Chapter 28.
My brethren and my people, as for me, I had 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 ready for the building.
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou hast
been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
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 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 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.
Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my
commandments and my judgments as at this day.
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.
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.
Take heed now, for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary.
Be strong, and do it.
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 parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
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.
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.
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.
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.
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table.
And likewise silver for the tables of silver.
Also pure gold for the flesh hooks, and the bowls, and the cups.
And for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin.
And likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver.
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.
All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me,
even all the works of this pattern.
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.
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,
skillful man, for any manner of service.
Also the princes and all the people will be holy at thy commandment.