為建殿而獻的禮物

29 大衛王又對全體會眾說:「我兒所羅門是上帝特別揀選的,但他還年輕,缺乏經驗。建殿的工程浩大,因為這殿不是為人造的,乃是為耶和華上帝造的。 我已竭盡所能為我上帝的殿預備了製作金器、銀器、銅器、鐵器和木器所需的金銀銅鐵及木頭,還有大量的瑪瑙、鑲嵌用的寶石、彩石、大理石及其他貴重的石頭。 而且,我因為愛慕我上帝的殿,除了預備以上物品外,還把自己珍藏的金銀獻上,用來建造我上帝的殿。 我獻上一百噸俄斐金、二百四十噸純銀,用來貼殿牆, 供匠人製作金器銀器。今天,有誰樂意向耶和華奉獻?」

結果,各族長、以色列各支派的首領、千夫長、百夫長和負責王室事務的官員都樂意奉獻, 他們為上帝的殿奉獻了一百七十噸金子,三百四十噸銀子,六百二十噸銅,三千四百噸鐵。 有寶石的人都把寶石交到耶和華殿的庫房,由革順人耶歇保管。 因為他們誠心誠意地把東西獻給上帝,百姓歡喜不已,大衛王也非常歡喜。

大衛頌讚耶和華

10 大衛在會眾面前頌讚耶和華,說:「我們先祖以色列的上帝耶和華啊,你永永遠遠當受頌讚! 11 耶和華啊,偉大、權能、榮耀、尊貴和威嚴都是你的,天上地下的一切都是你的。耶和華啊,國度是你的,你是萬有的主宰。 12 富貴和尊榮都從你而來,你掌管一切,你手中有權能和力量,能使人尊大、強盛。 13 我們的上帝啊,我們稱頌你,讚美你榮耀的名。

14 「我算什麼,我的人民算什麼,怎麼配向你奉獻?因為萬物都從你而來,我們只是把從你那裡得來的獻給你。 15 我們在你面前只是客旅,是寄居的,像我們祖先一樣;我們在世的日子就像影子一樣轉瞬即逝。 16 我們的上帝耶和華啊,我們為你的聖名建造殿宇所預備的這一切財物都是從你那裡來的,都屬於你。 17 我的上帝啊,我知道你洞察人心,喜愛正直的人。我懷著正直的心甘願獻上這一切,我也看見你這裡的子民甘心樂意地將財物獻給你。 18 我們祖先亞伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的上帝耶和華啊!求你使你的子民常存這樣的心志,使他們的心忠於你。 19 求你賜給我兒所羅門忠誠的心,以遵行你的誡命、法度和律例,用我預備的材料全力建造殿宇。」

20 大衛對全體會眾說:「你們要頌讚你們的上帝耶和華。」於是,全體會眾頌讚他們祖先的上帝耶和華,向耶和華和王俯伏下拜。

所羅門被立為王

21 次日,他們向耶和華獻祭。他們代表全以色列獻上一千頭公牛、一千隻公綿羊、一千隻羊羔作燔祭,同時還獻上奠祭及許多其他祭。 22 那一天,他們在耶和華面前歡歡喜喜地吃喝。

他們再次擁立大衛的兒子所羅門做王,在耶和華面前膏立他做首領,又膏立撒督做祭司。 23 於是,所羅門登上了耶和華所賜的王位,接替他父親大衛做王。他凡事亨通,以色列眾人都服從他, 24 眾首領、勇士以及大衛王的眾子都效忠於他。 25 耶和華使所羅門倍受以色列人尊崇,賜他君王的威嚴,超過在他之前的所有以色列王。

大衛去世

26 耶西的兒子大衛是全以色列的王, 27 他在以色列執政共四十年:在希伯崙執政七年,在耶路撒冷執政三十三年。 28 大衛年紀老邁,享盡富貴尊榮後,壽終正寢。他兒子所羅門繼位。 29 大衛王一生的事蹟都記在撒母耳先見、拿單先知和迦得先見的史記上。 30 書中記述了他的政績和英勇事蹟,以及他和以色列及列國所遭遇的事。

大衛親自預備建殿的材料

29 大衛王對全體會眾說:“我的兒子所羅門,是 神所揀選的,現在還年幼識淺,而這工程非常浩大;因為這殿宇不是為人建造,而是為耶和華 神建造的。 我為我 神的殿已經盡了我的力量,預備了金子做金器,銀子做銀器,銅做銅器,鐵做鐵器,木做木器;還有紅瑪瑙、用作鑲嵌的寶石、彩石和各樣的寶石,以及很多大理石。 不但這樣,因我愛慕我 神的殿,就在我為建造聖殿預備的一切以外,又把我自己積蓄的金銀獻給我 神的殿: 就是俄斐金一百多公噸,精煉的銀子約兩百四十公噸,用來貼殿裡的牆壁; 金子做金器,銀子做銀器,以及匠人手所作的各樣巧工。今日有誰願意奉獻給耶和華呢?”

