Preparation to Build Yahweh’s House

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

2So David said to gather the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, and he [†]appointed [†]stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3And David prepared large quantities of iron [†]to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; 4and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh shall be highly exalted, for a name and beauty throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.

Solomon to Build Yahweh’s House

6Then he called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. 7And David said to Solomon, “My son, [†]I had it within my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. 8But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have [†]waged great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. 9Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be [†]Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be a son to Me and I will be a father to him; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11Now, my son, Yahweh be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of Yahweh your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12Only Yahweh give you insight and understanding, and give you command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of Yahweh your God. 13Then you will succeed, if you are careful to do the statutes and the judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14Now behold, [†]with great pains I have prepared for the house of Yahweh 100,000 [†]talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weight, for [†]they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them. 15Moreover, there are many of those who do the work with you, hewers of stone and craftsmen of stone and wood, and all men who are [†]wise in every kind of work. 16Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no number. Arise and work, and may Yahweh be with you.”

17David also commanded all the officials of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18“Is not Yahweh your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before Yahweh and before His people. 19Now give your heart and your soul to seek Yahweh your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of Yahweh.”