David's Personal Gift and Challenge to Give
Study note
David reminded the assembly that Solomon was still young and the project was enormous -- not a palace for a human king, but a house for the Lord God. David had already prepared vast quantities of materials from the national treasury. Now he went further, giving from his own personal wealth: 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir (the finest gold available) and 7,000 talents of refined silver to coat the temple walls. Then David challenged the people: 'Who is willing to dedicate themselves to the Lord today?'
1 King David addressed the whole assembly: 'My son Solomon, the one God has picked for this job, is still young and lacks experience. This project is enormous because this building is not for a human -- it is for the Lord God himself.' Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
2 'I worked hard to gather items for God's temple. I got gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood. I got onyx stones and jewels for settings. I got bright stones in many colors, rare gems, and marble. I got huge amounts of it all.' Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
3 'On top of everything I have already given for this sacred building, I am now giving my own personal treasure of gold and silver to God's temple. My heart is set on it.' Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
4 'I am giving 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of the finest silver. This is to cover the walls of the buildings.' Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
5 'Gold for the gold work, silver for the silver work, and supplies for everything the craftsmen will make. Now then, who among you is ready to give generously to the Lord today?' The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
The Leaders Give Willingly
Study note
Inspired by David's example, the leaders of Israel gave generously. The family heads, tribal leaders, military commanders, and royal officials volunteered their own wealth. They gave 5,000 talents of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. Those who had precious stones donated them to the temple treasury. The people and King David were overjoyed because everyone gave willingly and with a whole heart.
6 The family leaders, tribal heads, and army chiefs all stepped up. The king's officials did too. They all gave freely. Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,
7 For building God's temple they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 coins of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
8 Anyone who had precious stones brought them to the Lord's temple treasury. Jehiel the Gershonite was in charge of it. And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9 The people were overjoyed because their leaders had given so freely and generously. They had given to the Lord with glad and willing hearts. King David was also filled with deep happiness. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
David's Prayer of Praise
Study note
David praised God before the whole assembly in one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. He declared that everything -- greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty -- belongs to the Lord. He acknowledged that all wealth comes from God and that the people were only giving back what God had already given them. David described the Israelites as strangers and travelers on earth whose days pass like a shadow. He prayed that God would keep the people's hearts loyal and give Solomon a whole heart to obey God's commands and build the temple.
10 David praised the Lord in front of the whole assembly. He prayed, 'We praise you, Lord, God of our ancestor Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.' Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 'Lord, yours is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom is yours, Lord, and you are supreme over all.' Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 'Both riches and honor come from you alone. You rule over everything. You hold power and strength in your hands, and you have the ability to make anyone great and strong.' Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 'So now, our God, we thank you and we praise your magnificent name.' Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 'But truly, who am I, and who are my people, that we could give so generously? Everything comes from you, and we are simply giving back what you already own.' But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
15 'We are just travelers passing through this life, strangers in your sight, just like all our ancestors were. Our time on earth passes like a shadow, and nothing here is permanent.' For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 'Lord our God, all this wealth that we have gathered to build a temple for your holy name comes from you. Every bit of it belongs to you.' O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
17 'I know, my God, that you examine people's hearts and you are pleased when you find honesty there. I have given all of this freely and with a sincere heart. And now I see your people here giving to you with joy and willingness.' I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
18 'Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors -- please keep these desires and intentions alive in your people's hearts forever. Keep their hearts faithful to you.' O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
19 'And give my son Solomon a wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, your laws, and your rules. Give him the dedication to build this temple that I have prepared for.' And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
Solomon Is Made King
Study note
David told the whole assembly to praise the Lord, and they all bowed down and worshipped. The next day they offered massive sacrifices: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, along with drink offerings and many other sacrifices. They ate and drank before the Lord with great joy. Solomon was officially crowned king for the second time and anointed as ruler. Zadok was anointed as priest. Solomon sat on the Lord's throne as king in place of his father David, and he prospered. All of Israel obeyed him, and all the leaders and even David's other sons pledged their loyalty to Solomon.
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, 'Now praise the Lord your God!' Everyone in the assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors. They bowed low and worshipped the Lord, and they also honored the king. And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.
21 The next day they brought sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord. They offered 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs. They also brought drink offerings and many other sacrifices for all Israel. And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:
22 They feasted and drank in the Lord's presence that day with tremendous celebration. They crowned Solomon son of David as king for the second time. They anointed him as the Lord's chosen ruler and anointed Zadok as priest. And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.
23 Solomon took his seat on the Lord's throne as king, succeeding his father David. Everything went well for him, and all Israel accepted his authority. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
24 All the leaders and warriors pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. So did every one of King David's sons. And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.
25 The Lord made Solomon deeply respected in all Israel. He gave Solomon greater royal honor than any king of Israel before him. And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
David's Death and Legacy
Study note
David son of Jesse had reigned over all Israel for 40 years: 7 years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, full of years, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon became king after him. The full story of David's reign was recorded in the writings of three prophets: Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer. These records included all the events of his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, to Israel, and to all the surrounding kingdoms.
26 David son of Jesse had been king over all Israel. Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
27 He ruled over Israel for a total of forty years. He spent seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
28 He died at a ripe old age, having lived a full life with wealth and honor. His son Solomon became king after him. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
29 All that King David did is written in three records. These are the records of Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer. Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
30 These writings tell of his reign and power. They tell of the big events that touched him and Israel and the nearby kingdoms. With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.