1Then David said, ‘The house of the Lord God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.’
Preparations for the temple
2So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.3He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.4He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.5David said, ‘My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendour in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.’ So David made extensive preparations before his death.6Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel.7David said to Solomon: ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God.8But this word of the Lord came to me: “You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,[1] and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.10He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.”11‘Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would.12May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.13Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave to Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.14‘I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents[2] of gold, a million talents[3] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.15You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as those skilled in every kind of work16in gold and silver, bronze and iron – craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.’17Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon.18He said to them, ‘Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people.19Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.’
2David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. (1Ki 5:17; 1Ki 9:20; 2Ch 2:17)3David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, (1Ki 7:47; 1Ch 22:14)4and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. (1Ki 5:6)5For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. (1Ki 3:7; 1Ch 29:1; Pr 4:3)
Solomon Charged to Build the Temple
6Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel.7David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. (2Sa 7:2; 1Ki 8:17; 1Ch 17:1; 1Ch 28:2; Ps 132:1)8But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. (1Ki 5:3; 1Ch 28:3)9Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. (2Sa 12:24; 1Ki 4:25; 1Ki 5:4; 1Ch 22:18)10He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’ (2Sa 7:13; 2Sa 7:14; 1Ch 28:6; Heb 1:5)11“Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. (1Sa 20:13; 1Ch 22:16)12Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. (1Ki 3:9; 1Ki 3:12; Ps 72:1)13Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. (De 31:6; Jos 1:6; Jos 1:9; 1Ch 28:7; 1Ch 28:20)14With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents[1] of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. (1Ch 22:3; 1Ch 29:4)15You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working16gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The Lord be with you!” (1Ch 22:11)17David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, (1Ch 28:1)18“Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not given you peace[2] on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. (De 12:10; Jos 21:44; Jos 23:1; 2Sa 7:1; 1Ch 22:9; 1Ch 23:25)19Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord.” (1Ki 5:3; 1Ki 8:6; 1Ki 8:21; 1Ch 22:7; 2Ch 5:7; 2Ch 6:11; 2Ch 20:3)