The Site Declared; David Prepares for the Temple
David names that threshing floor as the site of our Father's house, then spends his last strength stockpiling stone, iron, bronze and cedar for a son who is young and untested. He is candid about why he cannot build it himself: he has shed too much blood.
22 1David said, "This is the house of our Father, and this the altar of burnt offering for Israel."
2David ordered the foreigners in Israel gathered, then appointed stonecutters to cut dressed stones for building the house of our Father. 3David provided abundant iron for gate-door nails and clamps, and abundant bronze beyond weighing, 4and cedar timbers beyond counting, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought David cedar logs in abundance. 5For David said, "My son Solomon is young and untested, and the house built for our Father must be truly great, famed, and glorious in every land. Let me prepare for it." So David laid in vast provisions before he died.
6Then he called Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for our Father of Israel. 7David told Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for my Father's name.
8The word of our Father came to me: 'You have shed much blood and fought great wars. You will not build a house for my name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before me.'
9A son will be born to you, a man of rest; I will give him rest from all his enemies around him. His name will be Solomon; I will give Israel peace and quiet in his days. a a v9 The name Solomon means peace—the rest and quiet our Father promised to give through his reign. 10He will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I his father. I will secure his royal throne over Israel forever. 11Now, my son, may our Father be with you, so that you may succeed and build the house of your Father, as he said about you. 12Only, may our Father give you wisdom and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel, to keep the law of your Father. 13Then you'll prosper, if you carefully keep the statutes and rules our Father commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid or discouraged. 14See, with great effort I've provided for the house of our Father nearly 4,000 tons of gold, about 34,000 tons of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing—there's so much. I've also provided timber and stone; you may add to them. 15You have many workers with you: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen skilled in every trade. 16Skilled with gold, silver, bronze, and iron beyond count. Rise up and work; may our Father be with you."
17David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18"Isn't your Father with you? Hasn't he given you rest on every side? For he has given the land's people into my hand, and the land is subdued before our Father and his people. 19Now set your heart and soul to seek your Father. Arise and build the sanctuary of our Father, to bring the ark of his covenant and his holy vessels into the house built for his name."
