1 David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”

2 David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple.

3 David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed,

4 and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)

5 David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man,tn Heb “a young man and tender.” and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations.tn Heb “and the house to build to make exceedingly great for a name and for splendor for all the lands.” Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.

6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel.

7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wantedtn Heb “I was with my heart.” to build a temple to honortn Heb “for the name of.” the Lord my God.

8 But the Lord said to me:tn Heb “and the word of the Lord was [i.e., came] to me saying.” ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me,tn Heb “for my name.” for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me.

9 Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man.tn Heb “man of rest.” I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side.tn Heb “his enemies all around.” Indeed, Solomonsn The name Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, shÿlomoh) sounds like (and may be derived from) the Hebrew word for “peace” (שָׁלוֹם, shalom). will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.tn Heb “in his days.”

10 He will build a temple to honor me;tn Heb “for my name.” he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’tn Heb “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel permanently.”

11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would.tn Heb “as he spoke concerning you.”

12 Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obeytn Or “keep.” the law of the Lord your God.

13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel.tn Heb “which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel.” Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!tn Or perhaps, “and don’t get discouraged.”

14 Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple.tn Heb “and look, in my affliction [or perhaps, “poverty”] I have supplied for the house of the Lord.” I have stored up 100,000 talentstn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. of gold, 1,000,000tn Heb “a thousand thousands.” talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more!

15 You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters,tn Heb “craftsmen of stone and wood.” and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled

16 in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron.tn Heb “and every kind of skilled one in all work, concerning gold, concerning silver, and concerning bronze, and concerning iron, there is no numbering.” Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!”

17 David ordered all the officials of Israel to supporttn Or “help.” his son Solomon.

18 He told them,tn The words “he told them” are added in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. “The Lord your God is with you!tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is not the Lord your God with you?” The question anticipates the response, “Of course he is!” Thus in the translation the positive statement “The Lord your God is with you!” has been used. He has made you secure on every side,tn Heb “and he gives rest to you all around.” for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the regiontn Or “earth.” and the regiontn Or “earth.” is subdued before the Lord and his people.

19 Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being!tn Heb “now give your heart and your being to seek the Lord your God.” Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bringtn Heb “to bring.” the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s servicetn Heb “items of holiness of God.” into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.”tn Heb “for the name of the Lord.”