Study Desk

And David said to God, "I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people."

But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord .

Then David said, "This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel's burnt offerings!"

So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God.

Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord , the God of Israel.

"My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God," David told him.

"Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the Lord your God.

And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.

"The Lord your God is with you," he declared. "He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the Lord and his people.

Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord 's Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord 's name."

As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included with the tribe of Levi.

For David said, "The Lord , the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem.

The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord . They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God.

All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

Each group carried out its appointed duties in the house of the Lord according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the Lord , the God of Israel.

All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters.

All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord . Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king.

Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), and Peullethai (the eighth). God had richly blessed Obed-edom.

Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to the Lord .

There were 2,700 capable men among the relatives of Jeriah. King David sent them to the east side of the Jordan River and put them in charge of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were responsible for all matters related to God and to the king.