Preparations for the Temple

1And David said, “This is the house of YHWH God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

2And David commanded to gather the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, and he appointed hewers to hew stones cut to build the house of God.

3And iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints David provided, and bronze in abundance without weight, 4and cedar trees in abundance, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought cedar trees in abundance to David.

5And David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for YHWH shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all the lands. I will make preparation now for it.” And David made preparations in abundance before the face of his death.

Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple

6And he called for Solomon his son, and he commanded him to build a house for YHWH, God of Israel.

7And David said to Solomon, “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house for the Name of YHWH my God. 8And the word of YHWH came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood in abundance, and you have made great wars. You shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth before My face. 9Behold, a son shall be born to you. He shall be a man of rest, and I will give rest to him from all his enemies round about. For Solomon† shall be His name, and peace and quietness I will give to Israel in his days. 10He shall build a house for My Name, and he shall be unto Me son, and I will be unto him Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel even to forever.’

11Now, my son, may YHWH be with you, and may you prosper and build the house of YHWH your God, as He spoke concerning you. 12Only may YHWH give to you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of YHWH your God. 13Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and the ordinances with which YHWH commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and be courageous. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.

14And behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of YHWH a hundred thousand talents of gold,† and a thousand thousands of talents of silver,† and bronze and iron without weight; for it is so abundant. And timber and stone I have prepared, and to them you may add.

15And with you in abundance are those doing work: Hewers and craftsmen of stone and of wood, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. 16To the gold, to the silver, and to the bronze, and to the iron, there is no number. Arise and work, and YHWH be with you.”

17And David commanded all the heads of Israel to help Solomon his son: 18“Is not YHWH your⁺ God with you⁺, and has given rest to you⁺ on every side? For He has given into my hand those dwelling in the land, and the land is subdued before the face of YHWH and before His people. 19Now set your⁺ heart and your⁺ soul to seek YHWH your⁺ God, and arise and build the sanctuary of YHWH God, to bring the ark of the covenant of YHWH and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of YHWH.”