Solomon Instructed to Build the Temple
1 Now David assembled at Jerusalem allthe leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes andthe captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, andthe stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and allthe mighty men of valor.
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people:Ihadit in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of theLord, and forthe footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.
3 But God said to me,‘You shall not build a house for My name, because youhavebeena man of war and have shedblood.’
4 However theLordGod of Israelchose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosenJudahtobethe ruler. And of the house of Judah,the house of my father, andamong the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to makemeking over all Israel.
5 And of all my sons (for theLordhas given me many sons)He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of theLordover Israel.
6 Now He said to me, ‘It isyour son Solomonwhoshall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen himtobeMy son, and I will be his Father.
7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever,if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’
8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of theLord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of theLordyour God, that you may possess this good land, and leaveitas an inheritance for your children after you forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon,know the God of your father, and serve Himwith a loyal heart and with a willing mind; fortheLordsearches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He willcast you off forever.
10 Consider now,for theLordhas chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomonthe plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;
12 and theplans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of theLord, of all the chambers all around,of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;
13 also for the division of the priests and theLevites, for all the work of the service of the house of theLord, and for all the articles of service in the house of theLord.
14 Hegavegold by weight forthingsof gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; alsosilverfor all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service;
15 the weight for thelampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand.
16 And by weighthegavegold for the tables of the showbread, for eachtable, and silver for the tables of silver;
17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—hegavegoldby weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls,silverby weight for every bowl;
18 and refined gold by weight for thealtar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the goldcherubim that spreadtheirwingsand overshadowed the ark of the covenant of theLord.
19 “Allthis,”saidDavid,“theLordmade me understand in writing, byHishand upon me, all the works of these plans.”
20 And David said to his son Solomon,“Be strong and of good courage, and doit;do not fear nor be dismayed, for theLordGod—my God—willbewith you.He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of theLord.
21 Herearethe divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; andevery willing craftsmanwillbewith you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the peoplewillbecompletely at your command.”