Study Desk

But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have taken much blood, and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house to My name, because you have poured so much blood upon the earth before Me.

But David did not number those younger than twenty years old because the Lord had promised to make Israel many, as the stars of heaven.

Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish. Anger came upon Israel because of this. So the number was not put into the book of the chronicles of King David.

But God said to me, ‘You must not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and blood.'

David said, "This is in writing because His hand was upon me. He helped me to know all the plan."

Then King David said to all the people, "My son Solomon is the one God has chosen. He is still young and has not had much time to know what to do. It is a very big work because this beautiful house is not for man, but for the Lord God.

Then the rulers of the families gave because they wanted to. The leaders of the family groups of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and those who watched over the king's work gave because they wanted to.

Then the people were filled with joy because they had been so willing to give. They gave their gift to the Lord with a whole heart. And King David was filled with great joy.

O my God, I know that You test the heart and are pleased with what is right. I have given these things because I have wanted to with a clean heart. And now I have seen with joy how Your people who are here give gifts to You because they want to.

God said to Solomon, "You have not asked for riches, much money, or honor, or the life of those who hate you. And you have not asked for a long life for yourself. But you have asked for wisdom and much understanding, that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king. Because this was in your heart,

Then King Huram of Tyre answered by letter to Solomon, "The Lord has made you king over His people because He loves them."

The religious leaders could not stand to do their work because of the cloud. For the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the house of God.

But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

then hear from heaven, and act. Judge Your servants. Punish the sinful by bringing his actions on his own head. And make it known that the one who is right and good is not guilty. Bring good to him because he is right and good.

"If Your people Israel lose a battle against those who hate them, because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and tell of Your name, and pray and ask of You in this house,

"When the heavens are shut up and give no rain because the people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and tell of Your name, and turn from their sin when You bring trouble to them,

"If a stranger who is not from Your people Israel comes from a far country because of Your great name, Your powerful hand, and Your strong arm, when he comes and prays toward this house,

The religious leaders could not go into the house of the Lord because it was filled with the Lord's shining-greatness.

Then they will say, ‘It is because they turned away from the Lord, the God of their fathers, Who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They have taken other gods, and worshiped them and served them. So the Lord has brought all this trouble on them.'"

Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. For he said, "My wife should not live in the house of David king of Israel. Because the places are holy where the special box of the Lord has come."