David’s Last Days

1 Now King David was old and advanced in age.^(A) Although they covered him with bedclothes, he could not get warm.^{(B) 2} So his servants said to him, “Let us^[a] search for a young virgin for my lord the king.^(C) She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get warm.” ³ They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag^(D) the Shunammite^[b](E) and brought her to the king. ⁴ The girl was of unsurpassed beauty,^(F) and she became the king’s caregiver. She attended to him, but he was not intimate with^[c] her.

Adonijah’s Bid for Power

⁵ Adonijah son of Haggith^(G) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and fifty men to run ahead of him.^{[d](H) 6} But his father had never once infuriated^(I) him by asking, “Why did you do that?” ^(J) In addition, he was quite handsome^(K) and was born after Absalom.^{(L) 7} He conspired^[e] with Joab son of Zeruiah^(M) and with the priest Abiathar.^(N) They supported^(O) Adonijah, ⁸ but the priest Zadok,^(P) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(Q) the prophet Nathan,^(R) Shimei,^(S) Rei, and David’s royal guard^[f](T) did not side with Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel.^(U) He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,^{(V) 10} but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the royal guard, or his brother Solomon.^(W)

Nathan’s and Bathsheba’s Appeals

¹¹ Then Nathan^(X) said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother,^(Y) “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king^(Z) and our lord David does not know it?^{(AA) 12} Now please come and let me advise you.^(AB) Save your life and the life of your son Solomon.^{(AC) 13} Go, approach King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne?^(AD) So why has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ At that moment, while you are still there speaking with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.”^(AE)

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him.^{(AF) 16} Bathsheba knelt low and paid homage to the king, and he asked, “What do you want?”

¹⁷ She replied, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ Now look, Adonijah has become king. And,^[g] my lord the king, you didn’t know it. ¹⁹ He has lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, the priest Abiathar, and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite your servant Solomon. ²⁰ Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. ²¹ Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his ancestors,^(AG) I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals.”^(AH)

²² At that moment, while she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan arrived,^{(AI) 23} and it was announced to the king, “The prophet Nathan is here.” He came into the king’s presence and paid homage to him with his face to the ground.

²⁴ “My lord the king,” Nathan said, “did you say, ‘Adonijah is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne’? ²⁵ For today he went down and lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and the priest Abiathar. And look! They’re eating and drinking in his presence, and they’re saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ ²⁶ But he did not invite me—me, your servant—or the priest Zadok or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon. ²⁷ I’m certain my lord the king would not have let this happen without letting your servant^[h] know who will sit on my lord the king’s throne after him.”

Solomon Confirmed King

²⁸ King David responded by saying, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. ²⁹ The king swore an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every difficulty,^{(AJ) 30} just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place,^(AK) that is exactly what I will do this very day.”^(AL)

³¹ Bathsheba knelt low with her face to the ground, paying homage to the king,^(AM) and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” ^(AN)

³² King David then said, “Call in the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.”^(AO) So they came into the king’s presence. ³³ The king said to them, “Take my servants^(AP) with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule,^(AQ) and take him down to Gihon.^{(AR) 34} There, the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan are to anoint him as king over Israel.^(AS) You are to blow the ram’s horn^(AT) and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ^{(AU) 35} You are to come up after him, and he is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one who is to become king in my place; he is the one I have commanded to be ruler^(AV) over Israel and Judah.”^(AW)

³⁶ “Amen,” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied to the king. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so affirm it.^{(AX) 37} Just as the Lord was with my lord the king,^(AY) so may he^[i] be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”^(AZ)

³⁸ Then the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites^(BA) went down, had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. ³⁹ The priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon.^(BB) Then they blew the ram’s horn,^(BC) and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!” ^{(BD) 40} All the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy^(BE) that the earth split open from the sound.^[j]

Adonijah Hears of Solomon’s Coronation

⁴¹ Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him^(BF) heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn and said, “Why is the town in such an uproar?” ^{(BG) 42} He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest,^(BH) suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are an important man, and you must be bringing good news.”^(BI)

