Study Desk

Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David's official records.

but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.'

"Yet the Lord , the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father's family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father's family. And from among my father's sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

"So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord 's assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.

"And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Then David continued, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.

The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command."

Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, "My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself!

Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.

"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.

For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron.

Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: "O Lord , the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!

"O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!

"O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

"O Lord , the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes.

Then David said to the whole assembly, "Give praise to the Lord your God!" And the entire assembly praised the Lord , the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and the king.

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

David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"