1 Chronicles 28; 1 Chronicles 29

1 Chronicles 28

1 David commanded all the leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem. There were the leaders of the tribes, commanders of the divisions serving the king, commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, leaders who took care of the property and animals that belonged to the king and his sons, men over the palace, the powerful men, and all the brave warriors.

2 King David stood up and said, "Listen to me, my relatives and my people. I wanted to build a place to keep the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord. I wanted it to be God's footstool. So I made plans to build a temple.

3 But God said to me, 'You must not build a temple for worshiping me, because you are a soldier and have killed many people.'

4 "But the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king of Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to lead, and from the people of Judah, he chose my father's family. From that family God was pleased to make me king of Israel.

5 The Lord has given me many sons, and from those sons he has chosen Solomon to be the new king of Israel. Israel is the Lord's kingdom.

6 The Lord said to me, 'Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards. I have chosen Solomon to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 He is obeying my laws and commands now. If he continues to obey them, I will make his kingdom strong forever.'"

8 David said, "Now, in front of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of God, I tell you these things: Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Then you will keep this good land and pass it on to your descendants forever.

9 "And you, my son Solomon, accept the God of your father. Serve him completely and willingly, because the Lord knows what is in everyone's mind. He understands everything you think. If you go to him for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you forever.

10 Solomon, you must understand this. The Lord has chosen you to build the Temple as his holy place. Be strong and finish the job."

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for building the Temple and the courtyard around the Temple. They included its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inside rooms, and the place where the people's sins were removed.

12 David gave him plans for everything he had in mind: the courtyards around the Lord's Temple and all the rooms around it, the Temple treasuries, and the treasuries of the holy items used in the Temple.

13 David gave Solomon directions for the groups of the priests and Levites. David told him about all the work of serving in the Temple of the Lord and about the items to be used in the Temple service

14 that were made of gold or silver. David told Solomon how much gold or silver should be used to make each thing.

15 David told him how much gold to use for each gold lampstand and its lamps and how much silver to use for each silver lampstand and its lamps. The different lampstands were to be used where needed.

16 David told how much gold should be used for each table that held the holy bread and how much silver should be used for the silver tables.

17 He told how much pure gold should be used to make the forks, bowls, and pitchers and how much gold should be used to make each gold dish. He told how much silver should be used to make each silver dish

18 and how much pure gold should be used for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot of the golden creatures that spread their wings over the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord.

19 David said, "All these plans were written with the Lord guiding me. He helped me understand everything in the plans."

20 David also said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and brave, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or leave you until all the work for the Temple of the Lord is finished.

21 The groups of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the Temple of God. Every skilled worker is ready to help you with all the work. The leaders and all the people will obey every command you give."

1 Chronicles 29

1 King David said to all the Israelites who were gathered, "God chose my son Solomon, who is young and hasn't yet learned what he needs to know, but the work is important. This palace is not for people; it is for the Lord God.

2 I have done my best to prepare for building the Temple of God. I have given gold for the things made of gold and silver for the things made of silver. I have given bronze for the things made of bronze and iron for the things made of iron. I have given wood for the things made of wood and onyx for the settings. I have given turquoise gems of many different colors, valuable stones, and white marble. I have given much of all these things.

3 I have already given this for the Temple, but now I am also giving my own treasures of gold and silver, because I really want the Temple of my God to be built.

4 I have given about two hundred twenty thousand pounds of pure gold from Ophir and about five hundred twenty thousand pounds of pure silver. They will be used to cover the walls of the buildings

5 and for all the gold and silver work. Skilled men may use the gold and silver to make things for the Temple. Now, who is ready to give himself to the service of the Lord today?"

6 The family leaders and the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, and the leaders responsible for the king's work gave their valuable things.

7 They donated about three hundred eighty thousand pounds of gold, about seven hundred fifty thousand pounds of silver, about one million three hundred fifty thousand pounds of bronze, and about seven million five hundred thousand pounds of iron to the Temple of God.

8 People who had valuable gems gave them to the treasury of the Temple of the Lord, and Jehiel, from the Gershon family, took care of the valuable gems.

9 The leaders gave willingly and completely to the Lord. The people rejoiced to see their leaders give so gladly, and King David was also very happy.

10 David praised the Lord in front of all the people who were gathered. He said: "We praise you, Lord, God of our father Israel. We praise you forever and ever.

11 Lord, you are great and powerful. You have glory, victory, and honor. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord; you are the ruler over everything.

12 Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength to make anyone great and strong.

13 Now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

14 "These things did not really come from me and my people. Everything comes from you; we have given you back what you gave us.

15 We are like foreigners and strangers, as our ancestors were. Our time on earth is like a shadow. There is no hope.

16 Lord our God, we have gathered all this to build your Temple for worship to you. But everything has come from you; everything belongs to you.

17 I know, my God, that you test people's hearts. You are happy when people do what is right. I was happy to give all these things, and I gave with an honest heart. Your people gathered here are happy to give to you, and I rejoice to see their giving.

18 Lord, you are the God of our ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Make your people want to serve you always, and make them want to obey you.

19 Give my son Solomon a desire to serve you. Help him always obey your commands, laws, and rules. for which I have prepared."

20 Then David said to all the people who were gathered, "Praise the Lord your God." So they all praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed to the ground to give honor to the Lord and the king.

21 The next day the people sacrificed to the Lord. They offered burnt offerings to him of a thousand bulls, a thousand male sheep, and a thousand male lambs. They also brought drink offerings. Many sacrifices were made for all the people of Israel.

22 That day the people ate and drank with much joy, and the Lord was with them. And they made David's son Solomon king for the second time. They poured olive oil on Solomon to appoint him king in the presence of the Lord. And they poured oil on Zadok to appoint him as priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on the Lord's throne as king and took his father David's place. Solomon was very successful, and all the people of Israel obeyed him.

24 All the leaders and soldiers and King David's sons accepted Solomon as king and promised to obey him.

25 The Lord made Solomon great before all the Israelites and gave Solomon much honor. No king of Israel before Solomon had such honor.

26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel.

27 He had ruled over Israel forty years -- seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

28 David died when he was old. He had lived a good, long life and had received many riches and honors. His son Solomon became king after him.

29 Everything David did as king, from beginning to end, is recorded in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet, and the records of Gad the seer.

30 Those writings tell what David did as king of Israel. They tell about his power and what happened to him and to Israel and to all the kingdoms around them.