Bible in 90 Days
Priestly Divisions Assigned
24 Now the divisions of the sons of Aaron were these.
The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. 3 Then David, along with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelek of the sons of Ithamar, divided them to their offices by their service. 4 Since the sons of Eleazar were found to have more chief men than the sons of Ithamar, they divided them into sixteen heads of the fathers’ houses for the sons of Eleazar, and eight for the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses. 5 So they divided them by lots, the one as the other, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar.
6 Shemaiah the son of Nethanel, the Levite scribe, wrote them down in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, Ahimelek the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and the Levites, one father’s house taken for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shekaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 These were their appointments for their service to come into the house of the Lord according to the schedule prescribed for them by Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
Remaining Levite Assignments
20 Now for the remaining sons of Levi:
from the sons of Amram, Shubael;
from the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21 For Rehabiah: from the sons of Rehabiah,
the first was Ishiah.
22 From the Izharites, Shelomoth;
from the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah;
from the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah, Ishiah;
from the sons of Ishiah, Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi;
the son of Jaaziah, Beno.
27 The sons of Merari:
by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri.
28 For Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 For Kish: the son of Kish,
Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 31 These also cast lots just as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites, the head of the fathers’ houses as well as his younger brother.
The Musicians
25 Then David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, those who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was:
2 From the sons of Asaph:
Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the guidance of Asaph, who prophesied according to the decree of the king.
3 For Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun:
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the guidance of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in giving thanks and praise to the Lord.
4 For Heman, the sons of Heman:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer, according to the words of God, to exalt him, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman.
6 All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God by decree of the king: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7 So the number of them, with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of whom were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8 They cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and student alike.
9 The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph;
the second to Gedaliah,
to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve;
10 the third to Zakkur,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
14 the seventh to Jesarelah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shimei,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
18 the eleventh to Azarel,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
20 for the thirteenth to Shubael,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
21 for the fourteenth to Mattithiah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
22 for the fifteenth to Jerimoth,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
28 for the twenty-first to Hothir,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
29 for the twenty-second to Giddalti,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
30 for the twenty-third to Mahazioth,
his sons and his brothers, twelve;
31 for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer,
his sons and his brothers, twelve.
The Gatekeepers
26 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers:
from the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah the firstborn,
Jediael the second,
Zebadiah the third,
Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth,
Jehohanan the sixth,
and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-Edom had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sakar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh,
and Peullethai the eighth
(for God blessed him).
6 Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled their fathers’ houses, for they were men of great ability. 7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men: namely Elihu and Semakiah. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom with their sons and their brothers, able men qualified for service, sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen in all.
10 Also Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah, thirteen.
12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, for their chief men, had assignments to minister in the house of the Lord just as their brothers. 13 They cast lots, small and great alike, according to their fathers’ houses, gate by gate.
14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North Gate; 15 to Obed-Edom the South Gate, and to his sons was allotted the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, at the Shalleketh Gate on the ascending road, guard corresponding to guard.
17 On the east there were six Levites each day, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse. 18 For the colonnade on the west, there were four at the highway, and two at the colonnade.
19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.
The Treasurers and Other Officials
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated offerings.
21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites, belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasures of the house of the Lord.
23 From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
24 Shubael the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. 25 His brothers by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasures of the dedicated offerings, which David the king, the heads of the fathers, the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, and the commanders of the army had dedicated. 27 Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28 Also all that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of Kish and Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomith and his brothers.
29 From the Izharites, Kenaniah and his sons were assigned the outside duties for Israel, as officers and judges.
30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred able men, were administrators of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. 31 Jeriah was chief of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David, mighty men of valor were found in the records among the Hebronites at Jazer of Gilead, 32 and his brothers, able men, two thousand seven hundred heads of the fathers, to them King David entrusted all matters of God and of the king concerning the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
The Military Divisions
27 Now these are the sons of Israel according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who ministered to the king in all matters concerning the divisions, which came and went, month by month throughout all the months of the year, to each division of twenty-four thousand:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel led the first division for the first month; in his division, twenty-four thousand. 3 He was from the sons of Perez and was the leader of all the officers of the army for the first month.
4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division led the division of the second month with Mikloth as the ruler: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: in his division, twenty-four thousand. 6 Benaiah himself was the mighty man of the thirty who led the thirty: Ammizabad his son led his division.
7 The fourth for the fourth month, Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
8 The fifth for the fifth month, the leader Shamhuth the Izrahite: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
9 The sixth for the sixth month, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
10 The seventh for the seventh month, Helez the Pelonite, from the sons of Ephraim: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
11 The eighth for the eighth month, Sibbekai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
12 The ninth for the ninth month, Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
13 The tenth for the tenth month, Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
14 The eleventh for the eleventh month, Benaiah the Pirathonite, from the sons of Ephraim: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
15 The twelfth for the twelfth month, Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: in his division, twenty-four thousand.
