1 Chronicles 22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 1
David Prepares to Build the Temple
2 David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God.(B) 3 David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing,(C) 4 and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David.(D) 5 For David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.(E)
David’s Charge to Solomon and the Leaders
6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had planned to build a house to the name of the Lord my God.(F) 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘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 in my sight on the earth.(G) 9 See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; indeed, his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace[a] and quiet to Israel in his days.(H) 10 He shall 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 his royal throne in Israel forever.’(I) 11 Now, my son, 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.(J) 12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God.(K) 13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed.(L) 14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone also I have provided. To these you must add more.(M) 15 You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”(N)
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying,(O) 18 “Is not the Lord your God with you? Has he not given you rest 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.(P) 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into the house built for the name of the Lord.”(Q)
Footnotes
- 22.9 The Heb word for peace is related to Solomon
1 Chronicles 22
Common English Bible
22 Then David said, “This is where the Lord God’s temple will be, along with Israel’s altar for entirely burned offerings.”
David prepares to build the temple
2 David gave orders to gather the immigrants living in the land of Israel, and he appointed masons who would cut stones for building God’s temple. 3 David also provided a huge amount of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for the braces, so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed, 4 and innumerable cedar logs from the Sidonians and the Tyrians, who gave them to David. 5 David thought, My son Solomon is too inexperienced to build the Lord’s temple. It must be great beyond compare in order to win fame and glory throughout all lands, so I myself will prepare things for him. So David made extensive preparations before his death.
Instructions to Solomon
6 David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son,[a] I had intended to build a temple for the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the Lord told me: You’ve shed much blood and waged great wars. You won’t build a temple for my name because you’ve spilled so much blood on the ground before me. 9 A son has just been born to you. He’ll be a man of peace, and I’ll give him peace with all his surrounding enemies. In fact, his name will be Solomon,[b] and I’ll give Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He will be the one to build a temple for my name. He’ll become my son, and I’ll become his father, and I’ll establish his royal throne over Israel forever.
11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you so that you may successfully build the temple of the Lord your God, as he promised you. 12 May the Lord be sure to give you insight and understanding so that when he appoints you over Israel, you will observe the Instruction from the Lord your God.[c] 13 Then, if you carefully follow the regulations and case laws that the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel, you’ll prosper. Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or lose heart! 14 With great effort I’ve now provided for the Lord’s temple one hundred thousand kikkars of gold, one million kikkars of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed, as well as wood and stone, though you may add to these. 15 You also have innumerable people to do the work: stonecutters, masons, and carpenters with every skill required for any task, 16 whether in gold, silver, bronze, or iron. So get to work, and may the Lord be with you.”
Instructions to Israel’s leaders
17 Then David ordered all of Israel’s leaders to help his son Solomon: 18 “The Lord your God is with you! He’s given you peace on every side. He’s placed under my power the land’s people, so that the land is under the control of the Lord and his people. 19 Now then, dedicate yourselves to seeking the Lord your God. Get to work and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the chest containing the Lord’s covenant together with God’s holy equipment may be brought into the temple built for the Lord’s name.”
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 22:7 LXX, DSS; MT his son
- 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like peace in Heb.
- 1 Chronicles 22:12 Heb uncertain
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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