Bible in 90 Days
Divisions of Levites
24 Now the divisions of the [a]descendants of Aaron were these: (A)the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 (B)But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no [b]sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. 3 David, with (C)Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices [c]for their ministry. 4 Since more chief men were found from the [d]descendants of Eleazar than the [e]descendants of Ithamar, they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the [f]descendants of Eleazar and eight of the [g]descendants of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households. 5 (D)Thus they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the [h]descendants of Eleazar and the [i]descendants of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, (E)Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9 the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for (F)Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19 (G)These were their offices for their ministry when they came in to the house of the Lord according to the ordinance given to them through Aaron their father, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, [j]Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first. 22 Of the Izharites, [k]Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 The sons (H)of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno. 27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri. 28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households. 31 (I)These also cast lots just as their [l]relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, (J)Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households as well as those of his younger brother.
Number and Services of Musicians
25 Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of (K)Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to (L)prophesy with lyres, (M)harps and cymbals; and the number of [m]those who performed their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and [n]Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the [o]direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the [p]direction of the king. 3 (N)Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, [q]Zeri, Jeshaiah, [r]Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the [s]direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the Lord. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, [t]Uzziel, [u]Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman (O)the king’s seer to [v]exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. 6 All these were under the [w]direction of their father to sing in the house of the Lord, (P)with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. (Q)Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the [x]direction of the king. 7 Their number who were trained in singing to the Lord, with their [y]relatives, all who were skillful, was (R)288.
Divisions of Musicians
8 (S)They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
9 Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve; 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 11 the fourth to [z]Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 14 the seventh to [aa]Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 28 for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 29 for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 30 for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; 31 for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.
Divisions of the Gatekeepers
26 For the divisions of the gatekeepers there were of the Korahites, [ab]Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of [ac]Asaph. 2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4 (T)Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him. 6 Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor. 7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were valiant men. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their [ad]relatives were able men with strength for the service, 62 from Obed-edom. 9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, 18 valiant men. 10 Also (U)Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and relatives of Hosah were 13.
12 To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, were given duties like their relatives to minister in the house of the Lord. 13 (V)They cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers’ households, for every gate. 14 The lot to the east fell to [ae]Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a counselor with insight, and his lot came out to the north. 15 For Obed-edom it fell to the south, and to his sons went the storehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it was to the west, by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway. Guard corresponded to guard. 17 On the east there were six Levites, on the north four daily, on the south four daily, and at the storehouse two by two. 18 At the [af](W)Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.
Keepers of the Treasure
20 [ag]The Levites, their relatives, [ah]had (X)charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.
22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, [ai]had charge of the treasures of the house of the Lord. 23 As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was officer over the treasures. 25 His relatives by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son and Shelomoth his son. 26 This Shelomoth and his relatives [aj]had charge of all the treasures of the dedicated gifts (Y)which King David and the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. 27 They dedicated [ak]part of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of the Lord. 28 And all that Samuel the seer had dedicated and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, all of this was [al]in the care of [am]Shelomoth and his relatives.
Outside Duties
29 As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons (Z)were assigned to outside duties for Israel, as (AA)officers and judges. 30 As for the Hebronites, (AB)Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had charge of the affairs of Israel [an]west of the Jordan, for all the work of the Lord and the service of the king. 31 As for the Hebronites, (AC)Jerijah the chief [ao](these Hebronites were investigated according to their genealogies and fathers’ households, in the fortieth year of David’s reign, and men of outstanding capability were found among them at (AD)Jazer of Gilead) 32 and his relatives, capable men, were 2,700 in number, heads of fathers’ households. And King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites (AE)concerning [ap]all the affairs of God and of the king.
Commanders of the Army
27 Now this is the enumeration of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division numbering 24,000:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel [aq](AF)had charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were 24,000. 3 He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division had charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were 24,000. 5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000. 6 This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and had charge of thirty; and over his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were 24,000. 8 The fifth for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were 24,000. 9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were 24,000. 10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000. 11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000. 12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites; and in his division were 24,000. 13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000. 14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000. 15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were 24,000.
Chief Officers of the Tribes
16 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. (AG)These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not [ar]count those twenty years of age and under, (AH)because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel (AI)as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of (AJ)this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.