Leaders of the Tribes
16 Over the tribes of Israel:
The chief officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zikri;
over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maakah;
17 over the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel;
over the Aaronites, Zadok;
18 over Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David;
over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19 over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah;
over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel;
20 over the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah;
over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21 over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah;
over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22 over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham.
These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23 But David did not take the number from twenty years old and under because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel as the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he did not finish. And because of this wrath came on Israel, and the number was not recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.
Civic Officials
25 Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s treasures, and Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers.
26 Ezri the son of Kelub was over those who did the work of the field to till the ground.
27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over what was in the vineyards for the stores of wine.
28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the Shephelah, and Joash was over the stores of oil.
29 Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys.
30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys.
31 Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks.
All these were the overseers of King David’s property.
32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hakmoni was with the king’s sons.
33 Now Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and Abiathar came after Ahithophel, and Joab was the leader of the king’s army.
David’s Plans for the Temple
28 Now David assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the officers of the divisions of those ministering to the king, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, the stewards over all the property and livestock of the king and his sons with the eunuchs and the fighting men and all the brave warriors.
2 So King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, a footstool for the feet of our God, so I prepared to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have spilled much blood.’
4 “Still, the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever; for He chose Judah as leader, 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. 5 Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 For He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who shall 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 is fully committed to keep My commandments and My judgments as it is this day.’
8 “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever. 9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your fathers and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing spirit, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will abandon you forever. 10 See now that the Lord chose you to build the house for His sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the building plans for the vestibule of the temple, its house, its treasury, its roof chambers, its inner rooms, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the plans, all of which were given to him by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of the Lord and for the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of the house of God, and the storehouses of the dedicated offerings; 13 for the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord and for all the implements of the service of the house of the Lord; 14 the weight of gold for all the golden implements of service, the implements of silver by weight for all implements of service, 15 and the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; 16 the weight of gold for the tables of the showbread, table by table, and silver for the tables of silver; 17 and the pure gold forks, the basins, and the pitchers; for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; the weight of silver for each silver dish; 18 and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19 “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the works of this pattern.”
20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and take action. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work of the service of the house of the Lord. 21 Now, here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and all those who are willing and skillful for all the work will be with you for all the service; also the leaders and the people will be wholly at your command.”
Temple Offerings
29 King David said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great since the palace is not for a man but for the Lord God. 2 So with all my might I have prepared for the house of my God: gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, along with onyx stones and stones for setting, stones of antimony, multicolored stones, and every precious stone, even alabaster in abundance. 3 Moreover, in my devotion to the house of my God I have offered from my own property, gold and silver, which I give for the house of my God, over and above that which I prepared for the holy dwelling place: 4 three thousand talents[a] of gold of the gold of Ophir and seven thousand talents[b] of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the house; 5 of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, even for all the handiwork of the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?”
6 Then the leaders of the fathers’ houses, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the officials of the king’s workers offered willingly. 7 Also they donated to the service of the house of God five thousand talents[c] of gold and ten thousand darics[d] of gold, ten thousand talents[e] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[f] of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents[g] of iron. 8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
A Prayer of David
10 So David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly, and David said,
“Blessed are You, O Lord,
the God of Israel,
our Father forever and ever.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power,
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,
for everything in the heavens and the earth is Yours.
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
and You exalt Yourself as head above all.
12 Riches and honor flow from You,
and You rule over all.
In Your hand are power and might,
and in Your hand it is to make great and to strengthen all.
13 So now, our God, we give thanks to You,
and praise Your glorious name.
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so freely as this? For everything comes from You, even from Your own hand we have given to You. 15 For we are strangers and sojourners before You, just as all our fathers were. Our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name has come from Your hand, and all belongs to You. 17 I know, my God, that You test the heart, and with uprightness You are pleased, so in the uprightness of my heart I have offered freely all these things, and now I have seen Your people, those present here, offer freely and joyously to You. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the thoughts and intentions of the heart of Your people and direct their heart to You. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, to do all these things and to build the palace for which I have made preparation.”
20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless now the Lord your God.” So all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the Lord and the king.
Solomon, King of Israel(A)
21 On the following day, they made sacrifices to the Lord and offered burnt offerings to the Lord: one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy.
