e. David exhorts Solomon (28:1-29:30)

David’s final acts of preparation for the temple were the public commissioning of Solomon and the delivery of the temple plans.

David’s commissions Solomon in 28:1-10. David summons all officials to assemble at Jerusalem and again instructs them regarding their responsibilities for completing the temple. First, David recalls his desire to build the sanctuary and the Lord’s refusal to grant permission to build. Second, despite David’s reputation as a warrior, God chose him as a fitting king for Israel. God made a dynastic promise and selected Solomon to succeed his father. This theme contrasts with the story in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, which expresses some uncertainty regarding David’s successor. Perhaps the chronicler assumes that the reader is familiar with the narrative recorded in the canonical books, but he presents God’s intention to place Solomon on the throne as the temple builder.

David expresses the promise of everlasting kingship in conditional terms (28:7). The kingdom could be lost should the Davidic heir swerve from serving the Lord. God’s promise is not an immutable, impersonal entity which, once spoken, can never be altered. The promise, intending to provide an enduring Davidic kingship, is personal and dynamic in nature and is to be worked out in a divine-human relationship. God is disposed to continue the Davidic line; he asks for obedience so that the line that continues will be “Davidic” not only in genetic code, but, more importantly, in faithfulness to the Lord of David.

The final charge to the leaders has the ring of commands given to earlier Israelite conquerors. The central ingredient to conquering the land and passing it on to future generations was obedience to God. This injunction was appropriate for the chronicler’s generation faced with the fresh challenge of faithfully serving God while rebuilding in Canaan.

David encourages Solomon to serve God completely (28:9-10). The external equipment of worship, which Solomon will construct in splendor, is not sufficient for true religion. Worship must be heartfelt and thoughtful because God knows the motives of the worshiper. God is near to people who seek him, but he rejects those who spurn him. Solomon must respond with holy courage if he is to complete his divinely appointed task.

Divinely inspired blueprints were familiar to ancient Near Eastern monarchs directed by their god or goddess to construct a house. As the climax of this public service, David gives these plans to Solomon (28:11-21). These instructions delineate the physical layout of the temple, the organization of the temple staff and the design of utensils. The written plans ensure complete correspondence between God’s will and Solomon’s performance (v.19). Again David enjoins Solomon to work courageously. Human preparations are finished. God will not fail to give strength to complete his temple.

David reminds the assembly of Solomon’s inexperience for this great task. The king supports this project from his own resources, and the people joyfully follow David’s example of sacrificial giving as an act of consecration to the Lord (29:1-9).

When David came to power his first concerns were religious. Now, at the end of his reign, David prays (29:10-20). He links his nation to father Israel. He ascribes overwhelming power and majesty to God, the King over all heaven and earth. God shares a portion of his honor and strength with a human ruler. The Lord deserves his people’s praise (vv.10-13).

David stresses utter dependence on God (29:14-19). The peoples' generosity toward the temple is but a reflection of God’s liberality. God, however, inspects each giver’s motives. David asserts that the community has given with deep sincerity. He prays that God would keep this religious fervor alive in Israel forever. For the immediate future, he asks the Lord to give Solomon the internal moorings necessary to be a faithful temple builder.

This prayer communicates themes important for the chronicler’s community. In discouraging days of rebuilding, the postexilic community could reflect on the preparations for the first temple and draw strength from David’s prayer. Their God was the God of the patriarchs, David and Solomon. Surely the Lord would provide the requisite materials, personnel, and desire for this later community to rebuild life in the land. The God who cared for David and his contemporaries would support the renewed Israel.

Solomon takes the throne amidst this atmosphere of worship (29:21-25). All Israel feasts and offers sacrifices and libations to the Lord. David’s entourage transfers its loyalty to Solomon. The chronicler mentions none of the struggles for the throne recorded in 2 Samuel. The Lord makes Solomon Israel’s splendid monarch, whose reign is the zenith of Israelite royal power and prestige (v.25).

The chronicler finishes David’s story by recording his time of service, his wealth, his power, and his successor. The author points to the records of the prophets Samuel, Nathan, and Gad for additional information (29:26-30).