s diligent at following my instructions and obeying my judgements, like he is at present.’

8 “So now, in front of all Yisrael, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the ears of our god, I challenge you all to discover and obey all the commands of your god Yahweh so that you’ll all possess the good land and you’ll all leave your sons after you to inherit it forever.

9 “And you, Shelomoh my son, follow your father’s god and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing life, because Yahweh looks into all hearts, and understands all your motives. If you look for him, he’ll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he’ll reject you forever. 10 You can now see that you need to be strong and get busy, because Yahweh has chosen you to erect a building to be his sanctuary.”

11 Then David gave the plans for the temple to his son Shelomoh, including plans for its porch, its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms and its inner rooms, and the room to contain the sacred box. 12 He also handed over the plans he envisioned for the temple courtyards, all the surrounding apartments, all the treasuries, and all the storerooms for sacred things. 13 He included instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the services required to operate the temple, and for all the equipment and utensils needed for all that. 14 David had determined the weight of gold and silver would be needed to make all the necessary items that would be used in the regular temple functions, 15 including the gold lampstands and lamps and the silver lampstands and lamps, 16 and the gold for the display tables, and the silver for the silver tables. 17 Also the pure gold meat forks and the jugs and basins, and the weights of the gold and silver bowls. 18 Then the weight of refined gold for the incense altar, and for making the winged creatures that spread out across the top of the box containing Yahweh’s agreement, 19 saying, “I’ve written down all those plans with Yahweh’s direction as he gave me instructions for what has to be done.” 20 Then David told his son Shelomoh, “Be strong and courageous, and get going. Don’t be afraid or discouraged because Yahweh God, my god, is with you. He won’t leave you and he won’t abandon you until all the work of constructing Yahweh’s residence and the necessary equipment is finished. 21 Listen, the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the god’s house and all the skilled workmen will be backing you in all the work. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.”