Solomon Instructed to Build the Temple

28 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all athe leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and bthe captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and cthe stewards over all the substance and 1possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all dthe mighty men of valor.

2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: eI had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for fthe footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, g‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed hblood.’ 4 However the Lord God of Israel ichose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen jJudah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, kthe house of my father, and lamong the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. 5 mAnd of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) nHe has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 Now He said to me, ‘It is oyour son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. 7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, pif he is steadfast to observe 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, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.

9 “As for you, my son Solomon, qknow the God of your father, and serve Him rwith a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for sthe Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. tIf you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will ucast you off forever. 10 Consider now, vfor the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave his son Solomon wthe plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the xplans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, yof the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the zLevites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord. 14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service; 15 the weight for the alampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each btable, and silver for the tables of silver; 17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl; 18 and refined gold by weight for the caltar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold dcherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this,” said David, e“the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the 2works of these plans.”

20 And David said to his son Solomon, f“Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. gHe will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 21 Here are hthe divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and ievery willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.”