Various Overseers
25 Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel had charge of the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah had charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the [as]agricultural workers who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei the Ramathite had charge of the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge of the [at]produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars. 28 Baal-hanan the Gederite had charge of the olive and (AK)sycamore trees in the [au]Shephelah; and Joash had charge of the stores of oil. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite had charge of the cattle which were grazing in (AL)Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai had charge of the cattle in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite had charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite had charge of the donkeys. 31 Jaziz the (AM)Hagrite had charge of the flocks. All these were [av]overseers of the property which belonged to King David.
Counselors
32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [aw]tutored the king’s sons. 33 (AN)Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and (AO)Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of (AP)Benaiah, and (AQ)Abiathar [ax]succeeded Ahithophel; and Joab was the (AR)commander of the king’s army.
David’s Address about the Temple
28 Now (AS)David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and (AT)the mighty men, even all the valiant men. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I (AU)had [ay]intended to build a [az]permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for (AV)the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘(AW)You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet, the Lord, the God of Israel, (AX)chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel (AY)forever. For (AZ)He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and (BA)in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 (BB)Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), (BC)He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘Your son (BD)Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever (BE)if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as [ba]is done now.’ 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and (BF)serve Him with [bb]a whole heart and a willing [bc]mind; (BG)for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. (BH)If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; (BI)be courageous and act.”
11 Then David gave to his son Solomon (BJ)the plan of (BK)the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and (BL)the room for the mercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in [bd]mind, for the courts of the house of the Lord, and for all the surrounding rooms, for (BM)the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things; 13 also for (BN)the divisions of the priests and (BO)the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord and for all the utensils of service in the house of the Lord; 14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service; 15 and the weight of gold for the (BP)golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables; 17 and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18 and for (BQ)the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot, even (BR)the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19 “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, (BS)all the [be]details of this pattern.”
20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “(BT)Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. (BU)He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 21 Now behold, (BV)there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and (BW)every willing man of any skill will be with you in all the work for all kinds of service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
Offerings for the Temple
29 Then King David said to the entire assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, (BX)is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for (BY)the [bf]temple is not for man, but for the Lord God. 2 Now (BZ)with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance. 3 Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy [bg]temple, 4 namely, (CA)3,000 talents of gold, of (CB)the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the [bh]buildings; 5 of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work [bi]done by the craftsmen. Who then is willing [bj]to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?”
6 Then (CC)the rulers of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with (CD)the overseers over the king’s work, offered willingly; 7 and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 (CE)darics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 [bk]Whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, [bl]in care of (CF)Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord (CG)with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
David’s Prayer
10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 (CH)Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 (CI)Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and (CJ)in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should [bm]be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15 For (CK)we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; (CL)our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17 Since I know, O my God, that (CM)You try the heart and (CN)delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the [bn]intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; 19 and (CO)give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and (CP)to build the [bo]temple, for which I have made provision.”
20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the Lord your God.” And (CQ)all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and (CR)bowed low and did homage to the Lord and to the king.
Sacrifices
21 On the next day (CS)they [bp]made sacrifices to the Lord and offered burnt offerings to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank that day before the Lord with great gladness.
Solomon Again Made King
And they made Solomon the son of David king (CT)a second time, and they (CU)anointed him as ruler for the Lord and Zadok as priest. 23 Then (CV)Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David [bq]pledged allegiance to King Solomon. 25 (CW)The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and (CX)bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel.
26 Now (CY)David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 (CZ)The period which he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and [br]in Jerusalem thirty-three years.
Death of David
28 Then he died in (DA)a [bs]ripe old age, (DB)full of days, riches and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of (DC)Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of (DD)Nathan the prophet and in the chronicles of (DE)Gad the seer, 30 with all his reign, his power, and the circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the lands.
