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¹Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the L ord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

David Prepares to Build the Temple

² David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. ³David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, ⁴and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. ⁵For David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the L ord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

David’s Charge to Solomon and the Leaders

⁶ Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the L ord, the God of Israel. ⁷David said to Solomon, “My son, I had planned to build a house to the name of the L ord my God. ⁸But the word of the L ord 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 in my sight on the earth. ⁹See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. ¹⁰He shall build a house for my name. He shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’ ¹¹Now, my son, the L ord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the L ord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. ¹²Only, may the L ord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the L ord your God. ¹³Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the L ord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed. ¹⁴With great pains I have provided for the house of the L ord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one 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 more. ¹⁵You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working ¹⁶gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the L ord be with you.”

¹⁷ David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, ¹⁸“Is not the L ord your God with you? Has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the L ord and his people. ¹⁹Now set your mind and heart to seek the L ord your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the L ord God so that the ark of the covenant of the L ord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the L ord.”