Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 28:8
So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses the assembly of Israel and his son Solomon during a public gathering before God, concluding his instructions on the transfer of kingship and temple responsibilities. He speaks this charge immediately after warning Solomon that his dynasty depends on resolute obedience.
The words — לְעֵינֵי כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (le-'ei.nei khol-Yis.ra.'el) literally means "to the eyes of all Israel," stressing public witness. The term וְעַתָּה (ve-'a.tah) translates as "and now" or "therefore," marking a decisive shift from instruction to required action.
The thread — The charge to keep God's statutes to possess the land runs through Deuteronomy 4:1 and Deuteronomy 5:32, where Moses commands Israel to follow the law without deviation. Ezra 9:12 reinforces the same covenant boundary by warning against intermarriage that would compromise obedience.
Why it lands — The text commands public adherence to every divine requirement as the condition for possessing and bequeathing the land. It requires the reader to treat covenant obedience as a witnessed, non-negotiable duty rather than a private or optional practice.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 4:1 Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
- Deuteronomy 5:32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
- Ezra 9:12 Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’
- Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Isaiah 34:16 Search and read the scroll of the LORD: Not one of these will go missing, not one will lack her mate, because He has ordered it by His mouth, and He will gather them by His Spirit.
- Deuteronomy 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
- Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long upon it, but will be utterly destroyed.
- Deuteronomy 29:10 All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel,
- Deuteronomy 29:15 but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God, as well as with those who are not here today.