⁴³ “Unfortunately not,” Jonathan answered him. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. ⁴⁴ And with Solomon, the king has sent the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king’s mule. ⁴⁵ The priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king in Gihon.^(BJ) They have gone up from there rejoicing. The town has been in an uproar; that’s the noise you heard. ⁴⁶ Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne.^(BK)

⁴⁷ “The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more well known than your name, and may he make his throne greater than your throne.’^(BL) Then the king bowed in worship on his bed.^{(BM) 48} And the king went on to say this: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! Today he has provided one to sit on my throne,^(BN) and I am a witness.’”^[k]

⁴⁹ Then all of Adonijah’s guests got up trembling and went their separate ways. ⁵⁰ Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.^(BO)

⁵¹ It was reported to Solomon, “Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first^[l] swear to me that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”

⁵² Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground,^(BP) but if evil is found in him, he dies.”^{(BQ) 53} So King Solomon sent for him, and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your home.”

David’s Dying Instructions to Solomon

2 As the time approached for David to die,^(BR) he ordered his son Solomon, ² “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth.^(BS) Be strong and be a man,^{(BT) 3} and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do^(BU) and wherever you turn, ⁴ and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul,^(BV) you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’^(BW)

⁵ “You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me^(BX) and what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner^(BY) and Amasa son of Jether.^(BZ) He murdered them in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.^{[m] 6} Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.

⁷ “Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table^(CA) because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.^(CB)

⁸ “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(CC) But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’^{(CD) 9} So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors^(CE) and was buried in the city of David.^{(CF) 11} The length of time David reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.^{(CG) 12} Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.^(CH)

Adonijah’s Foolish Request

¹³ Now Adonijah son of Haggith^(CI) came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come peacefully?”

“Peacefully,” he replied,^{(CJ) 14} and then asked, “May I talk with you?” ^[n]

“Go ahead,” she answered.

¹⁵ “You know the kingship was mine,”^(CK) he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother,^(CL) for the Lord gave it to him.^{(CM) 16} So now I have just one request of you; don’t turn me down.”^[o]

She said to him, “Go on.”

¹⁷ He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite^(CN) as a wife.”

¹⁸ “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

¹⁹ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, sat down on his throne, and had a throne placed for the king’s mother.^(CO) So she sat down at his right hand.^(CP)

²⁰ Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.”

“Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

²¹ So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my elder brother,^(CQ) you might as well ask the kingship for him,^(CR) for the priest Abiathar, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”^{[p](CS) 23} Then King Solomon took an oath by the Lord: “May God punish me and do so severely^(CT) if Adonijah has not made this request at the cost of his life. ²⁴ And now, as the Lord lives—the one who established me, seated me on the throne of my father David, and made me a dynasty as he promised^(CU)—I swear Adonijah will be put to death today!” ²⁵ Then King Solomon dispatched Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(CV) who struck down Adonijah, and he died.

Abiathar’s Banishment

²⁶ The king said to the priest Abiathar,^(CW) “Go to your fields in Anathoth.^(CX) Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death today, since you carried the ark of the Lord God in the presence of my father David^(CY) and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”^{(CZ) 27} So Solomon banished Abiathar from being the Lord’s priest, and it fulfilled the Lord’s prophecy he had spoken at Shiloh against Eli’s family.^(DA)

Joab’s Execution

²⁸ The news reached Joab. Since he had supported Adonijah^(DB) but not Absalom,^(DC) Joab fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar.^(DD)

²⁹ It was reported to King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and is now beside the altar.”

Then Solomon sent^[q] Benaiah son of Jehoiada^(DE) and told him, “Go and strike him down!” ^(DF)

³⁰ So Benaiah went to the tabernacle and said to Joab, “This is what the king says: ‘Come out!’” ^(DG)

But Joab said, “No, for I will die here.”

