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29 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom Elohim has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for Yahweh Elohim. With all my might I gathered the materials for the temple of my Elohim: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, wood for wooden objects, onyx stones and settings, black stones, stones of different colors, gems, and marble. Moreover, I delight in the temple of my Elohim. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my Elohim’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple. There are 225,000 pounds of gold from Ophir and 525,000 pounds of refined silver. They are to be used to cover the walls of the buildings, to make gold objects, silver objects, and everything else the craftsmen will make. Who else is willing to make an offering and dedicate himself to Yahweh today?”

Then the leaders of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave generously. They gave 375,186 pounds of gold, 750,000 pounds of silver, 135,000 pounds of bronze, and 7,500,000 pounds of iron for the work on Elohim’s temple. Whoever happened to have precious stones gave them to Jehiel, Gershon’s descendant, for the treasury of Yahweh’s temple. The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to Yahweh.

King David was also overjoyed, and 10 he praised Yahweh while the whole assembly watched. David said,

“May you be praised, Yahweh Elohim of Israel,
    our father forever and ever.[a]
11 Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Yahweh,
    because everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
        The kingdom is yours, Yahweh,
            and you are honored as head of all things.
12 Riches and honor are in front of you.
    You rule everything.
        You hold power and strength in your hands,
            and you can make anyone great and strong.

13 “Our Elohim, we thank you
    and praise your wonderful name.
14 But who am I and who are my people
    that you enable us to give so generously?
        Everything comes from you.
            We give you only what has come from your hands.
15 To you we are all like our ancestors—
    foreigners without permanent homes.
        Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.
            There’s no hope for them.

16 Yahweh, our Elohim, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17 I know, my Elohim, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18 Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19 Make my son Solomon completely committed to you so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”

Solomon Is Made King

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise Yahweh your Elohim!” So the whole assembly praised Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors and knelt in front of Yahweh and the king.

21 The next day they sacrificed to Yahweh. They sacrificed burnt offerings to Yahweh: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22 That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of Yahweh. For the second time they made David’s son Solomon king. On Yahweh’s behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on Yahweh’s throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David’s sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 Yahweh made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.

David’s Reign(A)

26 David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.

29 Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seer[b] Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30 It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 29:10 Or “May you be praised forever and ever, Yahweh Elohim of our ancestor Israel.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 29:29 A seer is a prophet.

Gifts for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced.(A) The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold(B) for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a](C) stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.(D) Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided(E) for this holy temple: three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir)(F) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver,(G) for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials(H) in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.(I) They(J) gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[d] and ten thousand darics[e] of gold, ten thousand talents[f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[h] of iron. Anyone who had precious stones(K) gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.(L) The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly(M) to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power(N)
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.(O)
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.(P)
12 Wealth and honor(Q) come from you;
    you are the ruler(R) of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?(S) Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.(T) 15 We are foreigners and strangers(U) in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow,(V) without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart(W) and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.(X) 18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion(Y) to keep your commands, statutes and decrees(Z) and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”(AA)

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.

Solomon Acknowledged as King(AB)

21 The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him:(AC) a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.(AD) 22 They ate and drank with great joy(AE) in the presence of the Lord that day.

Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok(AF) to be priest. 23 So Solomon sat(AG) on the throne(AH) of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons,(AI) pledged their submission to King Solomon.

25 The Lord highly exalted(AJ) Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor(AK) such as no king over Israel ever had before.(AL)

The Death of David(AM)

26 David son of Jesse was king(AN) over all Israel.(AO) 27 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron(AP) and thirty-three in Jerusalem.(AQ) 28 He died(AR) at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.(AS)

29 As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer,(AT) the records of Nathan(AU) the prophet and the records of Gad(AV) the seer, 30 together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 29:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. 1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 110 tons or about 100 metric tons
  3. 1 Chronicles 29:4 That is, about 260 tons or about 235 metric tons
  4. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 190 tons or about 170 metric tons
  5. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 185 pounds or about 84 kilograms
  6. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 380 tons or about 340 metric tons
  7. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 675 tons or about 610 metric tons
  8. 1 Chronicles 29:7 That is, about 3,800 tons or about 3,400 metric tons