CHAPTER 22
Then David
said,
“This
is the house
of the LORD
God,
and this
is the altar
of burnt offering
for Israel.”
So David
gave orders
to gather
the foreigners
in the land
of Israel,
from whom he appointed
stonecutters
to prepare
finished
stones
for building
the house
of God.
David
provided
a large quantity of
iron
to make the nails
for the doors
of the gateways
and for the fittings,
together with more
bronze
than could be weighed
and more
cedar
logs
than could be counted;
for
the Sidonians
and Tyrians
had brought
a large quantity of
cedar
logs
to David.
And David
said,
“My son
Solomon
is young
and inexperienced,
and the house
to be built
for the LORD
must be exceedingly
magnificent—
famous
and glorious
throughout all
the lands.
Therefore
I must make provision
for it.”
So David
made lavish
preparations
for it before
his death.
Then David called for
his son
Solomon
and instructed
him to build
a house
for the LORD,
the God
of Israel.
“My son,”
said
David
to Solomon,
“it was
in
my heart
to build
a house
for the Name
of the LORD
my God,
but this word
of the LORD
came
to me:
‘You have shed
much
blood
and waged
great
wars.
You are not
to build
a house
for My Name
because
you have shed
so much
blood
on the ground
before Me.
But
a son
will be born
to you
who
will be
a man
of rest.
I will give him rest
from all
his enemies
on every side;
for
his name
will be
Solomon,
and I will grant
to
Israel
peace
and quiet
during his reign.
He
is the one who will build
a house
for My Name.
He
will be
My son,
and I will be
his
Father.
And I will establish
the throne
of his kingdom
over
Israel
forever.’
Now,
my son,
may the LORD
be
with you,
and may you succeed
in building
the house
of the LORD
your God,
as
He said
you would.
Above all,
may the LORD
give
you insight
and understanding
when He puts you in command
over
Israel,
so that you may keep
the law
of the LORD
your God.
Then
you will succeed,
if
you carefully
follow
the statutes
and ordinances
that
the LORD
commanded
Moses
for
Israel.
Be strong
and courageous.
Do not
be afraid
or discouraged.
Now behold,
I have taken great pains
to provide
for the house
of the LORD—
100,000
talents
of gold,
1,000,000
talents
of silver,
and bronze
and iron
too great
to be weighed.
I have also provided
timber
and stone,
but you will need to add
to them.
You also have
many
workers:
stonecutters,
masons,
carpenters,
and men skilled
in every kind
of work—
in gold
and silver,
bronze
and iron—
craftsmen beyond
number.
Now begin
the work,
and may the LORD
be
with you.”
“Is not
the LORD
your God
with you,
and has He not granted you rest
on every side?
For
He has given
the inhabitants
of the land
into my hand,
and the land
has been subdued
before
the LORD
and His people.
Now
set
your heart
and soul
to seek
the LORD
your God.
Get started
building
the sanctuary
of the LORD
God,
so that you may bring
the ark
of the covenant
of the LORD
and the holy
articles
of God
into the temple
that will be built
for the Name
of the LORD."