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22 Then David said, “This is where Yahweh Elohim’s temple will be. Israel’s altar for burnt offerings will also be here.”

David Helps Solomon Prepare to Build the Temple

David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build Elohim’s temple. David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed. The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn’t be counted.

David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for Yahweh must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare the building materials for him.” So David prepared many materials for Solomon before he died.

He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for Yahweh Elohim of Israel. David told his son Solomon, “I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of Yahweh, my Elohim. But Yahweh spoke his word to me by saying, ‘You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence. You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet. 10 He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Ab. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.’”

11 David continued, “Now, son, Yahweh will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of Yahweh your Elohim as he predicted you would. 12 Yahweh will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of Yahweh your Elohim. 13 Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees Yahweh commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified.

14 “Despite my troubles I’ve made preparations for Yahweh’s temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them. 15 You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work. 16 The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May Yahweh be with you.”

17 David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 David said, “Isn’t Yahweh your Elohim with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by Yahweh and his people. 19 So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving Yahweh your Elohim. Start building the holy place of Yahweh Elohim so that you can bring the ark of Yahweh’s promise and Elohim’s holy utensils into the temple that will be built for Yahweh’s name.”

22 Then David said, “The house of the Lord God(A) is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners(B) residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters(C) to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.(D) He also provided more cedar logs(E) than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

David said, “My son Solomon is young(F) and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor(G) in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build(H) a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart(I) to build(J) a house for the Name(K) of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars.(L) You are not to build a house for my Name,(M) because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace(N) and rest,(O) and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,[a](P) and I will grant Israel peace and quiet(Q) during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name.(R) He will be my son,(S) and I will be his father. And I will establish(T) the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’(U)

11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with(V) you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. 12 May the Lord give you discretion and understanding(W) when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will have success(X) if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws(Y) that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.(Z) Do not be afraid or discouraged.

14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents[b] of gold, a million talents[c] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.(AA) 15 You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters,(AB) as well as those skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen(AC) beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”

17 Then David ordered(AD) all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest(AE) on every side?(AF) For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. 19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.(AG) Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for peace.
  2. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 3,750 tons or about 3,400 metric tons
  3. 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 37,500 tons or about 34,000 metric tons