Preparations for the Temple
And David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar for burnt offering for Israel.”
And David said to gather the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set stonecutters to cut hewn stones to build the house of God.
And iron in abundance, for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, David prepared — and bronze in abundance, beyond weighing,
and cedar timber beyond counting; for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought cedar timber in abundance to David.
And David said: “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly great — for a name and for a splendor to all the lands. Let me prepare for it.” And David prepared in abundance before his death.
Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple
And he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.
And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was with my heart to build a house for the name of the LORD my God.
But the word of the LORD came upon me, saying: Blood in abundance you have shed, and great wars you have made. You shall not build a house for my name, for much blood you have shed to the earth before me.
Look — a son will be born to you. He will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. For Solomon will be his name, and peace and quiet I will give over Israel in his days.
He is the one who will build a house for my name; and he will be a son to me, and I a father to him; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, so that you succeed and build the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
Only may the LORD give you insight and understanding, and give you charge over Israel — so as to keep the instruction of the LORD your God.
Then you will succeed — if you take care to do the statutes and the judgments that the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear, and do not be shattered.
And look — in my affliction I have prepared for the house of the LORD gold, a hundred thousand talents, and silver, a thousand thousand talents; and for the bronze and for the iron there is no weighing, for it is in abundance. And timber and stone I have prepared — and to them you shall add.
And with you in abundance are doers of the work: stonecutters, and craftsmen of stone and wood, and every skilled man in every work.
For the gold, for the silver, and for the bronze, and for the iron, there is no counting. Rise and act — and may the LORD be with you.”
And David commanded all the officials of Israel to help Solomon his son:
“Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you rest all around? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before his people.
Now give your heart and your soul to seeking the LORD your God. And rise, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house built for the name of the LORD.”