Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 28:2

"Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building." — 1 Chronicles 28:2 (ASV)

Then David the king stood up upon his feet. — To address the assembly, the king naturally rose from his throne.

Hear me. — Calling attention, as in Genesis 23:11-15.

My brethren, and my people. — Compare to 1 Samuel 30:23; 2 Samuel 19:12. The words do not so much imply condescension as an acknowledgment of what every one of David’s hearers felt to be true—namely, that all Israel were kin, and David the head of the family.

As for me, I had in mine heart to build. — See 1 Chronicles 22:7–8 and the Notes there. 1 Chronicles 28:2–7 of this chapter are in substance, and partly in expression, identical with 1 Chronicles 22:7–10 (David’s private charge to Solomon).

An house of rest — that is, a permanent abode instead of a sacred tent, which gave the idea of wandering from place to place, like the nomads of the desert. (Compare to Psalms 132:8.)

The footstool of our God. — The so-called mercy-seat, the golden kappôreth suspended over the Ark, on which were the cherubim—the throne of Deity (Psalms 99:1).

And had made ready. — Rather, and I made ready, by amassing stores of material (1 Chronicles 22:2–4; 1 Chronicles 22:14–16).