Preparation to Build Yahweh’s House
Then David said, “aThis is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
2 So David said to gather athe sojourners who were in the land of Israel, and bhe appointed stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3 And David aprepared large quantities of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more bbronze than could be weighed; 4 and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for athe Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5 And David said, “My son aSolomon 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
6 Then ahe called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, “aMy son, I had it within my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. 8 But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ‘aYou 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. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and aI will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for bhis name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 aHe 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.’ 11 Now, my son, aYahweh be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of Yahweh your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 aOnly Yahweh give you insight and understanding, and give you command over Israel, so that you may bkeep the law of Yahweh your God. 13 aThen you will succeed, if you are careful to do the statutes and the judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. bBe strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of Yahweh a100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bbronze and iron beyond weight, for they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover, 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. 16 Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no number. Arise and work, and may aYahweh be with you.”
17 aDavid also commanded all the officials of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is not Yahweh your God with you? And ahas 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. 19 Now agive your heart and your soul to seek Yahweh your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, bso 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 cfor the name of Yahweh.”
Solomon Made King over Israel
aNow David became old and full of days, band he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.
The Work of the Levites
3 aAnd the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and btheir number by census of men was 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were ato direct the work of the house of Yahweh; and 6,000 were bofficers and judges, 5 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and a4,000 were praising Yahweh with the instruments which David made for giving praise. 6 And David divided them into divisions aaccording to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The Sons of Gershon
7 Of the Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three.
These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.
10 The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah.
These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became a father’s household, one unit.
The Sons of Kohath
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 aThe sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And bAaron was separated in order to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, cto offer offerings up in smoke before Yahweh, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever.
14 But as for aMoses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The son of Gershom was Shebuel the chief.
17 The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 The son of Izhar was Shelomith the chief.
19 The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second.
The Sons of Merari
21 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.
22 And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them up as wives.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
The Service of the Levites
24 aThese were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ households, even the heads of the fathers’ households of those of them who were counted, in the number of names by their census, doing the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, bfrom twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, ahas given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, athe Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their station is to be on hand for the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts and in the chambers and in the cleansing of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God, 29 aand with the showbread, and bthe fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or cwhat is made on the griddle, or dwhat is well stirred, and eall measures of volume and size. 30 And they are to stand every morning to thank and to praise Yahweh, and likewise at evening, 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, aon the sabbaths, the new moons and bthe appointed times in the number set by the judgments concerning them, continually before Yahweh. 32 Thus athey shall keep responsibility of the tent of meeting, and responsibility of the holy place, and bresponsibility of the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the service of the house of Yahweh.
Divisions of Levites
Now the divisions of the sons of Aaron were these: athe sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 aBut Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. 3 And David, with aZadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their assignments for their service. 4 And more chief men were found from the sons of Eleazar than the sons of Ithamar, so they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households. 5 aThus they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were leaders for the sanctuary and leaders for God, both from the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, wrote them down in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, aAhimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib,
the second for Jedaiah,
8 the third for Harim,
the fourth for Seorim,
9 the fifth for Malchijah,
the sixth for Mijamin,
10 the seventh for Hakkoz,
the eighth for aAbijah,
11 the ninth for Jeshua,
the tenth for Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh for Eliashib,
the twelfth for Jakim,
13 the thirteenth for Huppah,
the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth for Bilgah,
the sixteenth for Immer,
15 the seventeenth for Hezir,
the eighteenth for Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah,
the twentieth for Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first for Jachin,
the twenty-second for Gamul,
18 the twenty-third for Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.
19 aThese were their assignments for their service when they came in to the house of Yahweh according to the legal judgment rendered to them by the hand of Aaron their father, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi:
of the sons of Amram, Shubael;
of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first.
22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23 The sons aof Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.
27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.
31 aThese also cast lots alongside their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, bZadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households alongside those of his younger brother.
Number and Services of Musicians
Moreover, David and the commanders of the army separated for the service some of the sons of aAsaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to bprophesy with lyres, charps, and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph:
Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.
3 aOf Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun:
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman athe king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God. So God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. 6 All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Yahweh, awith cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. bAsaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king. 7 And their number who were trained in singing to Yahweh, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was a288.
Responsibilities of the Musicians
8 aThey cast lots for their responsibilities, each alongside the other, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
9 Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph,
the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve;
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
28 for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
29 for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
30 for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
31 for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.
Divisions of the Gatekeepers
For the divisions of the gatekeepers there were of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 aObed-edom had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.
6 Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were men of valor.
8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their relatives were valiant men with strength for the service, sixty-two from Obed-edom.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, eighteen men of valor.
10 Also aHosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons:
Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen.
12 To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, were given responsibilities like their relatives to minister in the house of Yahweh. 13 aAnd they cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers’ households, for every gate. 14 And the lot to the east fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a counselor with insight, and his lot came out to the north. 15 For Obed-edom it fell to the south, and to his sons went the house of storerooms. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it was to the west, by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway. Guard corresponded to guard. 17 On the east there were six Levites, on the north four daily, on the south four daily, and at the storerooms two by two. 18 At the aParbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.
Caring for the Holy Treasure
20 As for the Levites, Ahijhah was aover the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the holy gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.
22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were over the treasures of the house of Yahweh. 23 As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was officer over the treasures. 25 And his relatives by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. 26 This Shelomoth and his relatives were over all the treasures of the holy gifts awhich King David and the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had set apart as holy. 27 They set apart as holy part of what was won in battles and part of the spoil to repair the house of Yahweh. 28 And all that Samuel the seer had set apart as holy and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had set apart anything as holy, all of this was in the care of Shelomoth and his relatives.
