David Prepares Materials for the Temple
Study note
David identified Ornan's threshing floor as the future location of God's temple and the altar for Israel's sacrifices. He immediately began gathering workers and materials on a massive scale. He ordered stonecutters to prepare blocks of stone. He stockpiled iron for nails and fittings, bronze beyond measure, and huge quantities of cedar wood brought by the people of Sidon and Tyre. David did all this because Solomon was still young and the temple needed to be the most magnificent building in the world.
1 Then David declared, 'This is where the Lord God's temple will be built! This will be the altar where Israel offers burnt sacrifices.' Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
2 David gave orders to gather all the foreigners living in Israel. He assigned stonecutters to shape stones for building God's temple. And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 David collected large amounts of iron to make nails and fittings for the doors and gates. He also gathered more bronze than anyone could weigh. And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 He stored up more cedar logs than anyone could count. The people of Sidon and Tyre kept bringing huge loads of cedar to him. Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
David's Charge to Solomon
Study note
David called Solomon and explained God's plan. David had wanted to build the temple himself, but God told him he could not because he had been a man of war who had shed much blood. God promised that David's son Solomon, whose name is related to the Hebrew word for peace, would be a man of peace. Solomon would build the temple, and God would give Israel peace during his reign. David encouraged Solomon to be strong, to obey God's laws, and to start the work. He told Solomon about the incredible wealth he had already gathered: 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, plus bronze and iron beyond measure.
6 Then David called his son Solomon and charged him with the task of building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
7 David told Solomon, 'My son, I wanted to build a temple to honor the Lord my God.' And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 'But the Lord spoke to me and said, "You have fought too many wars and shed too much blood. You are not the one to build a temple for me, because of all the blood you have spilled."' But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 'But he told me, "A son will be born to you who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. His name will be Solomon, and during his lifetime I will bring peace and calm to Israel."' Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 'He will be the one to build a temple for me. He will be like a son to me, and I will be like a father to him. I will make sure his royal throne over Israel lasts forever.' He shall build an house for my name; and he shall 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, may the Lord be with you. May you succeed in building the temple of the Lord your God, just as he said you would.' Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 'May the Lord give you wisdom and good sense when he puts you in charge of Israel. Then you will obey the law of the Lord your God.' Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 'You will succeed if you carefully follow all the rules and commands the Lord gave to Moses for Israel. Be brave and courageous. Do not let fear or discouragement hold you back.' Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
14 'Through a lifetime of hard work, I have gathered 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver for the Lord's temple. I have also collected bronze and iron in amounts too great to measure, along with plenty of timber and stone. You can always add more.' Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
15 'You have plenty of skilled workers. You have stonecutters, builders, and wood workers. You have craftsmen of every kind.' Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 'There is more gold, silver, bronze, and iron than anyone can count. Now get started on the work, and may the Lord be with you.' Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
David Commands the Leaders to Help Solomon
Study note
David did not leave Solomon to face this enormous task alone. He commanded all the leaders of Israel to support his son. David reminded them that God had given them peace on every side and had placed the land's inhabitants under their control. He urged them to dedicate their hearts and souls to seeking the Lord and to get started building the temple so the ark of the covenant and the holy items could be brought into God's permanent house.
17 David also commanded all of Israel's leaders to help his son Solomon. David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and has he not given you rest on every side? for he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
19 'Now give your full attention and devotion to seeking the Lord your God. Get up and build the Lord God's sanctuary, so that the ark of the Lord's covenant and God's holy items can be brought into the temple built for his name.' Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.