1 David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”

David Orders a Temple to Be Built

2 David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple. 3 David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed, 4 and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)

5 David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man,1 and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations.2 Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.

6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted3 to build a temple to honor4 the Lord my God. 8 But the Lord said to me:5 ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me,6 for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me. 9 Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man.7 I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side.8 Indeed, Solomon9 will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.10 10 He will build a temple to honor me;11 he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’12

11Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would.13 12 Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey14 the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel.15 Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!16 14 Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple.17 I have stored up 100,000 talents18 of gold, 1,000,00019 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more! 15 You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters,20 and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled 16 in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron.21 Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!

17 David ordered all the officials of Israel to support22 his son Solomon. 18 He told them,23 “The Lord your God is with you!24 He has made you secure on every side,25 for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region26 and the region27 is subdued before the Lord and his people. 19 Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being!28 Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bring29 the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s service30 into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.”31

1tn Heb “a young man and tender.” 2tn Heb “and the house to build to make exceedingly great for a name and for splendor for all the lands.” 3tn Heb “I was with my heart.” 4tn Heb “for the name of.” 5tn Heb “and the word of the Lord was [i.e., came] to me saying.” 6tn Heb “for my name.” 7tn Heb “man of rest.” 8tn Heb “his enemies all around.” 9sn The name Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, shÿlomoh) sounds like (and may be derived from) the Hebrew word for “peace” (שָׁלוֹם, shalom). 10tn Heb “in his days.” 11tn Heb “for my name.” 12tn Heb “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel permanently.” 13tn Heb “as he spoke concerning you.” 14tn Or “keep.” 15tn Heb “which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel.” 16tn Or perhaps, “and don’t get discouraged.” 17tn Heb “and look, in my affliction [or perhaps, “poverty”] I have supplied for the house of the Lord.” 18tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. 19tn Heb “a thousand thousands.” 20tn Heb “craftsmen of stone and wood.” 21tn Heb “and every kind of skilled one in all work, concerning gold, concerning silver, and concerning bronze, and concerning iron, there is no numbering.” 22tn Or “help.” 23tn The words “he told them” are added in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. 24tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is not the Lord your God with you?” The question anticipates the response, “Of course he is!” Thus in the translation the positive statement “The Lord your God is with you!” has been used. 25tn Heb “and he gives rest to you all around.” 26tn Or “earth.” 27tn Or “earth.” 28tn Heb “now give your heart and your being to seek the Lord your God.” 29tn Heb “to bring.” 30tn Heb “items of holiness of God.” 31tn Heb “for the name of the Lord.”