Solomon Worships at Gibeon
1 Now (DF)Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and (DG)exalted him greatly.
2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, (DH)to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to (DI)the high place which was at Gibeon, (DJ)for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up (DK)the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [bt]to (DL)the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now (DM)the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, [bu]was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 Solomon went up there before the Lord to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and (DN)offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 (DO)In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
8 Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and (DP)have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O Lord God, (DQ)Your [bv]promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over (DR)a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 (DS)Give me now wisdom and knowledge, (DT)that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” 11 (DU)God said to Solomon, “Because [bw]you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And (DV)I will give you riches and wealth and honor, [bx]such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will [by]come after you.” 13 (DW)So Solomon went [bz]from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon’s Wealth
14 (DX)Solomon amassed chariots and horsemen. (DY)He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in (DZ)the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 (EA)The king made (EB)silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the [ca]lowland. 16 Solomon’s (EC)horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s traders procured them from Kue for a price. 17 They [cb]imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece and horses for 150 apiece, and [cc]by the same means they [cd]exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
Solomon Will Build a Temple and Palace
2 [ce](ED)Now Solomon [cf]decided to build a house for the name of the Lord and a [cg]royal palace for himself. 2 [ch]So (EE)Solomon [ci]assigned 70,000 men to carry loads and 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains and 3,600 to supervise them.
3 (EF)Then Solomon sent word to [cj]Huram the king of Tyre, saying, “(EG)As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so do for me. 4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, dedicating it to Him, (EH)to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out (EI)the showbread continually, and to offer (EJ)burnt offerings morning and evening, (EK)on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, this being required forever in Israel. 5 The house which I am about to build will be great, for (EL)greater is our God than all the gods. 6 But (EM)who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to [ck]burn incense before Him? 7 Now (EN)send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men [cl](EO)whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 (EP)Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed (EQ)my servants will work with your servants, 9 to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful. 10 Now behold, (ER)I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, 20,000 [cm]kors of crushed wheat and 20,000 [cn]kors of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of oil.”
Huram to Assist
11 Then Huram, king of Tyre, [co]answered in a letter sent to Solomon: “(ES)Because the Lord loves His people, He has made you king over them.” 12 Then Huram [cp]continued, “Blessed be (ET)the Lord, the God of Israel, who has made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, [cq]endowed with discretion and understanding, (EU)who will build a house for the Lord and a [cr]royal palace for himself.
13 “Now I am sending Huram-abi, a skilled man, [cs]endowed with understanding, 14 (EV)the son of a [ct]Danite woman and [cu]a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to [cv]execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work with your skilled men and with [cw]those of my lord David your father. 15 Now then, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of (EW)which he has spoken. 16 (EX)We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem.”
17 Solomon numbered all the aliens who were in the land of Israel, (EY)following the [cx]census which his father David had [cy]taken; and 153,600 were found. 18 (EZ)He appointed 70,000 of them to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains and 3,600 supervisors to make the people work.
The Temple Construction in Jerusalem
3 (FA)Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared (FB)on the threshing floor of [cz]Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build on the second day in the second month [da]of the fourth year of his reign.
Dimensions and Materials of the Temple
3 Now these are the [db]foundations which (FC)Solomon laid for building the house of God. The length in [dc]cubits, according to the old standard was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. 4 The porch which was in front of the house (FD)was as long as the width of the house, twenty cubits, and the height 120; and inside he overlaid it with pure gold. 5 He overlaid (FE)the [dd]main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and [de]ornamented it with palm trees and chains. 6 Further, he [df]adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold was gold from [dg]Parvaim. 7 (FF)He also overlaid the house with gold—the beams, the thresholds and its walls and its doors; and he (FG)carved cherubim on the walls.
8 Now he made (FH)the [dh]room of the holy of holies: its length across the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to 600 talents. 9 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid (FI)the upper rooms with gold.
10 (FJ)Then he made two [di]sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them with gold. 11 The wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits; the wing of one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 The wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits was attached to the wing of the [dj]first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet [dk]facing the main room. 14 (FK)He made the veil of violet, purple, crimson and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.
15 (FL)He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits [dl]high, and the capital on the top of each was five cubits. 16 He made chains in the inner sanctuary and placed them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates and placed them on the chains. 17 (FM)He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz.