So Benaiah took a message back to the king, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”

³¹ The king said to him, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him in order to remove from me and from my father’s family the blood that Joab shed without just cause.^{(DH) 32} The Lord will bring back his own blood on his head because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, without my father David’s knowledge. With his sword, Joab murdered Abner^(DI) son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa^(DJ) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. ³³ The responsibility for their deaths will come back to Joab and to his descendants^[r] forever, but for David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne, there will be peace from the Lord forever.”^(DK)

³⁴ Benaiah son of Jehoiada^(DL) went up, struck down Joab, and put him to death. He was buried at his house in the wilderness.^{(DM) 35} Then the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army,^(DN) and he appointed the priest Zadok in Abiathar’s place.

Shimei’s Banishment and Execution

³⁶ Then the king summoned Shimei^(DO) and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but don’t leave there and go anywhere else. ³⁷ On the day you do leave and cross the Kidron Valley,^(DP) know for sure that you will certainly die. Your blood will be on your own head.”^(DQ)

³⁸ Shimei said to the king, “The sentence is fair; your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

³⁹ But then, at the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish^(DR) son of Maacah, king of Gath.^(DS) Shimei was informed, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” ⁴⁰ So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath to search for his slaves. He went and brought them back from Gath.

⁴¹ It was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned. ⁴² So the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Didn’t I make you swear by the Lord and warn you, saying, ‘On the day you leave and go anywhere else, know for sure that you will certainly die’? And you said to me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will obey.’ ⁴³ So why have you not kept the Lord’s oath and the command that I gave you?” ⁴⁴ The king also said, “You yourself know all the evil that you did to my father David.^(DT) Therefore, the Lord has brought back your evil on your head, ⁴⁵ but King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain established before the Lord forever.”^(DU)

⁴⁶ Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hand.^(DV)

The Divisions of the Levites

23 When David was old and full of days,^(A) he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.^{(B) 2} Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. ³ The Levites thirty years old or more were counted;^(C) the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand by headcount.^{(D) 4} “Of these,” David said, “twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work on the Lord’s temple,^(E) six thousand are to be officers and judges,^{(F) 5} four thousand are to be gatekeepers, and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the instruments that I have made for worship.”^(G)

⁶ Then David divided them into divisions according to Levi’s sons:^(H) Gershom,^[a] Kohath, and Merari.

Aaron, along with his descendants,^(J) was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of the Lord,^(K) to minister to him, and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. ¹⁴ As for Moses the man of God,^(L) his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi by their ancestral families^[d]—the family heads, according to their registration by name in the headcount—twenty years old or more, who worked in the service of the Lord’s temple.^{(M) 25} For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to his people,^(N) and he has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service”^(O)— ²⁷ for according to the last words of David, the Levites twenty years old or more were to be counted— ²⁸ “but their duty will be to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the Lord’s temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God’s temple— ²⁹ as well as the rows of the Bread of the Presence,^(P) the fine flour for the grain offering,^(Q) the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking,^[e](R) the mixing,^(S) and all measurements of volume and length.^{(T) 30} They are also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and likewise in the evening. ³¹ Whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on the Sabbaths, New Moons,^(U) and appointed festivals, they are to offer them regularly in the Lord’s presence according to the number prescribed for them.^{(V) 32} They are to carry out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the holy place,^(W) and for their relatives, the descendants of Aaron,^(X) in the service of the Lord’s temple.”

The Divisions of the Priests

24 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.^{(Y) 2} But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.^{(Z) 3} Together with Zadok^(AA) from the descendants of Eleazar and Ahimelech from the descendants of Ithamar, David divided them according to the assigned duties of their service. ⁴ Since more leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than Ithamar’s, they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of ancestral families^[f] were from Eleazar’s descendants, and eight heads of ancestral families were from Ithamar’s. ⁵ They^(AB) were assigned by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.

⁶ The secretary, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the officers, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech^(AC) son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites. One ancestral family^[g] was taken for Eleazar, and then one for Ithamar.

