David's Plans for the Temple
1
David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem:
the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service
of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds,
and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king
and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the brave
warriors.
2
King David rose to his feet and said:
"Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house
as a place of rest forthe ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of
our God, and I made plans to build it.
3
But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name,
because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'
4
"Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king
over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah
he chose my family, and from my father's sons he was pleased to make me
king over all Israel.
5
Of all my sons - and the LORD has given me many - he has chosen my son
Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6
He said to me:
'Solomon your son is the one who will 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 unswerving in carrying out
my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'
8
"So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD,
and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD
your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance
to your descendants forever.
9
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him
with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches
every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek
him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
10
Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary.
Be strong and do the work."
11
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple,
its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner roms and the place of
atonement.
12
He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts
of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms,
for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for thededicated
things.
13
He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites,
and for all the work of serving in the gtemple of the LORD,
as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.
14
He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various
kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used
in various kinds of service:
15
the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight
for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silve
lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
16
the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver
for the silver tables;
17
the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers;
the weight of gold for each gold dish; the wight of silver for each
silver dish;
18
and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.
He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that
spread their wings and shelter the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19
"All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me,
and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."
20
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God is with you.
He will not fail you or forsake until all the work for the service of the temple
of the LORD is finished.
21
The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple
of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work.
The officials and all the people will obey your every command."