Furnishings of the Temple
4 Then (FN)he made a bronze altar, twenty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width and ten cubits in height. 2 (FO)Also he made the cast metal sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits and [dm]its circumference thirty cubits. 3 Now figures like oxen were under it and all around it, ten cubits, entirely encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast [dn]in one piece. 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them and all their hindquarters turned inwards. 5 It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom; it (FP)could hold 3,000 baths. 6 (FQ)He also made ten basins in which to wash, and he set five on the right side and five on the left [do]to rinse things for the burnt offering; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
7 Then (FR)he made the ten golden lampstands in the way prescribed for them and he set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. 8 He also made (FS)ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred golden bowls. 9 Then he made (FT)the court of the priests and (FU)the great court and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze. 10 (FV)He set the sea on the right [dp]side of the house toward the southeast.
11 (FW)Huram also made the pails, the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of God: 12 the two pillars, the bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars, 13 and (FX)the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the pillars. 14 (FY)He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands, 15 and the one sea with the twelve oxen under it. 16 The pails, the shovels, the forks and all its utensils, (FZ)Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. 17 On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 (GA)Thus Solomon made all these utensils in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze could not be found out.
19 Solomon also made all the things that were in the house of God: even the golden altar, (GB)the tables with the bread of the Presence on them, 20 the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, (GC)to burn in front of the inner sanctuary in the way prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold; 22 and the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons and the firepans of pure gold; and the entrance of the house, its inner doors for the holy of holies and the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold.
The Ark Is Brought into the Temple
5 (GD)Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the [dq](GE)things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
2 (GF)Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, (GG)to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 (GH)All the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at (GI)the feast, that is in the seventh month. 4 Then all the elders of Israel came, and (GJ)the Levites took up the ark. 5 They brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing [dr]so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. 8 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its [ds]poles. 9 The poles were so long that (GK)the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and [dt]they are there to this day. 10 (GL)There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
The Glory of God Fills the Temple
11 When the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard (GM)to divisions), 12 and all the Levitical singers, (GN)Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, (GO)with cymbals, harps and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests (GP)blowing trumpets 13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice (GQ)accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “(GR)He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for (GS)the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
Solomon’s Dedication
6 (GT)Then Solomon said,
“The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
2 “I have built You a lofty house,
And a place for Your dwelling forever.”
3 Then the king [du]faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 4 He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands, saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel; 6 but (GU)I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I (GV)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 7 (GW)Now it was [dv]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was [dw]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [dx]in your heart. 9 Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who [dy]will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’ 10 Now the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord [dz]promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have set the ark (GX)in which is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with the sons of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
12 Then he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 (GY)Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, (GZ)knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, (HA)there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, (HB)keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; 15 (HC)who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have [ea]promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have [eb]promised him, saying, ‘[ec](HD)You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 Now therefore, O Lord, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “But (HE)will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, (HF)heaven and the [ed]highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You; 20 that Your (HG)eye may be open toward this house day and night, toward (HH)the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 21 Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place; hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; (HI)hear and forgive.
22 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, [ee](HJ)punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
24 “If Your people Israel [ef]are defeated before an enemy because (HK)they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You have given to them and to their fathers.
26 “When the (HL)heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them; 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, (HM)teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.
28 “If there is (HN)famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their [eg]cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, [eh]each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know (HO)for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, 31 that they may [ei]fear You, to walk in Your ways [ej]as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.
32 “Also concerning (HP)the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your great name’s sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, 33 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and [ek]fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [el]this house which I have built is (HQ)called by Your name.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 “When they sin against You ((HR)for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that [em]they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37 if they [en]take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly’; 38 (HS)if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, 39 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.
40 “Now, O my God, I pray, (HT)let Your eyes be open and (HU)Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
41 “(HV)Now therefore arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might; let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in what is good.
42 “O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; (HW)remember Your lovingkindness to Your servant David.”
The Shekinah Glory
7 (HX)Now when Solomon had finished praying, (HY)fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 (HZ)The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “(IA)Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Sacrifices Offered
4 (IB)Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 The priests stood at their posts, and (IC)the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the Lord, which King David had made for giving praise to the Lord—“for His lovingkindness is everlasting”—whenever [eo]he gave praise by their [ep]means, while (ID)the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing.
7 (IE)Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to contain the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat.
The Feast of Dedication
8 So (IF)Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the (IG)brook of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held (IH)a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days and the feast seven days. 10 Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.