1
Then David said, "This is where the LORD God's temple will be, along with Israel's altar for entirely burned offerings."
David prepares to build the temple
2 David gave orders to gather the immigrants living in the land of Israel, and he appointed masons who would cut stones for building God's temple.
3
David also provided a huge amount of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for the braces, so much bronze that it couldn't be weighed,
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and innumerable cedar logs from the Sidonians and the Tyrians, who gave them to David.
5
David thought, My son Solomon is too inexperienced to build the LORD's temple. It must be great beyond compare in order to win fame and glory throughout all lands, so I myself will prepare things for him. So David made extensive preparations before his death.
Instructions to Solomon
6 David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel.
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David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a temple for the name of the LORD my God.
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But the LORD told me: You've shed much blood and waged great wars. You won't build a temple for my name because you've spilled so much blood on the ground before me.
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A son has just been born to you. He'll be a man of peace, and I'll give him peace with all his surrounding enemies. In fact, his name will be Solomon, and I'll give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
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He will be the one to build a temple for my name. He'll become my son, and I'll become his father, and I'll establish his royal throne over Israel forever.
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"Now, my son, may the LORD be with you so that you may successfully build the temple of the LORD your God, as he promised you.