28 David told all Israel's officers to come and meet with him in Jerusalem. They included:
The officers who had authority over Israel's tribes.
The leaders of the army groups that served the king.
The army officers who led groups of 1,000 soldiers or 100 soldiers.
The officers who had authority for the king's valuable things and animals.
The officers who had authority for the animals and things that belonged to the king's sons.
The officers in the king's palace.
The brave army officers and soldiers.
2 King David stood up and he said, ‘Listen to me, my people. I wanted to build a house where we could put the Lord 's Covenant Box. It would be like a place for our God to rest his feet. I prepared the things that I would need to build a temple. 3 But God said to me, “You are a fighter and you have killed many people in war. So you must not build a house to give honour to my name.”
4 But it was the Lord , Israel's God, who chose me to become Israel's king. He chose my family to rule Israel for all time. First, he chose the tribe of Judah to be the leader of Israel's people. Then he chose my father's family from among the clans of Judah. Finally, he chose me from among my father's sons. He made me king to rule over all Israel. 5 The Lord has given me many sons. Now he has chosen my son Solomon from among them to rule over his kingdom, Israel. 6 The Lord said to me, “Your son Solomon will build my temple and the yards around it. I have chosen him to become my son. And I will become his father. 7 He must always continue to obey my commands and my laws, as he now does. If he is careful to do that, I will make his kingdom strong for all time.”
8 I am telling you this now, while we meet together as the Lord 's people. All Israel's people, as well as our God, know what I have said. You must be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Then this good land will continue to be your home. And after you die it will belong to your descendants for ever.
9 As for you, Solomon, my son, keep near to your father's God. Be happy to serve him faithfully in every way. The Lord knows what you are thinking. He understands all your thoughts. If you turn to him, you will find him. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you alone for ever. 10 You must realize that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple to be his special home. Now you must be strong! Do this work.’
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple buildings. That included the entrance room, the rooms to store things, the upstairs rooms and the inside rooms. And it included the Most Holy Place where the Covenant Box would be. 12 David showed Solomon the ideas that God had put in his mind. He gave him the plans for the yards around the Lord 's temple and the rooms around the yards. There were also plans of the rooms to store the valuable things and the gifts that people had offered to God.
13 David gave Solomon the rules for the work of the priests and Levites. He gave him a list of the different kinds of work that each group must do in the Lord 's temple. He also gave him a list of the special things that were used to serve the Lord in the temple.
14 He told Solomon the weight of gold and the weight of silver that he must use to make some of those special things. 15 That included the weight of gold for the lampstands and for their lamps. It also included the weight of silver for the silver lampstands and for their lamps. Each lampstand was different because they would use it for a different purpose. 16 It included the weight of gold to make the special table where the priests would put the special bread. And it included the weight of silver to make the silver tables. 17 It also included the weight of pure gold to make the forks, dishes, cups and small bowls. Each gold bowl had its own weight. There was also the weight of silver for each of the silver bowls. 18 And there was the weight of pure gold for the altar to burn incense.
David also gave Solomon the plan for the gold images of cherubs for the Lord 's Covenant Box. They would have wings that touched each other above the lid of the Covenant Box. They would be like a chariot for the Lord .
19 David said, ‘I have written down everything about these things, as the Lord told me to do. He helped me to understand how these plans would work.’
20 David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and brave to do this work. The Lord God, my God, is with you to help you. He will not leave you alone. So do not be afraid. He will stay with you until you have finished all the work to build his temple.
21 Look! Here are the groups of priests and Levites who are ready to serve the Lord in the temple. The men with special skills are ready to help you with the work. The officers and all the people are ready to do what you tell them to do.’
28 David gathered all the leaders of the Israelites and commanded them to come to Jerusalem. David called all the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army groups serving the king, the captains, the generals, the officials taking care of the property and animals that belonged to the king and his sons, the king’s important officials, the powerful heroes, and all the brave soldiers.
2 King David stood up and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. In my heart I wanted to build a place to keep the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement. I wanted to build a place that would be God’s footstool. [ a ] And I made the plans for building that house for God. 3 But God said to me, ‘No David, you must not build a house for my name. You must not do that because you are a soldier, and you have killed many men.’
4 “The Lord , the God of Israel, chose the tribe of Judah to lead the twelve tribes of Israel. Then from that tribe he chose my father’s family. And from that family he chose me to be the king of Israel forever. Yes, God wanted to make me king of Israel. 5 The Lord has given me many sons. And from all those sons, he chose Solomon to be the new king of Israel. But really, Israel is the Lord ’s kingdom. 6 He said to me, ‘David, your son Solomon will build my Temple and the area around it, because I have chosen Solomon to be my son, and I will be his father. [ b ] 7 Solomon is obeying my laws and commands now. If he continues to obey my laws, I will make Solomon’s kingdom strong forever.’”
8 David said, “Now, in front of all Israel, the Lord ’s people, and before God, I tell you these things: Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Then you can keep this good land and pass it on to your descendants forever.