And they made Solomon the son of David king a second time, for they anointed him to the Lord as a ruler and Zadok as a priest. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
25 The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had never been on any king in Israel before him.
The Death of David(B)
26 Now David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 His tenure as king over Israel was forty years: In Hebron, he reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem he was king thirty-three years. 28 So 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 to last, are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer 30 with all his reign and his might and the times that overtook him, and Israel, and all the kingdoms of the lands.
Solomon Seeks Wisdom(C)
1 Now Solomon the son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made Solomon exceedingly great.
2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. 3 Then they all went, Solomon and all the assembly that was with him, to the high place that was at Gibeon, because the tent of meeting with God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 And the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was set before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out to seek the Lord. 6 And Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was before the tent of meeting, and he offered up a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I might give to you.”
8 Then Solomon said to God, “You have given a great mercy to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, may Your word to David my father be confirmed, for You have made me king over a people numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give wisdom and knowledge to me so that I might know how to go before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
11 Then God responded to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for possessions, wealth, and honor, or even the life of those who hate you, nor have you asked for many days of life, but you have asked Me for wisdom and knowledge that you might govern My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are now given to you. Possessions, wealth, and honor I will also give to you; such has not been given to kings before you nor those who will follow after you.”
13 So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horses. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, and he put them in designated cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold in Jerusalem as abundant as stones and cedar as plentiful as sycamore trees in the lowlands of the Shephelah. 16 The horses of Solomon were imported from Egypt and Kue, and the traders of the king would take them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported chariots from Egypt for six hundred shekels[h] of silver and a horse for one hundred and fifty pieces.[i] And they imported from these places to all the kings of the Hittites and Arameans.
Plans for Building the Temple(D)
2 Now Solomon wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord and a royal house for his kingship. 2 And Solomon designated seventy thousand men to carry materials, eighty thousand men to cut stone in the hills, and three thousand six hundred supervisors to oversee these men.
3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram[j] king of Tyre saying,
“As you did for David my father and sent him cedar trees in order to build for himself a house in which to dwell, so deal with me. 4 I am going to build a temple for the name of the Lord my God, sanctified for Him, for making sacrifices before Him, and for incense of fragrant spices, and for the continual showbread, for burnt offerings on both morning and evening, and for Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the Lord our God, as an ordinance forever for Israel.
5 “And the house that I am building will be great because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I that I build a house for Him, except to make offerings before Him?
7 “Now may you send to me a wise man who works with gold, silver, bronze, iron, and in purple, crimson, and violet threads and knows how to engrave, who will be with the skilled workers and me in Judah and Jerusalem, which David my father established.
8 “And may you send me trees of cedar, cypress, and algum from Lebanon because I realize that your slaves know how to cut timber in Lebanon; and my servants will be alongside your servants, 9 to prepare an abundance of timber for me, because the temple that I will build will be great and marvelous. 10 I will provide for the woodsmen, your servants who cut timber, twenty thousand dry kors[k] of crushed wheat, twenty thousand kors[l] of barley, twenty thousand liquid baths[m] of wine, and twenty thousand liquid baths of oil.”
11 Then Hiram king of Tyre responded in a letter that he sent to Solomon,
“Because the Lord loves His people, He has made you king over them.”
12 And Hiram said,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who made heaven and earth and has given King David a wise son, having insight and understanding, who is building a temple for the Lord and a royal house for his kingship.
13 “And now I have sent a skilled man, endowed with understanding, Huram-Abi, 14 the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan and the son of a man of Tyre, who knows gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, and purple, violet, blue, and crimson threads, and who knows how to make all types of engravings and to devise every type of design that is given to him, with your skilled men and the skilled men of my lord David your father.
15 “Now the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine that my lord has declared, may he send these items to his slaves. 16 And let us cut the timber from Lebanon, whatever you need, and we will bring it to you on rafts on the sea to Joppa, and you will bring it up to Jerusalem.”
17 Then Solomon numbered all the male foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the census that David his father had taken. And there were found one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred. 18 And he made seventy thousand of them to carry materials, eighty thousand to cut stone in the hills, and three thousand six hundred supervisors to make the people work.
Solomon Builds the Temple(E)
3 So Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where He appeared to David his father, at the place that David established on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build in the second month[n] on the second day during the fourth year of his reign.[o]
3 These are the foundation measurements that Solomon used for building the house of God. The cubit[p] length in the former standard measure was sixty cubits and the width twenty cubits.[q] 4 The porch vestibule that was in front of the nave hall had its length, like the width of the house, as twenty cubits,[r] and its height was one hundred and twenty cubits;[s] and he overlaid the inside with pure gold.
5 And he paneled the great house with cypress trees and then covered it with fine gold. Then he decorated it with palm trees and chain work. 6 And he overlaid the house with precious stones for decoration, and the gold was from Parvaim. 7 And he covered the house—its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors—with gold, and he engraved cherubim on the walls.
