📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 28:18
What does 1 Chronicles 28:18 mean?
"and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant."
— 1 Chronicles 28:18 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand;
and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant.
“All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”
David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service, shall be with you in all kinds of work. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
Explanation
This verse comes from David's detailed instructions to Solomon regarding the construction of the Jerusalem temple. In plain language, it describes David providing precise specifications and quantities of refined gold — gold that has been purified to remove impurities — for two specific sacred items: the altar of incense (used for burning incense as an act of worship before God) and the gold for the cherubim, the winged angelic figures whose wings spread out over and cover the Ark of the Covenant. The phrase "the plans for the chariot" refers to the cherubim functioning as God's throne-chariot, a poetic and theological image drawn from other biblical descriptions of God enthroned above the cherubim (see Psalm 18:10, Ezekiel 1).
The context is found in 1 Chronicles 28, where King David, near the end of his life, gathers the leaders of Israel and formally hands over to his son Solomon the plans for building the temple. David himself was not permitted to build the temple (because he was a man of war, according to 1 Chronicles 22:8), so instead he devotes himself to preparation — organizing materials, personnel, and exact architectural specifications. Verse 19 (immediately following) clarifies that David received all of this in writing "by the hand of Yahweh," meaning David understood these plans as divinely revealed, not merely his own design. This entire chapter, then, presents the temple's blueprint as something rooted in God's own instruction, paralleling how Moses received the pattern for the tabernacle on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:9).
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