Solomon Commanded to Build the Temple

Then (A)he called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. David said to Solomon, “(B)My son, [a]I had intended to build a house for the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘(C)You have shed much blood and have [b]waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and (D)I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for (E)his name will be [c]Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 (F)He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, (G)the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 (H)Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may (I)keep the Law of the Lord your God. 13 (J)Then you will prosper, if you are careful to [d]follow the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. (K)Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, [e]with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord (L)a hundred thousand [f]talents of gold and a million talents of silver, and (M)bronze and iron beyond measure, for [g]they are in great quantity; I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to that. 15 Moreover there are many workmen with you, stonecutters, masons of stone, and carpenters; and all of them are skillful in every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, silver, bronze, and iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may (N)the Lord be with you.”

17 (O)David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is the Lord your God not with you? And (P)has He not given you rest on every side? For He has handed over to me the inhabitants of the land, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people. 19 Now (Q)set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; then arise, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, (R)so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built (S)for the name of the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:7 Lit as for me, it was with my heart
  2. 1 Chronicles 22:8 Lit made
  3. 1 Chronicles 22:9 I.e., peaceful
  4. 1 Chronicles 22:13 Lit do the
  5. 1 Chronicles 22:14 Lit in my affliction
  6. 1 Chronicles 22:14 A talent was about 75 lb. or 34 kg
  7. 1 Chronicles 22:14 Lit it is

Instructions to Solomon

David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, “My son,[a] I had intended to build a temple for the name of the Lord my God. 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. 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:7 LXX, DSS; MT his son
  2. 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like peace in Heb.
  3. 1 Chronicles 22:12 Heb uncertain