8 Then he made the dwelling of the Most Holy Place. Its length was as the width of twenty cubits, and its width also twenty cubits; and he covered it with fine gold, six hundred talents[t] worth. 9 And the weight in gold for the nails was fifty shekels.[u] And he covered the upper chamber in gold.
10 Then in the dwelling of the Most Holy Place, he made two cherubim that were cast metal and overlaid them with gold. 11 And the wings of the cherubim were the length of twenty cubits. The wing of one cherub was five cubits, reaching the wall of the house, and the wing of the other was five cubits,[v] reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12 And the wing of this cherub was five cubits, reaching to the other wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits, touching the wing of the first cherub. 13 So the wings of these cherubim spread out were twenty cubits; they were upright on their feet facing inward toward the house.
14 Then he made the curtain of violet, purple, crimson, and blue thread, and he wove cherubim into it.
15 And he made two pillars in front of the house thirty-five cubits[w] high, with a five cubit capital on the top of the pillar. 16 Then he made ornamental chain work, like in the Most Holy Place, and set it on the top of the pillars. Then he designed a hundred pomegranates and set them on the chain work. 17 He then raised the pillars in front of the temple, with one on the right to the south and the other on the left to the north, and the pillar to the south he called Jakin, and the pillar to the north he called Boaz.
The Furnishings of the Temple(F)
4 Then he made a bronze altar that was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits[x] high. 2 And he made a cast metal sea as a water basin. It was round and ten cubits from edge to edge, five cubits high,[y] and a line of thirty cubits[z] measured its circumference. 3 Figures like oxen were underneath it, going all the way around the sea basin, ten cubits[aa] on each side.[ab] There were two rows of oxen that were poured as cast metal.
4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and their back sides were facing inward. 5 The thickness of the sea was a palm,[ac] and its brim was like the brim of a cup, as the flower of a lily. It held three thousand baths[ad] securely.
6 Then he made ten water basins, and he set five on the southern right side and five on the northern left side to rinse off in them the instruments of the burnt offering. And the sea basin was for the priests to wash in.
7 And he made ten lampstands of gold according to the specifications, and he set them in the temple, five on the southern, right side and five on the northern, left side.
8 Then he made ten tables and put them in the temple, five on the southern, right side and five on the northern, left side; and he made a hundred basins of gold.
9 Then he made the court of the priests and the great enclosure and the doors for the enclosure, and he overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 And he set the sea basin at the southeast side, opposite the southern side of the house.
11 And Huram made the pots, shovels, and bowls.
So Huram completed the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 13 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two pieces of grating, with two rows of pomegranates for each screen grate that covered the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars. 14 And he made the supporting stands and the basins on top of the stands, 15 and the sea basin and the twelve oxen underneath it; 16 the pots, shovels, utensils, and all the vessels from polished bronze, Huram-Abi made for King Solomon for the house of the Lord.
17 The king cast these vessels in the district of the Jordan in earthen foundries between Sukkoth and Zeredatha.[ae] 18 And Solomon made all of these items in a great abundance such that they did not consider the weight of the bronze.
19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the gold altar and the tables displaying the showbread, 20 and the finely hammered lampstands with their lamps to burn before the Most Holy Place as prescribed; 21 the golden flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins, ladles, and fire pans, of pure gold. As for the entrance to the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.
5 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings in the treasury of the house of God.
The Ark Brought to the Temple(G)
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes and the leaders of the houses of the fathers among the sons of Israel to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel were assembled before the king at the feast, which is the seventh month.[af]
4 All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites carried the ark. 5 Then they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent. So the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
7 The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place—to the inner sanctuary of the temple, into the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. 8 Then the cherubim wings were spread out over the place of the ark so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were extended so that the ends of the poles of the ark were seen in front of the Most Holy Place, but they were not seen outside; and they are still there to this day. 10 In the ark there was nothing except the two tablets that Moses had given at Mount Horeb where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel when they went out from Egypt.
11 When the priests came out from the Most Holy Place—for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without keeping separate divisions— 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, with their sons and relatives, all clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood to the east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests who were sounding with trumpets, 13 it happened, when the trumpet players and singers made one sound to praise and give thanks to the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and all the instruments of music and praised the Lord saying,
“For He is good
and His mercy endures forever,”
that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud. 14 And the priests were not able to stand in order to serve because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the dark cloud. 2 But I have built for You an exalted house, even a habitation where You can continually dwell.”