民眾上下一心,自願奉獻

於是各家族的領袖、以色列各支派的領袖、千夫長、百夫長和管理王的事務的領袖,都樂意奉獻。 為了神殿裡的需用,他們奉獻了金子一百七十多公噸,銀子三百四十多公噸,銅約六百二十公噸和鐵三千四百公噸。 有寶石的,都交到耶和華殿這庫房,由革順人耶歇經辦。 人民因這些人自願奉獻而歡喜,因為他們一心樂意奉獻給耶和華,大衛王也非常歡喜。

大衛稱頌耶和華

10 所以大衛在全體會眾面前稱頌耶和華,說:“耶和華我們的祖先以色列的 神,是應當稱頌的,從亙古直到永遠。 11 耶和華啊,尊大、能力、榮耀、勝利和威嚴,都是你的;因為天上地下的萬有都是你的;耶和華啊,國度是你的,你是至高的,是萬有之首。 12 富足和尊榮都從你而來,你也統治萬有。在你的手裡有力量和權能;人的尊大、強盛都是出於你的手。 13 我們的 神啊,現在我們要稱頌你,讚美你榮耀的名。 14 我算甚麼?我的人民又算甚麼?竟有力量這樣樂意奉獻?因為萬物都是從你而來,我們只是把從你手裡得來的,奉獻給你。 15 我們在你面前是客旅,是寄居的,像我們的列祖一樣;我們在世上的日子好像影兒,沒有指望。 16 耶和華我們的 神啊,我們預備的這一切財物,要為你的聖名建造殿宇,都是從你而來的,也都是屬於你的。 17 我的 神啊,我知道你察驗人心,喜悅正直;至於我,我以正直的心甘願奉獻這一切;現在我也非常歡喜看見你在這裡的人民,都甘願奉獻給你。 18 耶和華我們列祖亞伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的 神啊,求你永遠保守這一件事,就是使你的子民常存這心思意念,堅定他們的心歸向你。 19 求你賜給我的兒子所羅門專一的心,謹守你的誡命、法度和律例,作成這一切事,用我所預備的一切來建造殿宇。”

眾民稱頌耶和華並且獻祭

20 大衛對全體會眾說:“你們應當稱頌耶和華你們的 神。”於是全體會眾就稱頌耶和華他們列祖的 神,俯伏敬拜耶和華和王。 21 第二天,他們向耶和華獻祭,他們向耶和華獻上燔祭;那一天他們獻了公牛一千頭、公綿羊一千隻、羊羔一千隻,以及同獻的奠祭,又為以色列眾人獻了許多祭。

所羅門登基作王

22 那一天,他們十分喜樂地在耶和華面前吃喝。他們再次表示擁立大衛的兒子所羅門作王,膏他為耶和華作君王,又膏撒督作祭司。 23 於是所羅門坐在耶和華所賜的位上,接續他父親大衛作王;他凡事亨通,以色列眾人都聽從他。 24 眾領袖和勇士,以及大衛王的眾子,都順服所羅門王。 25 耶和華使所羅門在以色列眾人面前非常尊大,又賜給他君王的威嚴,勝過在他以前所有的以色列王。

大衛逝世

26 耶西的兒子大衛作全以色列的王。 27 大衛作王統治以色列的日子共四十年;他在希伯崙作王七年,在耶路撒冷作王三十三年。 28 大衛年紀老邁,壽數滿足,享盡富足和尊榮才去世;他的兒子所羅門接續他作王。 29 大衛王一生始末的事蹟,都記在撒母耳先見的書上、拿單先知的書上和迦得先見的書上。 30 還有他治理的一切國事,他的英勇事蹟,以及在他身上和以色列並各地列國發生的事蹟,都記在這些書上。

29 David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house: even three thousand talents of gold,[a] of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents[b] of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses; of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to Yahweh?”

Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly; and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents[c] and ten thousand darics,[d] of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents. People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of Yahweh’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all! 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own. 15 For we are strangers before you and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. 16 Yahweh our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you. 18 Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; 19 and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.”

20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!”

All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king. 21 They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel, 22 and ate and drank before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the princes, the mighty men, and also all of the sons of King David submitted themselves to Solomon the king. 25 Yahweh magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and gave to him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

26 Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer, 30 with all his reign and his might, and the events that involved him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the lands.

Footnotes

  1. 29:4 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 3000 talents is about 90 metric tons
  2. 29:4 about 210 metric tons
  3. 29:7 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 5000 talents is about 150 metric tons
  4. 29:7 a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.