1 Chronicles 22

David Prepares for Temple Building

1Then David said, “1This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

2So David 2gave orders to gather 3the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and 4he set stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3David 5prepared large quantities of iron 6to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more 7bronze than could be weighed; 4and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for 8the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5David said, “My son 9Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.

Solomon Charged with the Task

6Then 10he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7David said to Solomon, “11My son, 12I had intended to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘13You have shed much blood and have 14waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. 9Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and 15I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for 16his name shall be 17Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 1018He shall build a 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 forever.’ 11Now, my son, 19the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 1220Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may 21keep the law of the Lord your God. 1322Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. 23Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14Now behold, 24with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord 25100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and 26bronze and iron beyond weight, for 27they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them. 15Moreover, there are many workmen with you, stonecutters and masons of stone and carpenters, and all men who are skillful in every kind of work. 16Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may 28the Lord be with you.”

1729David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18“Is not the Lord your God with you? And 30has 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. 19Now 31set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, 32so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built 33for the name of the Lord.”