Solomon’s Speech
3 Then the king turned his face around, and he blessed the entire assembly of Israel while all the assembly of Israel was standing before him. 4 And he said:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who spoke with David my father and fulfilled His promise saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought out My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose any city from among the tribes of Israel to build a house for My name to dwell there, nor did I select a man to be the leader over My people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem for My name to dwell there, and I have selected David to be over My people Israel.’
7 “And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well because of what was in your heart; 9 only you will not be the one to build the house. For your son, who will be born to you, he will build a house for My name.’
10 “The Lord has fulfilled the word that He spoke. For I have risen up in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and I will build the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that He made with the children of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(H)
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 For Solomon made a bronze platform and set it in the midst of the enclosure. It was five cubits in length, five cubits in width, and three cubits in height.[ag] And he stood on it and knelt down before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven. 14 And he said:
“O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You in the heavens or on the earth, who keeps covenants and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their heart. 15 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father. You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
16 “And now, O Lord God of Israel, keep what You promised Your servant David my father saying, ‘You will not lack a man sitting on the throne of Israel before Me, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, may Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “For will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, are not able to contain You, much less this house that I have built. 19 But respond to the prayer of Your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and prayer of Your servant who prays before You, 20 that Your eyes might be open toward this house both day and night, to the place that You have said that You will set Your name, in order to hear the prayer of Your servant for this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And may You respond from heaven, the place of Your dwelling, so that You hear and forgive.
22 “If a man sins against his companion, and the companion swears and puts him under a curse, and the wronged man comes with an oath before Your altar at this temple, 23 then You will hear from heaven, and You will act and judge Your servants, to repay the guilty one by bringing his way on his own head; and to vindicate the innocent one by rendering to him according to his righteous behavior.
24 “If Your people Israel are struck before enemies because they have sinned against You, and they return and confess Your name and pray and seek Your favor in this house, 25 then You will hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and You will bring them back to the land that You gave them and their fathers.
26 “When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them, 27 then You will hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel because You will teach them the good path in which they will walk, and You will send rain on the land that You have given to Your people as a possession.
28 “When there is famine in the land or when there is pestilence, blight, mildew, winged locust, or grasshopper, or when enemies besiege them in the land up to their city gates, in whatever plague or sickness, 29 whatever prayer or plea that is made by any man or by all your people Israel, when each man knows his own affliction and his own sorrow, and stretches out his hands toward this house, 30 then You will hear from heaven, the place of the habitation of Your dwelling, and forgive, and You will render to each according to his conduct, for You know their hearts (for You alone know the heart of people), 31 so that they may fear You and walk in Your ways all the days that they live on the land that You have given to our fathers.
32 “When foreigners are not from Your people Israel and come from a distant land, because of Your great name, mighty hand, and outstretched arm, and they come and pray toward this house, 33 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and act on everything for which the foreigner calls on You, that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel; and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, in the way that You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city that You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and plea and act for their cause.
36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin) and You are angry against them and give them to their enemies, and they are taken captive to a land, whether distant or near, 37 and they turn their hearts in the land that they have been taken captive, and they repent and seek Your favor in the land of captivity saying, ‘We have sinned, done wrong, and acted wickedly,’ 38 and if they turn in repentance to You with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their captivity that they were taken to, and pray toward the land that You have given to their fathers, and toward the city that You have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for Your name, 39 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive the people who have sinned against You.
40 “Now, O my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer that I offer in this place.
41 “Now rise up, O Lord God, to Your resting place,
both You and the ark of Your strength.
And let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed in salvation
and Your loyal ones rejoice in goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not turn Your face from Your anointed.
Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
Solomon Dedicates the Temple(I)
7 And when Solomon finished praying, fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests were not able to enter into the house of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 And all the sons of Israel saw when the fire came down and the glory of the Lord came on the temple, and they bowed their faces low to the ground on the pavement, and they worshipped confessing,
“The Lord is good,
and His mercy endures forever.”
4 Then the king and all the people were making sacrifices before the Lord. 5 King Solomon sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 The priests stood at their positions, with the Levites and all their instruments of music for the Lord that King David had made to praise the Lord—for His mercy endures forever—when David gave praise by their ministry, and the priests sounded trumpets opposite the Levites, and all Israel stood.
7 And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord because there he made burnt offerings and the fat of peace offerings (because the bronze altar that Solomon made was surely not able to contain the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat offerings).
8 And at the appointed time, Solomon made a feast for seven days, and all Israel—as a very great assembly—was with him, from the entrance of Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south. 9 Then on the eighth day they made a solemn assembly because they had made a consecration of the altar for seven days and then the feast for seven days more. 10 Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month Solomon sent the people away to their homes. They were joyful and good of heart because of what the Lord had done for David, Solomon, and His people Israel.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.