1
David announced, "The house of the LORD God will be built here. Israel's altar for burnt offerings will also be here."
David Makes Plans for Building the Temple
2 David gave orders to bring together the outsiders who were living in Israel. He appointed some of them to cut stones. He wanted them to prepare blocks of stone for building the house of God.
3
David provided a large amount of iron to make nails. They were for the doors of the gates and for the fittings. He provided more bronze than anyone could weigh.
4
He also provided more cedar logs than anyone could count. The people of Sidon and Tyre brought large numbers of logs to David.
5
David said, "My son Solomon is young. He's never done anything like this before. The house that will be built for the LORD should be very grand and wonderful. It should be famous and beautiful in the eyes of all of the nations. I'll get things ready for it." So David got many things ready before he died.
6
Then he sent for his son Solomon. He told him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel.
7
David said to Solomon, "My son, with all my heart I wanted to build a house for the LORD my God. That's where his Name will be.
8
But a message from the LORD came to me. It said, 'You have spilled the blood of many people. You have fought many wars. You are not the one who will build a house for my Name. That is because I have seen you spill the blood of many people on the earth.
9
" 'But you are going to have a son. He will be a man of peace. And I will give him peace and rest from all of his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon. I will give Israel peace and quiet while he is king.
10
He will build a house for my Name. He will be my son. And I will be his father. I will make his kingdom secure over Israel. It will last forever.'