The Word Am I

The First Book of the Chronicles

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 22 -

1
And David said, “This is the house of God, and this is the altar for the holocaust of Israel.”
2
And he instructed them to gather all the new converts from the land of Israel. And from these he appointed stoneworkers, to hew stones and to polish them, so that he might build the house of God.
3
Also, David prepared very much iron to use for the nails of the gates, and for the seams and joints, as well as an immeasurable weight of brass.
4
Also, the cedar trees, which the Sidonians and Tyrians had transported to David, were not able to be counted.
5
And David said: “My son Solomon is a young and tender boy. But the house that I desire to be built to the Lord ought to be so great that it is renowned in every region. Therefore, I will prepare what will be necessary for him.” And for this reason, before his death, he prepared all the expenses.

Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple

6
And he called for Solomon, his son. And he instructed him to build a house to the Lord, the God of Israel.
7
And David said to Solomon: “My son, it was my will that I build a house to the name of the Lord my God.
8
But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘You have shed much blood, and you have battled in many wars. You are not able to build a house to my name, so great was the shedding of blood before me.
9
The son who shall be born to you will be a very quiet man. For I will cause him to have rest from all his enemies on every side. And for this reason, he shall be called Peaceful. And I will grant peace and tranquility to Israel during all his days.
10
He shall build a house to 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 unto eternity.’
11
Now then, my son, may the Lord be with you, and may you prosper and build a house to the Lord your God, just as he has spoken concerning you.
12
Also, may the Lord give you prudence and understanding, so that you may be able to rule Israel and to guard the law of the Lord your God.
13
For then you will be able to advance, if you keep the commandments and judgments that the Lord instructed Moses to teach to Israel. Be strengthened and act manfully. You should not fear, and you should not dread.
14
Behold, in my poverty I have prepared the expenses for the house of the Lord: one hundred thousand talents of gold, and one million of talents of silver. Yet truly, there is no measuring the brass and the iron. For their magnitude is beyond numbering. And I have prepared the timber and the stones for the entire project.
15
Also, you have very many artisans: stoneworkers, and builders of walls, and craftsmen of wood, and those most prudent in doing the work of every art,
16
with gold and silver, and with brass and iron, of which there is no number. Therefore, rise up and act. And the Lord will be with you.”
17
Also, David instructed all the leaders of Israel, so that they would assist his son Solomon,
18
saying: “You discern that the Lord your God is with you, and that he has given you rest on all sides, and that he has delivered all your enemies into your hands, and that the land has been subdued before the Lord and before his people.
19
Therefore, offer your hearts and your souls, so that you seek the Lord your God. And rise up and build a sanctuary to the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the vessels consecrated to the Lord, may be brought into the house that is built to the name of the Lord.”
1
Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
2
David gave orders to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to cut dressed stones to build God’s house.
3
David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings, and bronze in abundance without weight,
4
and cedar trees without number, for the Sidonians and the people of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
5
David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple

6
Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.
7
David said to Solomon his son, “As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.
8
But the LORD’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
9
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
10
He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
11
Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and prosper you, and build the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
12
May the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
13
Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid and don’t be dismayed.
14
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents (a) of gold, one million talents (b) of silver, and bronze and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them.
15
There are also workmen with you in abundance—cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all kinds of men who are skillful in every kind of work;
16
of the gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may the LORD be with you.”
17
David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18
“Isn’t the LORD your God with you? Hasn’t he given you rest on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD and before his people.
19
Now set your heart and your soul to follow the LORD your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the LORD’s name.”

Footnotes

(a)22:14 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces, so 100,000 talents is about 3 metric tons
(b)22:14 about 30,000 metric tons