1 Chronicles 22

David prepares Solomon to build God’s house

David ordered to gather together all the non-Jews who lived in Israel. He had stonecutters prepare beautiful stones for building God's house. David also provided large amounts of iron for nails, gates, and clamps. He also gathered so much bronze that it couldn't be weighed, and so much cedar wood that it couldn't be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians brought David the cedar wood.) David said, "The Existing One's house needs to be so exceedingly magnificent that all the other countries need to hear about it. My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, so I'll start making preparations for it now." That's why David provided so many materials before he died.

Then he summoned Solomon and charged him to build a house for Israel's God the Existing One, saying, "My son, my own heart wanted to build a house for the Existing One my God, but he told me, 'You have shed so much blood and waged so much war, so you shouldn't be the one to build me a house. You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him a break from all his surrounding enemies. Even his name will be Solomon [which means "peace"], and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He will be the one to build a house dedicated to me. He will be my son, and I will be his father; I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.'

"Now, my son, may the Existing One be with you, so that you succeed in building his house just like he said. May the Existing One give you discretion and understanding, so that when he puts you in charge of Israel, you will stick to the regulations your God gave you. You will thrive if you carefully observe the orders and decrees the Existing One gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and brave. Don't be scared. Don't worry. It wasn't easy, but I provided 7.5 million pounds of gold and 75 million pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can't even be weighed. I also provided wood and stone. All this is for the Existing One's house, and you must add even more. You have so many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and countless craftsmen who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and work, and may the Existing One be with you!"

David ordered all of Israel's leaders to help his son Solomon, saying, "Isn't the Existing One your God with you? Hasn't he given you peace on every side? He handed over the people who used to live here, and subdued this land for the Existing One and his people. Now use your thoughts and feelings to strive after the Existing One your God. Get up and build a sanctuary for God, the Existing One, so that the ark of his commitment and all his sacred items can have a home.