David’s Public Assembly at Jerusalem

28 David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel—the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.

² David stood in front of them and said, “Listen to me, my relatives and subjects. I had my heart set on building the temple where the ark of Yahweh’s promise could be placed. This temple would be a stool for our Elohim’s feet, and I have made preparations to build it. ³ But Elohim told me, ‘You must not build the temple for my name. You have fought wars and caused bloodshed.’ ⁴ Yet, from my entire family Yahweh Elohim of Israel chose me to be king of Israel permanently. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead Israel. From the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. From among my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king of all Israel. ⁵ And of all my sons (Yahweh has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom to rule Israel.

⁶ “He told me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his Ab. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.’ ⁸ Now, leaders, I order you in the sight of Israel (Yahweh’s congregation) and as our Elohim listens to dedicate your lives to doing everything Yahweh your Elohim has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants.

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s Elohim. Serve Yahweh wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought we have. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on. ¹⁰ So be careful, because Yahweh has chosen you to build the temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.”

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the temple, its storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy. ¹² He gave him plans for the courtyards of Yahweh’s temple and for all the rooms around it. (These rooms served as treasuries for Elohim’s temple and the gifts dedicated to God.) ¹³ He determined the divisions of priests and Levites. He planned all the work done for worship in Yahweh’s temple. He designed all the utensils for worship in Yahweh’s temple. ¹⁴ David specified the weight of gold to be used for each of the utensils for worship, ¹⁵ the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps (that is, the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps), the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps (according to the use of each lamp stand for worship), ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table with the rows of bread, and the silver for the silver tables, ¹⁷ the pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, the weight of each gold bowl, the weight of each silver bowl, ¹⁸ and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels^[a] with their wings spread to cover the ark of Yahweh’s promise. ¹⁹ David said, “All this was written for me by Yahweh’s hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.”

²⁰ David also told his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or terrified. Yahweh Elohim, my Elohim, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on Yahweh’s temple is finished. ²¹ Here are also the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in Elohim’s temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do all the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.”