9 “And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve God with a pure heart. Be happy to serve him, because the Lord knows what is in everyone’s heart. He knows what you are thinking. If you go to him for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you forever. 10 Solomon, you must understand that the Lord has chosen you to build his holy place—the Temple. Be strong and finish the job.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for building the Temple. They included plans for the porch around the Temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inside rooms, and the room for the mercy-cover. 12 David had made plans for all parts of the Temple. He gave them to Solomon. David gave him all the plans for the courtyard around the Lord ’s Temple and for all the rooms around it. He gave him the plans for the Temple storerooms and for the storerooms where they kept the holy things used in the Temple. 13 David told Solomon about the groups of the priests and Levites. He told Solomon about all the work of serving in the Lord ’s Temple and about all the things to be used in the Temple service. 14 David told Solomon how much gold and silver should be used to make all the things to be used in the Temple. 15 There were plans for gold lamps and lampstands, and there were plans for silver lamps and lampstands. David told Solomon how much gold or silver to use for each lampstand and its lamps. The different lampstands were to be used where needed. 16 David told him how much gold should be used for each table for the holy bread and how much silver should be used for the silver tables. 17 He told Solomon how much pure gold should be used to make the forks, sprinkling bowls, and pitchers. He told him how much gold should be used to make each gold dish and how much silver should be used to make each silver dish. 18 He told him how much pure gold should be used for the altar of incense. David also gave Solomon the plans for God’s chariot—the mercy-cover with the Cherub angels spreading their wings over the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement. The Cherub angels were made of gold.
19 David said, “All these plans were written with the Lord guiding me. He helped me understand everything in the plans.”
20 David also said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and brave and finish this work. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will help you until all the work is finished. He will not leave you. You will build the Lord ’s Temple. 21 The groups of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on God’s Temple. Every skilled worker is ready to help you with all the work. The officials and all the people will obey every command you give.”
28 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord , and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4 Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he 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 for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord , and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
10 Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord , and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord , and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord .
14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord .
19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord .
21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
28 Now ( A ) David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and ( B ) the mighty men, all the valiant warriors. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people; [ a ] I ( C ) had intended to build a [ b ] permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for ( D ) the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it . 3 But God said to me, ‘ ( E ) You shall not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet, the Lord , the God of Israel, ( F ) chose me from all the household of my father to be king over Israel ( G ) forever. For ( H ) He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and ( I ) in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 ( J ) Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), ( K ) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘Your son ( L ) Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courtyards; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a Father to him. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever ( M ) if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as [ c ] is done now.’ 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord , and in the [ d ] presence of our God, keep and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and ( N ) serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing [ e ] mind; ( O ) for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. ( P ) If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; ( Q ) be courageous and act.”
11 Then David gave to his son Solomon ( R ) the plan of ( S ) the porch of the temple , its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and ( T ) the room for the [ f ] atoning cover; 12 and the plan of all that he had in [ g ] mind, for the courtyards of the house of the Lord , and for all the surrounding rooms, for ( U ) the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things; 13 also for ( V ) the divisions of the priests and ( W ) the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord and for all the utensils of service in the house of the Lord ; 14 for the golden utensils , by weight of gold for all utensils for every service; for all the silver utensils, by weight of silver for all utensils for every service; 15 and the weight of gold for the ( X ) golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of the showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables; 17 and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18 and for ( Y ) the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot, and ( Z ) the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord .
19 “All this ,” said David , “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, ( AA ) all the [ h ] details of this pattern.”
20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “ ( AB ) Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. ( AC ) He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 21 Now behold, ( AD ) there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and ( AE ) every willing man of any skill will be with you in all the work for all kinds of service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
28 David summoned ( A ) all the officials ( B ) 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 warriors and all the brave fighting men.
2 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart ( C ) to build a house as a place of rest ( D ) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord , for the footstool ( E ) of our God, and I made plans to build it. ( F ) 3 But God said to me, ( G ) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, ( H ) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ ( I )
4 “Yet the Lord , the God of Israel, chose me ( J ) from my whole family ( K ) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah ( L ) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ( M ) 5 Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many ( N ) —he has chosen my son Solomon ( O ) to sit on the throne ( P ) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build ( Q ) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, ( R ) and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, ( S ) as is being done at this time.’
8 “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel ( T ) and of the assembly of the Lord , and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands ( U ) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. ( V )
9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion ( W ) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart ( X ) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, ( Y ) he will be found by you; but if you forsake ( Z ) him, he will reject ( AA ) you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans ( AB ) for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit ( AC ) 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 the dedicated things. ( AD ) 13 He gave him instructions for the divisions ( AE ) of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple 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 ( AF ) and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; 16 the weight of gold for each table ( AG ) for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; 17 the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls ( AH ) and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; 18 and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. ( AI ) He also gave him the plan for the chariot, ( AJ ) that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow ( AK ) the ark of the covenant of the Lord .
19 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord ’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details ( AL ) of the plan. ( AM ) ”
20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, ( AN ) 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 ( AO ) you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. ( AP ) 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled ( AQ ) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
