Study Desk

From the clan of Hebron came Hashabiah. He and his relatives—1,700 capable men—were put in charge of the Israelite lands west of the Jordan River. They were responsible for all matters related to the things of the Lord and the service of the king in that area.

Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, was commander of the second division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the second month. Mikloth was his chief officer.

This was the Benaiah who commanded David's elite military group known as the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was his chief officer.

Asahel, the brother of Joab, was commander of the fourth division of 24,000 troops, which was on duty during the fourth month. Asahel was succeeded by his son Zebadiah.

When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven.

David rose to his feet and said: "My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord 's Covenant, God's footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,

He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.

And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.'

So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work."

"And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.

So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him.

He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.

These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.

Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.

Solomon replied to God, "You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.

Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.

King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: "It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king!

His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.

Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600.

So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.