大衛對所羅門的囑咐

28 大衛召以色列的眾首領到耶路撒冷。於是,各支派的首領、各班將領、千夫長、百夫長、負責王和王子的財產及牲畜的官員、宮廷侍臣、顯貴和勇士都來了, 大衛王站起來說:「我的弟兄,我的人民啊,請聽我說。我本想建造一座殿宇安放耶和華的約櫃,作我們上帝的腳凳,我已準備好建造的材料。 但上帝對我說,『你不可為我的名建造殿宇,因為你是個戰士,曾流過人的血。』 以色列的上帝耶和華從我父親家中揀選我做以色列的王,直到永遠。因為祂揀選了猶大支派做首領;在猶大支派中,祂揀選了我父親家;在我父親的眾子中,祂喜悅我,立我做以色列的王。 耶和華賜給我許多兒子,祂在我眾子中揀選了所羅門,讓他坐以色列的王位,治理耶和華的國。 耶和華對我說,『你兒子所羅門必建造我的殿宇和庭院,因為我揀選他做我的兒子,我也必做他的父親。 倘若他像今天一樣繼續堅守我的誡命和典章,我必使他的國度永遠穩固。』 現在,當著耶和華的會眾——全體以色列人的面,趁著我們的上帝在垂聽,你們要謹遵你們的上帝耶和華的一切誡命,以便你們可以擁有這片佳美之地,並且把它傳給你們的子孫作永遠的產業。

「我兒所羅門啊,你要認識你父親的上帝耶和華,誠心樂意地事奉祂,因為祂洞察人心,知道人一切的心思意念。倘若你尋求祂,祂必讓你尋見;倘若你背棄祂,祂必永遠丟棄你。 10 現在你要謹慎,因為耶和華揀選你來建造殿宇作聖所。你要堅定不移地去做。」

11 大衛將殿的走廊、房舍、庫房、樓房、內室和安放施恩座的聖所的圖樣都交給所羅門, 12 又將心裡構想的耶和華殿的院子、四周的房屋、殿的庫房和聖物庫房的圖樣都交給他。 13 大衛還讓他知道祭司和利未人的班次、耶和華殿裡各樣的工作及一切所需的器皿, 14 製造各種金器銀器所需金銀的分量—— 15 金燈臺和金燈的分量,銀燈臺和銀燈的分量——按每座燈臺的用途酌定金銀的分量, 16 放供餅的金桌子的分量,銀桌子的分量, 17 純金的叉子、碗、瓶的分量,每個金碗和銀碗的分量, 18 純金香壇的分量,以及在施恩座上展開翅膀遮蓋耶和華約櫃的基路伯天使的樣式。 19 大衛說:「以上這一切都是耶和華親手指示我的,讓我明白工作的細節。」

20 大衛又對兒子所羅門說:「你要堅定勇敢地去做!不要懼怕,也不要驚慌,因為我的上帝耶和華必不撇下你,也不丟棄你,祂必與你同在,直到聖殿的一切工作完畢。 21 你看,在上帝殿裡司職的各班祭司和利未人已準備就緒,又有各種能工巧匠樂意在各種工作上幫你,眾首領和百姓都聽你調遣。」

大衛宣告建殿的心意

28 大衛把以色列的眾領袖:各支派的領袖、輪班服事王的領袖、千夫長、百夫長、掌管王和王子們一切財產與牲畜的領袖,以及太監、顯貴和所有英勇的戰士,都召集到耶路撒冷來。 大衛王站起來,說:“我的兄弟,我的人民哪,你們要聽我的話;我心裡有意要建造一所安放耶和華的約櫃的殿宇,作我們的 神的腳凳,並且我已經準備好要建造。 可是 神對我說:‘你不可為我的名建造殿宇,因為你是個戰士,曾殺人流血。’ 然而耶和華以色列的 神,在我父的全家揀選了我作以色列人的王,直到永遠;因為他揀選了猶大作領袖;在猶大家中揀選了我的父家;在我父親的眾子中,他喜悅我,立我作全以色列的王; 在我的眾子中(因為耶和華賜給我許多兒子),他揀選了我的兒子所羅門,坐耶和華的國位,統治以色列。 耶和華對我說:‘你的兒子所羅門要建造我的殿宇和庭院;因為我已經揀選他作我的兒子,我也要作他的父親。 如果他堅心遵行我的誡命和典章,像今日一樣,我必堅立他的國,直到永遠。’ 所以現今在耶和華的會眾,全體以色列人面前,我們的 神也在垂聽,你們務要謹守和尋求耶和華你們 神的一切誡命,使你們可以承受那美地,並且遺留給你們以後的子孫,永遠作為產業。

“至於你,我兒所羅門哪,你要認識耶和華你父親的 神,一心樂意事奉他,因為耶和華鑒察萬人的心,知道人的一切心思意念。你若是尋求他,就必尋見;你若是離棄他,他必永遠丟棄你。 10 現在你當謹慎,因為耶和華揀選了你建造殿宇,作為聖所;你要勇敢地去作。”

大衛指示所羅門聖殿的設計

11 大衛把殿的走廊、房屋、庫房、閣樓、內殿和安放施恩座的聖所的圖樣,都交給他的兒子所羅門; 12 又把他心中所想的圖樣,就是耶和華殿的院子、四周所有的房屋、神殿裡的庫房和聖物庫房的圖樣,都指示了他; 13 又把祭司和利未人的班次,耶和華殿裡各樣的職事和耶和華殿裡一切需用的器皿,都指示了他; 14 大衛又指示了他用多少金子做各樣需用的金器;用多少銀子做各樣需用的銀器; 15 用多少金子做金燈臺和臺上的金燈;用多少金子做每盞金燈臺和臺上的金燈;用多少銀子做銀燈臺和臺上的銀燈。每盞銀燈臺和臺上的銀燈用多少銀子,都按照每盞燈臺的用途; 16 用多少金子做陳設餅的桌子;用多少銀子做銀桌子; 17 用多少純金做叉、盤和壺;用多少金子做金碗,每隻碗重量多少;用多少銀子做銀碗,每隻碗重量多少; 18 用多少精金做香壇;又用金子做基路伯,像車的樣子;基路伯展開翅膀,遮蓋著耶和華的約櫃。 19 大衛說:“以上這一切,就是一切工作的樣式,都是耶和華用手寫給我,使我明白的。”

繼續訓勉所羅門

20 大衛又對他的兒子所羅門說:“你要堅強勇敢地去作,不要懼怕,也不要驚惶,因為耶和華 神,就是我的 神,與你同在;他必不撇下你,也不丟棄你,直到耶和華殿的一切工作都完成。 21 你看,有祭司和利未人的各班次,辦理神殿裡的一切事務;又有各種的巧匠,在各樣的工作上,樂意幫助你,並且眾領袖和所有的人民,都聽從你的一切命令。”

28 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king by division, the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem. Then David the king stood up on his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel. He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Take heed now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; 13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house— 14 of gold by weight for the gold for all vessels of every kind of service, for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15 by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17 and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl; 18 and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spread out and cover the ark of Yahweh’s covenant. 19 “All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.”

20 David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed, for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished. 21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing man who has skill for any kind of service shall be with you in all kinds of work. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.”