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22 Then David said, “This is where Yahweh Elohim’s temple will be. Israel’s altar for burnt offerings will also be here.”
David Helps Solomon Prepare to Build the Temple
2 David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build Elohim’s temple. 3 David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed. 4 The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn’t be counted.
5 David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for Yahweh must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare the building materials for him.” So David prepared many materials for Solomon before he died.
6 He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for Yahweh Elohim of Israel. 7 David told his son Solomon, “I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of Yahweh, my Elohim. 8 But Yahweh spoke his word to me by saying, ‘You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence. 9 You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet. 10 He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Ab. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.’”
11 David continued, “Now, son, Yahweh will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of Yahweh your Elohim as he predicted you would. 12 Yahweh will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of Yahweh your Elohim. 13 Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees Yahweh commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified.
14 “Despite my troubles I’ve made preparations for Yahweh’s temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them. 15 You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work. 16 The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May Yahweh be with you.”
17 David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 David said, “Isn’t Yahweh your Elohim with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by Yahweh and his people. 19 So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving Yahweh your Elohim. Start building the holy place of Yahweh Elohim so that you can bring the ark of Yahweh’s promise and Elohim’s holy utensils into the temple that will be built for Yahweh’s name.”
The Levites Are Organized to Serve in the Temple
23 When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel. 2 He gathered all the officials of Israel and the priests and Levites. 3 Every male Levite who was at least 30 years old was counted. There were 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were appointed to supervise the work on Yahweh’s temple, 6,000 were appointed to be officers and judges, 5 4,000 were appointed to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 were appointed to praise Yahweh with the instruments David had made for praising God. 6 David organized the Levites into divisions based on which of Levi’s sons (Gershon, Kohath, or Merari) they were descended from.
7 Ladan and Shimei were Gershon’s descendants. 8 Ladan had three sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel. 9 Shimei had three sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. They were the heads of Ladan’s families. 10 Shimei’s sons were Jahath, Zina,[a] Jeush, and Beriah. They were Shimei’s four sons. 11 Jahath was the first, and Ziza was the second. Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons, so they were given an assignment as one family.
12 Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 13 Amram’s sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his sons were forever designated to dedicate the most holy things to God, to offer sacrifices to Yahweh, to serve him, and always give the blessing in his name. 14 The sons of Moses, the man of Elohim, were counted with the tribe of Levi. 15 Moses’ sons were Gershom and Eliezer. 16 Gershom’s only son was Shebuel. 17 Eliezer’s only son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons. 18 Izhar’s only son was Shelomith. 19 Hebron’s first son was Jeriah; his second was Amariah; his third was Jahaziel; his fourth was Jekameam. 20 Uzziel’s first son was Micah; his second was Isshiah.
21 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died without having any sons. He only had daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
24 These were Levi’s descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in Yahweh’s temple was at least 20 years old. 25 David had said, “Yahweh Elohim of Israel has given his people rest. He will now live in Jerusalem forever. 26 The Levites will no longer have to carry the tent and all the utensils used in worship.”
27 David’s last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old. 28 They were appointed to stand beside Aaron’s descendants to serve in Yahweh’s temple. They were appointed to be in charge of the courtyards and the temple rooms, to ensure that all the holy things were clean,[b] and to serve in Elohim’s temple. 29 They were also responsible for the rows of bread, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread wafers, and the bread made in frying pans. In addition, they were responsible for mixing the ingredients and keeping track of all weights and measures. 30 They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to Yahweh every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening. 31 They were appointed to stand in front of Yahweh in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made—on weekly worship days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals. 32 They were appointed to follow the regulations for the tent of meeting and the holy place and to help their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, as they served in Yahweh’s temple.
9 What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin, 10 as Scripture says,
“Not one person has God’s approval.
11 No one understands.
No one searches for God.
12 Everyone has turned away.
Together they have become rotten to the core.
No one does anything good,
not even one person.
13 Their throats are open graves.
Their tongues practice deception.
Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.
14 Their mouths are full of curses and bitter resentment.
15 They run quickly to murder people.
16 There is ruin and suffering wherever they go.
17 They have not learned to live in peace.
18 They are not terrified of God.”
19 We know that whatever the Scriptures say applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God. 20 Not one person can have God’s approval by any effort to follow the laws in the Scriptures. These laws show what sin is.
God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift
21 Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. 22 Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Yeshua Christ.
There is no difference between people. 23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. 24 They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness[a] through the price Christ Yeshua paid to set us free from sin. 25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. 26 He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Yeshua.
27 So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. 28 We conclude that a person has God’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.
29 Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is, 30 since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.
31 Are we abolishing the laws in the Scriptures by this faith? That’s unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting these laws.
Psalm 12
For the choir director; on the sheminith; a psalm by David.
1 Help, O Yahweh.
No godly person is left.
Faithful people have vanished from among Adam’s descendants!
2 All people speak foolishly.
They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.
3 May Yahweh cut off every flattering lip
and every bragging tongue
4 that has said,
“We will overcome with our tongues.
With lips such as ours, who can be our master?”
5 “Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan,
I will now arise,” says Yahweh.
“I will provide safety for those who long for it.”
6 The promises of Yahweh are pure,
like silver refined in a furnace[a] and purified seven times.
7 O Yahweh, you will protect them.
You will keep each one safe from those people forever.
8 Wicked people parade around
when immorality increases among Adam’s descendants.
A Foolish Son Brings Ruin to Others
13 A foolish son ruins his father,
and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.
14 Home and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a sensible wife comes from Yahweh.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.