¹⁹ These had their assigned duties for service when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to their regulations, which they received from their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

The Rest of the Levites

Those were the descendants of the Levites according to their ancestral families.^{[k] 31} They also cast lots the same way as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.^(AF)

The Levitical Musicians

25 David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman,^(AG) and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy^(AH) accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.^(AI) This is the list of the men who performed their service:

⁶ All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority. ⁷ They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. ⁸ They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.^(AL)

9 The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph, his sons, and his relatives—	12[n]
to Gedaliah the second: him, his relatives, and his sons—	12
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—	12
11 the fourth to Izri,[o] his sons, and his relatives—	12
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—	12
18 the eleventh to Azarel,[p] his sons, and his relatives—	12
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—	12
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—	12
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—	12
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—	12
27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—	12
28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—	12
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—	12
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—	12
31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his relatives—	12.

The Levitical Gatekeepers

26 The following were the divisions of the gatekeepers:

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, under their leading men, had duties for ministering in the Lord’s temple, just as their relatives did. ¹³ They cast lots for each temple gate according to their ancestral families, young and old alike.^(AN)

¹⁴ The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah.^[r] They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, an insightful counselor, and his lot came out for the north gate. ¹⁵ Obed-edom’s was the south gate, and his sons’ lot was for the storehouses; ¹⁶ it was the west gate and the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending highway for Shuppim and Hosah.

There were guards stationed at every watch. ¹⁷ There were six Levites each day^[s] on the east, four each day on the north, four each day on the south, and two pair at the storehouses. ¹⁸ As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court. ¹⁹ Those were the divisions of the gatekeepers from the descendants of the Korahites and Merarites.

The Levitical Treasurers and Other Officials

²⁰ From the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of God’s temple and the treasuries of what had been dedicated.^{(AO) 21} From the sons of Ladan, who were the descendants of the Gershonites through Ladan and were the family heads belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. ²² The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

²³ From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: ²⁴ Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’s son Gershom, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomith.^{[t] 26} This Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of what had been dedicated by King David,^(AP) by the family heads who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. ²⁷ They dedicated part of the plunder from their battles for the repair of the Lord’s temple. ²⁸ All that the seer Samuel, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, along with everything else that had been dedicated, were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

²⁹ From the Izrahites: Chenaniah and his sons had duties outside the temple^[u](AQ) as officers and judges^(AR) over Israel. ³⁰ From the Hebronites: Hashabiah^(AS) and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had assigned duties in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. ³¹ From the Hebronites: Jerijah^(AT) was the head of the Hebronites, according to the family records of his ancestors. A search was made in the fortieth year of David’s reign and strong, capable men were found among them at Jazer^(AU) in Gilead. ³² There were among Jerijah’s relatives 2,700 capable men who were family heads. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh as overseers in every matter relating to God and the king.^(AV)

David’s Secular Officials

27 This is the list of the Israelites, the family heads, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter to do with the divisions that were on rotated military duty each month throughout^[v] the year. There were 24,000 in each division:

²³ David didn’t count the men aged twenty or under, for the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.^{(AY) 24} Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn’t complete it. There was wrath against Israel because of this census,^(AZ) and the number was not entered in the Historical Record^[y] of King David.

³² David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of understanding and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended^[aa] the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel^(BD) was the king’s counselor. Hushai^(BE) the Archite was the king’s friend. ³⁴ After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah,^(BF) then Abiathar.^(BG) Joab was the commander of the king’s army.^(BH)

David Commissions Solomon to Build the Temple

28 David assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem:^(BI) the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials, the fighting men,^(BJ) and all the best soldiers. ² Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the Lord’s covenant^(BK) and as a footstool^(BL) for our God. I had made preparations to build, ³ but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’^(BM)

⁴ “Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s family^(BN) to be king over Israel forever.^(BO) For he chose Judah as leader,^(BP) and from the house of Judah, my father’s family, and from my father’s sons,^(BQ) he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ And out of all my sons^(BR)—for the Lord has given me many sons—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom over Israel.^{(BS) 6} He said to me,^(BT) ‘Your son Solomon is the one who is to build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping my commands and my ordinances as he is doing today.’^(BU)

⁸ “So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and follow all the commands of the Lord your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

