Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 28:2
Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King David stands before the assembled leaders of Israel in Jerusalem and addresses them as his brothers and people. He announces his prior intention to construct a permanent dwelling for the ark of the covenant.
The words — The phrase וַיָּקָם עַל־רַגְלָיו (va/i.Ya.kom al raglav) literally means "and he arose upon his feet," marking David's formal posture for public address. The imperative שׁמָעוּנִי (she.ma.'U./ni) commands the audience to "listen to me," establishing his authority to speak.
The thread — David’s description of the temple as a "footstool" for God echoes the imagery in Psalm 99:5 and Isaiah 66:1, where the earth or worship space serves as God's footstool. His stated desire to build a house for the ark aligns with his earlier conversation with Nathan in 1 Chronicles 17:1.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that human initiative and preparation precede divine permission, as David’s plans are immediately contrasted with God’s refusal in the following verse. It demands attention to the distinction between human ambition and sovereign assignment in constructing God's dwelling.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an 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:
Cross-references
- Psalms 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!
- Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
- 1 Chronicles 17:1 After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
- Lamentations 2:1 How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger.
- Genesis 48:2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.
- Deuteronomy 17:15 you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.
- Deuteronomy 17:20 Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.
- 2 Samuel 7:1 After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
- 1 Kings 1:47 The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
- 1 Kings 8:17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.