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

David Prepares for Temple Building

² David commanded to gather together the ^(B)resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he ^(C)set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. ³ David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, ^(D)as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, ⁴ and cedar timbers without number, ^(E)for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. ⁵ For David said, ^(F)“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 lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

Solomon Charged to Build the Temple

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon, “My son, ^(G)I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. ⁸ But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ^(H)‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. ⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. ^(I)I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. ^(J)For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. ^10 (K)He shall build a house for my name. ^(L)He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’

¹¹ “Now, my son, ^(M)the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. ^12 (N)Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ^13 (O)Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. ^(P)Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. ¹⁴ With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord ^(Q)100,000 talents^[a] of gold, a million talents of silver, and ^(R)bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. ¹⁵ You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working ¹⁶ gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! ^(S)The Lord be with you!”

¹⁷ David also commanded ^(T)all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸ “Is not the Lord your God with you? And ^(U)has he not given you peace^[b] on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. ¹⁹ Now ^(V)set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, ^(W)so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built ^(X)for the name of the Lord.”