⁹ “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind,^(BV) for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought.^(BW) If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.^{(BX) 10} Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”^(BY)

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans^(BZ) for the portico^(CA) of the temple and its buildings, treasuries, upstairs rooms, inner rooms, and a room for the mercy seat.^{(CB) 12} The plans contained everything he had in mind^[ab](CC) for the courts of the Lord’s house, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries^(CD) of God’s house, and the treasuries for what is dedicated. ¹³ Also included were plans for the divisions of the priests and the Levites; all the work of service in the Lord’s house; all the articles of service of the Lord’s house; ¹⁴ the weight of gold for all the articles for every kind of service; the weight of all the silver articles for every kind of service; ¹⁵ the weight of the gold lampstands^(CE) and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the service of each lampstand; ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and the silver for the silver tables; ¹⁷ the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling basins, and pitchers; the weight of each gold dish; the weight of each silver bowl; ¹⁸ the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense;^(CF) and the plans for the chariot of^[ac](CG) the gold cherubim that spread out their wings and cover the ark of the Lord’s covenant.^(CH)

¹⁹ David concluded, “By the Lord’s hand on me, he enabled me to understand everything in writing, all the details of the plan.”^[ad]

²⁰ Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous,^(CI) and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you^(CJ) until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished. ²¹ Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house.^(CK) Every willing person of any skill^(CL) will be at your disposal for the work, and the leaders and all the people are at your every command.”

Contributions for Building the Temple

29 Then King David said to all the assembly, “My son Solomon—God has chosen him alone—is young and inexperienced. The task is great^(CM) because the building will not be built for a human but for the Lord God.^{(CN) 2} So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God:^(CO) gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting,^[ae] antimony,^[af](CP) stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble. ³ Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house: ⁴ 100 tons^[ag](CQ) of gold (gold of Ophir^(CR)) and 250 tons^[ah] of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, ⁵ the gold for the gold work and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the Lord today?”

⁶ Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds,^(CS) and the officials in charge of the king’s work^(CT) gave willingly. ⁷ For the service of God’s house they gave 185 tons^[ai] of gold and 10,000 gold coins,^[aj](CU) 375 tons^[ak] of silver, 675 tons^[al] of bronze, and 4,000 tons^[am] of iron. ⁸ Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the Lord’s house under the care of Jehiel^(CV) the Gershonite. ⁹ Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord wholeheartedly.^(CW) King David also rejoiced greatly.

David’s Prayer

¹⁰ Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said,

May you be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. ¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.^{(CX) 12} Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything.^(CY) Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.^{(CZ) 13} Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.^{[an] 15} For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors.^(DA) Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.^{(DB) 16} Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart^(DC) and that you are pleased with what is right.^(DD) I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present^[ao] here giving joyfully and^[ap] willingly to you. ¹⁸ Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you. ¹⁹ Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes,^(DE) and to build the building for which I have made provision.^(DF)

²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, “Blessed be the Lord your God.” So the whole assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors.^(DG) They knelt low and paid homage to the Lord and the king.^(DH)

²¹ The following day they offered sacrifices to the Lord and burnt offerings to the Lord: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.^{(DI) 22} They ate and drank with great joy in the Lord’s presence that day.

The Enthronement of Solomon

Then, for a second time,^(DJ) they made David’s son Solomon king; they anointed him^[aq] as the Lord’s ruler,^(DK) and Zadok as the priest. ²³ Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.^{(DL) 24} All the leaders and the mighty men, and all of King David’s sons as well, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel^(DM) and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been bestowed on any king over Israel before him.^(DN)

A Summary of David’s Life

²⁶ David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.^{(DO) 27} The length of his reign over Israel was forty years; he reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.^{(DP) 28} He died at a good old age,^(DQ) full of days,^(DR) riches, and honor, and his son Solomon became king in his place. ²⁹ As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, note that they are written in the Events of the Seer Samuel,^(DS) the Events of the Prophet Nathan,^(DT) and the Events of the Seer Gad,^{(DU) 30} along with all his reign, his might, and the incidents that affected him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the surrounding lands.