David Addresses the Assembly of Israel
Study note
David called together every leader in Israel -- tribal leaders, military commanders, officials, and mighty warriors -- for a grand assembly in Jerusalem. Standing on his feet before them all, David told them he had wanted to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant. But God told him he could not build it because he was a man of war. David explained that God had chosen him as king from among all his brothers and then chosen Solomon from among all his sons. He urged the people to obey God's commands so they could keep the good land and pass it on to their children.
1 David called all of Israel's leaders to Jerusalem. He gathered tribal heads, army chiefs, and officers over thousands and hundreds. He called managers of royal property and livestock. He brought court officials, mighty warriors, and every brave fighter. And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
2 King David stood before them and said, 'Listen, my brothers and my people. I deeply wanted to build a permanent home for the ark of the Lord's covenant -- a resting place for the footstool of our God. I had even started making preparations.' Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
3 'But God told me, "You must not build a temple for my name, because you have been a warrior who has shed much blood."' But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4 'Even so, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me out of my entire family to be king of Israel forever. He first chose the tribe of Judah as leaders. From Judah, he chose my father's family. And from all my father's sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.' Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
5 'Out of all my sons — and the Lord has given me many — he chose Solomon. He chose him to sit on the throne of the Lord's kingdom and rule over Israel.' And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6 'God told me, "Your son Solomon will build my temple and its courtyards. I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father."' And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7 '"I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey my commands and laws as he does right now."' Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
8 'Now, with all Israel watching and God hearing, I say this. Obey every command of the Lord your God. Then you will keep this good land. You will pass it on to your children for all time.' Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
David's Personal Charge to Solomon
Study note
David turned directly to Solomon and gave him a deeply personal charge. He told Solomon to know God and serve him with a whole heart and a willing mind. David warned that God searches every heart and understands every thought. If Solomon seeks God, God will be found. But if Solomon turns away, God will reject him forever. David urged Solomon to be strong and build the temple because God had chosen him for this sacred task.
9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
10 'Listen carefully! The Lord has chosen you to build his sanctuary. Be strong and get the job done.' Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
David Gives Solomon the Temple Plans
Study note
David gave Solomon detailed blueprints for every part of the temple: the entrance hall, the buildings, the treasury rooms, the upper chambers, the inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat where God's presence would dwell. David also specified the exact weight of gold and silver for every item -- the lampstands, the tables for the sacred bread, the forks, bowls, cups, basins, and the altar of incense. He even gave plans for the golden cherubim whose wings would spread over the ark of the covenant. David said that God had given him understanding of all these plans through his Spirit.
11 David gave Solomon the full plans for the temple. These covered the entry hall, the buildings, the storage rooms, and the upper rooms. They covered the inner rooms and the mercy seat room. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 He shared the plans God's Spirit had put in his mind. These covered the courtyards and the rooms around them. They covered the temple wealth rooms and the rooms for set-apart gifts. And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
13 He also gave rules for the priest and Levite work groups. He explained every task in the Lord's temple. He listed all items used for worship. Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.
14 David listed how much gold and silver to use. He did this for every item in every kind of service. He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
15 He gave the weight of gold for each gold lampstand and its lamps. He gave the weight of silver for the silver ones and their lamps. Each was based on how it would be used. Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
16 He specified the weight of gold for each table that held the sacred bread, and the weight of silver for the silver tables. And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
17 He specified how much pure gold to use for the forks, bowls, and cups. He gave the weight for each individual gold basin and each silver basin. Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver:
18 He specified the weight of refined gold for the incense altar. He also provided the design for the golden chariot of the cherubim -- the angels whose wings stretched out to cover the ark of the Lord's covenant. And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19 David said, 'Every detail of these plans was given to me in writing by the Lord's own hand guiding me.' All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
David Encourages Solomon to Begin
Study note
David ended his charge to Solomon with powerful words of encouragement. He told him to be strong and courageous and to get the work done. He assured Solomon that God would be with him and would not abandon him until every part of the temple was completed. David also reminded Solomon that the organized divisions of priests and Levites were ready to serve, and that skilled craftsmen and willing leaders were available to help with every aspect of the work.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with you for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with you for all manner of workmanship every willing skillful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at your commandment. And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.