1 Chronicles 28 11

1 Chronicles 28:11 kjv

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,

1 Chronicles 28:11 nkjv

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;

1 Chronicles 28:11 niv

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.

1 Chronicles 28:11 esv

Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;

1 Chronicles 28:11 nlt

Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary ? which was the place of atonement.

1 Chronicles 28 verses

1 Chronicles 28 11 Meaning

1 Chronicles 28:11 describes King David presenting to his son Solomon the detailed, divinely revealed blueprints for the entire Temple complex. This transfer of a meticulously prepared "pattern" encompassed all aspects of the sacred precinct, from its entry points and administrative buildings to the most hallowed inner sanctums, culminating with the precise location for the Mercy Seat, the place of atonement and God's presence. The verse underscores the divine origin of the Temple's design, emphasizing that it was not a human invention but a sacred mandate given by God.

1 Chronicles 28 11 Context

First Chronicles 28 recounts David's final public address to the assembly of Israel, including all his officials and leaders. David had long desired to build a permanent dwelling for the Ark of the Covenant, God's footstool, but was divinely restrained from doing so due to his life as a man of war (1 Chr 22:8). Instead, God chose Solomon, David's son, to fulfill this sacred task. In verse 11, David transitions from his personal testimony and exhortation to the practical handover of the immense project. The previous verses (1 Chr 28:1-10) lay the groundwork, with David emphasizing God's personal election of Solomon to build His house and David's charge to his son to be strong, courageous, and to accomplish the work with divine help. Verse 11 details the tangible manifestation of this divine plan: David is not merely passing on architectural concepts, but the specific pattern which he explicitly states in verse 19 was "made me understand in writing by his hand upon me." This establishes the divine authority and sacred nature of the Temple's construction, ensuring it was built precisely according to God's will and not according to human architectural trends or preferences.

1 Chronicles 28 11 Word analysis

• Then David gave: wayyitten Dāwîḏ. Signifies an official and authoritative transfer. David, as the king and divinely chosen individual, personally delivers the crucial information and physical plans to his designated successor, Solomon. This is a deliberate and decisive act.
• to Solomon his son: Emphasizes the dynastic continuity and the generational transfer of divine mandate and responsibility within the Davidic line.
• the pattern: hat-tabnîṯ. This is a critical term. It refers to a detailed architectural plan, model, or blueprint. Crucially, in biblical usage (e.g., Ex 25:9, 40), tabnith always denotes a design of divine origin or inspiration, directly shown or revealed by God. It signifies an exact representation, implying that David received not merely an idea but a specific, divinely authored architectural scheme for every part of the Temple. This sets the Temple apart from any other ancient Near Eastern structure, stressing its unique heavenly origin.
• of the porch: lāʾūlām. Refers to the vestibule or entrance hall of the Temple, typically facing east. It was the first part of the sanctuary that worshippers would enter, serving as a gateway to the sacred space. Its inclusion in the divine "pattern" shows attention to the approach to God's presence.
• and of the houses thereof: ûləḇātāyw. "And of its houses." The plural "houses" here refers to the various dependent structures and apartments that constituted the larger Temple complex, not just the main sanctuary building. This indicates the comprehensive nature of the pattern, covering the entire sacred precinct beyond the main sanctuary.
• and of the treasuries: ûləganzakkāyw. "And of its treasuries/storehouses." These were rooms designed to store sacred vessels, offerings, tithes, dedicated items, and probably temple revenue or precious materials. Their inclusion highlights the administrative, economic, and sacrificial aspects integral to the functioning of the Temple and Israelite worship, all according to a divine design.
• and of the upper chambers: ûlaʿălîyōṯāyw. "And of its upper rooms" or "upper stories." These likely served various purposes, such as rooms for priests, for storing additional materials, or for specific ritualistic use. Their elevated position could also symbolize closeness to the divine.
• and of the inner parlours: wəlaḥăḏārîm happěnîmîm. "And of the inner rooms" or "inner chambers." This refers to more private or secluded rooms within the Temple complex, possibly for priests for resting, changing, or preparing, or for storing specific holy articles that required restricted access. They indicate distinct zones of holiness and functionality.
• and of the place of the mercy seat: ûləḇêt hakappōreṯ. "And of the house/place of the atonement cover." This is the Most Holy Place, the innermost sanctuary, where the Ark of the Covenant with its kappōret (Mercy Seat, the lid of the Ark where the cherubim resided) was located. This was the spiritual core of the entire Temple, the site of divine manifestation and atonement for sins, particularly on the Day of Atonement. Its precise placement within the "pattern" signifies its paramount importance and central role in Israel's relationship with God.

1 Chronicles 28 11 Bonus section

• Emphasis of the Chronicler: The book of 1 Chronicles places significant emphasis on the building of the Temple as a central act of David's reign, underscoring its spiritual importance and legitimacy. The detailed revelation of the plans through David highlights his piety and obedience, preparing the way for Solomon to undertake this monumental task with divine authority and specific guidance.
• Link to Heavenly Sanctuary: The concept of the "pattern" (tabnith) given to Moses and later to David reinforces the theological idea, particularly strong in the book of Hebrews, that earthly sanctuaries were a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" (Heb 8:5). The Temple on earth was meant to reflect aspects of God's glorious presence and order in heaven.
• God's Sovereignty in Design: The verse portrays God not merely as the recipient of worship, but as the meticulous architect and designer of the very place where His worship would occur. This speaks to God's sovereignty over every detail, ensuring that the Temple accurately represented His character and served His purposes.
• Preparation for Service: David providing detailed blueprints not only equipped Solomon practically but also instilled in him (and the assembly) the reverence due to the work. It underscored that building God's house was not a task to be approached lightly but with precision and dedication, informed by divine revelation.

1 Chronicles 28 11 Commentary

1 Chronicles 28:11 marks a pivotal moment in the historical narrative of the Temple's construction, revealing the meticulous detail and divine origin behind its design. This was no human architectural feat driven by artistic preference or cultural emulation; rather, it was a precise mandate from God, passed directly to David, and then faithfully transmitted to Solomon. The Hebrew term tabnith, translated as "pattern," emphasizes that this was an exact replica or model, mirroring the divine instructions given to Moses for the Tabernacle (Ex 25). This detail underscores the continuity of God's covenant presence—first in the portable Tabernacle, now in the fixed Temple, both built according to a divine blueprint.

The comprehensive nature of the plans, covering everything from the porch (entrance) to the treasuries, upper chambers, inner parlours, and crucially, the place of the mercy seat, demonstrates that every part of God's dwelling, including its supporting structures and functions, was designed by Him. This ensured the sanctity and proper function of worship. The mention of the "mercy seat" as the ultimate culmination of the design highlights that the entire Temple structure served one supreme purpose: to facilitate atonement and communion between God and His people, pointing ultimately to Christ as the true dwelling of God and the source of ultimate mercy and propitiation. David's faithful transmission of these God-given plans symbolizes spiritual succession and the absolute necessity of adhering to divine instruction in all matters pertaining to God's service.