22 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.”

Plans to Build the Temple

² So David gave instructions to gather together those sojourning in the land of Israel, and he appointed stonemasons to cut hewn stones for building the house of God. ³ David also provided large quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps as well as an abundance of bronze beyond measure, ⁴ and cedar logs without number, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought much cedar wood to David.

⁵ Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all the lands. Therefore I will make preparation for it now.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.

⁶ Then David called Solomon his son and commanded him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, ⁸ but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You shall not build a house for My name because you have shed much blood on the earth before Me. ⁹ A son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. Solomon will be his name, and I will give peace and tranquility to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He will be the one to build a house for My name. He shall be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

¹¹ “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you, and may you have success in building the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. ¹² Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding and give you charge over Israel so you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³ Then you will prosper if you carefully observe the statutes and the judgments which the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed.

¹⁴ “With great difficulty I have prepared for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents^[a] of gold and one million^[b] talents of silver as well as innumerable quantities of bronze and iron, beyond measure. I have also prepared timber and stone to which you may add even more. ¹⁵ Moreover you have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in all kinds of work, ¹⁶ craftsmen in gold, silver, bronze, and iron without number. Rise up and work, and may the Lord be with you.”

¹⁷ Then David commanded all the leaders of Israel to assist Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸ “Is not the Lord your God with you? Has He not given you rest all around? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and His people. ¹⁹ Now dedicate your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Rise up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord along with the holy vessels of God into the house which is to be built for the name of the Lord.”