Administrators of Outside Work
29 As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons awere assigned to the outside work for Israel, as bofficers and judges. 30 As for the Hebronites, aHashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 men of valor, were over the administration of Israel across the Jordan to the west, for all the work of Yahweh and the service of the king. 31 As for the Hebronites, aJerijah the chief (these Hebronites were investigated according to their generations and fathers’ households, in the fortieth year of David’s reign, and mighty men of valor were found among them at bJazer of Gilead) 32 and his relatives, men of valor, were 2,700 in number, heads of fathers’ households. And King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites aconcerning all the affairs of God and of the king.
Commanders of the Divisions
Now this is the total count of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who ministered to the king in each matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division numbering 24,000:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was aover the first division for the first month; and in his division were 24,000.
3 He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.
4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division were over the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were 24,000.
5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000.
6 This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was over thirty; and over his division was Ammizabad his son.
7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were 24,000.
8 The fifth for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were 24,000.
9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were 24,000.
10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.
11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.
12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites; and in his division were 24,000.
13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.
14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.
15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were 24,000.
Chief Officers of the Tribes
16 Now those over the tribes of Israel:
chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri;
for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel;
for Aaron, Zadok;
18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers;
for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah;
for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah;
for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah;
for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham.
aThese were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
23 But David did not take up a count of those twenty years of age and under, abecause Yahweh had said He would multiply Israel bas the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish; and because of athis, wrath came upon Israel, and this count was not included in the total count of the chronicles of King David.
Officials over David’s Possessions
25 Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s storehouses.
And Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers.
26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over the workers of the field who cultivated the soil.
27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards;
and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.
28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was over the olive and asycamore trees in the Shephelah;
and Joash had charge of the stores of oil.
29 Shitrai the Sharonite was over the cattle which were grazing in aSharon;
and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the cattle in the valleys.
30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels;
and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys.
31 Jaziz the aHagrite was over the flocks.
All these were officials over the possessions which belonged to King David.
Counselors
32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe;
and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
33 aAhithophel was counselor to the king;
and bHushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
34 Jehoiada the son of aBenaiah, and bAbiathar succeeded Ahithophel;
and Joab was the ccommander of the king’s army.
David Assembles His Commanders
And aDavid assembled at Jerusalem all the commanders of Israel, the commanders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that ministered to the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the commanders over all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and bthe mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people; I ahad it within my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and for bthe footstool of the feet of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘aYou shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet, Yahweh, the God of Israel, achose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel bforever. For cHe has chosen Judah to be a ruler; and din the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 aNow of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), bHe has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel. 6 And He said to me, ‘Your son aSolomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. 7 And I will establish his kingdom forever aif he will be strong to do My commandments and My judgments, as is done now.’ 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek after all the commandments of Yahweh your God so that you may possess the good land and cause your sons after you to inherit it forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and aserve Him with a whole heart and a delighted soul; bfor Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. cIf you seek Him, He will be found; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 See now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; abe strong and act.”
11 Then David gave to his son Solomon athe pattern of bthe porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and cthe room for the mercy seat; 12 and the pattern of all that he had in mind, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding chambers, for athe treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the holy things; 13 also for athe divisions of the priests and bthe Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh and for all the utensils of service in the house of Yahweh; 14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service; 15 and the weight of gold for the agolden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the service of each lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables; 17 and the flesh hooks, the bowls, and the jars of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18 and for athe altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even bthe cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
19 “All this,” said David, “has been granted to me as insight in writing by the hand of Yahweh, aall the details of this pattern.”
20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “aBe strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. bHe will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is completed. 21 Now behold, athere are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and bevery willing man with wisdom will be with you in all the work for all the service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
Offerings for the Temple
Then King David said to the entire assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, ais still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for bthe temple is not for man, but for Yahweh God. 2 Now awith all my power I have prepared for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance. 3 Moreover, in my pleasure in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already prepared for the holy house, 4 namely, a3,000 talents of gold, of bthe gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings; 5 of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work done by the hand of craftsmen. Who then would offer willingly to ordain himself this day to Yahweh?”
6 Then athe commanders of the fathers’ households, and the commanders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with bthe commanders of the king’s work, offered willingly; 7 and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 adarics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of Yahweh, in the care of aJehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people were glad because they had offered so willingly, for they made their freewill offering to Yahweh awith a whole heart, and King David also was exceedingly glad.
David Blesses Yahweh
10 So David blessed Yahweh in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 aYours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 aBoth riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and bin Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 So now, our God, we are thanking You and praising Your glorious name.
14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15 For awe are sojourners before You, and foreign residents, like all our fathers were; bour days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Yahweh our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17 And I know, O my God, that aYou try the heart and bdelight in uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these things. So now with gladness I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. 18 O Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart to You; 19 and agive to my son Solomon a whole heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and bto build the temple, for which I have made preparation.”
20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God.” And aall the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bbowed low and prostrated themselves to Yahweh and to the king.
Sacrifices to Yahweh
21 And on the next day athey made sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank that day before Yahweh with great gladness.
David’s Officials and Sons Pledge Allegiance
And they made Solomon the son of David king aa second time, and they banointed him as ruler for Yahweh and Zadok as priest. 23 Then aSolomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father; and he succeeded, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David pledged allegiance to King Solomon. 25 aAnd Yahweh highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bgranted to him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel.
26 Now aDavid the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 aAnd the time which he reigned over Israel was forty years; in Hebron he reigned seven years and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.
Death of David
28 Then he died in aa good old age, bfull of days, riches and glory; and his son Solomon became king in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, behold, they are written in the chronicles of aSamuel the seer, in the chronicles of bNathan the prophet and in the chronicles of cGad the seer, 30 with all his reign, his might, and the circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the lands.