David’s Plans for the Temple

28 David summoned^(A) all the officials^(B) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart^(C) to build a house as a place of rest^(D) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool^(E) of our God, and I made plans to build it.^{(F) 3} But God said to me,^(G) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,^(H) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’^(I)

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(J) from my whole family^(K) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(L) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^{(M) 5} Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many^(N)—he has chosen my son Solomon^(O) to sit on the throne^(P) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build^(Q) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,^(R) and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,^(S) as is being done at this time.’

⁸ “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel^(T) and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands^(U) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.^(V)

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(W) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(X) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(Y) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(Z) him, he will reject^(AA) you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous,^(A) and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake^(B) you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.^{(C) 21} The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled^(D) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

Solomon Acknowledged as King^(A)

²¹ The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him:^(B) a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.^{(C) 22} They ate and drank with great joy^(D) 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^(E) to be priest. ²³ So Solomon sat^(F) on the throne^(G) 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,^(H) pledged their submission to King Solomon.

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