1Then David said , This is the house of the LORD God , and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel . 2And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel ; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God . 3And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates , and for the joinings ; and brass in abundance without weight ; 4Also cedar trees in abundance : for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David . 5And David said , Solomon my son is young and tender , and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical , of fame and of glory throughout all countries : I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death .
David's Charge to Solomon
6Then he called for Solomon his son , and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel . 7And David said to Solomon , My son , as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God : 8But the word of the LORD came to me, saying , Thou hast shed blood abundantly , and hast made great wars : thou shalt not build an house unto my name , because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight . 9Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest ; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about : for his name shall be Solomon , and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days . 10He shall build an house for my name ; and he shall be my son , and I will be his father ; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever . 11Now, my son , the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God , as he hath said of thee. 12Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding , and give thee charge concerning Israel , that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God . 13Then shalt thou prosper , if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel : be strong , and of good courage ; dread not, nor be dismayed . 14Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold , and a thousand thousand talents of silver ; and of brass and iron without weight ; for it is in abundance : timber also and stone have I prepared ; and thou mayest add thereto. 15Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance , hewers and workers of stone and timber , and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work . 16Of the gold , the silver , and the brass , and the iron , there is no number . Arise therefore , and be doing , and the LORD be with thee.
The Gathering of Resources and Workers
17David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son , saying , 18Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side ? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand ; and the land is subdued before the LORD , and before his people . 19Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God ; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God , to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD , and the holy vessels of God , into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD .