Bible in 90 Days
Divisions of the priests
24 The divisions of the Aaronites:
Aaron’s family: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, without having sons, and so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. 3 David, with the help of Zadok from Eleazar’s family and Ahimelech from Ithamar’s family, divided them according to their appointed duties. 4 Since Eleazar’s family was found to have more male heads than Ithamar’s family, they divided them so that Eleazar’s family had sixteen household heads and Ithamar’s family had eight. 5 They divided both groups by lots because there were holy leaders, even outstanding leaders, among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants. 6 Shemaiah, Nethanel’s son, the levitical scribe, recorded their names in the presence of the king; the leaders; Zadok the priest; Ahimelech, Abiathar’s son; and the household heads of the priests and Levites. One household was taken from Eleazar followed by one from Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 These were to enter the Lord’s temple according to their appointed duty and by the procedure established for them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him.
Rest of the Levites
20 The rest of the Levites included:
from Amram’s family: Shubael;
from Shubael’s family: Jehdeiah;
21 from Rehabiah and his family: Isshiah the first;
22 from the Izharites: Shelomoth;
from Shelomoth’s family: Jahath;
23 Hebron’s family:[a] Jeriah the first,[b] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth;
24 Uzziel’s family: Micah;
from Micah’s family: Shamir;
25 Micah’s brother Isshiah;
from Isshiah’s family: Zechariah;
26 Merari’s family: Mahli, Mushi and his son Jaaziah’s family;
27 Merari’s family by his son Jaaziah: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri;
28 from Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons;
29 from Kish and his family: Jerahmeel;
30 and Mushi’s family: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites according to their households. 31 Both the household head and his youngest brother cast lots, just as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and levitical households.
Temple musicians
25 David and the army officers[c] set apart Asaph’s family, Heman and Jeduthun, for service to prophesy[d] accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals.
This is the list of those who performed this special service:
2 From Asaph’s family: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. Asaph’s family was under Asaph’s direction and prophesied by order of the king.
3 From Jeduthun and his family: Gedaliah, Izri,[e] Jeshaiah, Shimei,[f] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all. They were under their father Jeduthun’s direction, prophesying with the lyre and giving thanks and praise to the Lord.
4 From Heman and his family: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
5 All these were the family of Heman the king’s seer, according to God’s promise to honor him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 They were all under their father’s direction when singing in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres to provide service in God’s temple, by order of the king.
As for Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, 7 the number of themselves and their relatives, who were trained in singing to the Lord and who were all skillful, was 288.
8 They cast lots for their assigned duties, small as well as great, teacher and pupil alike.
9 The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, his relatives, and his family, 12;
10 the third to Zaccur, his family, and his relatives, 12;
11 the fourth to Izri, his family, and his relatives, 12;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
14 the seventh to Jesarelah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
17 the tenth to Shimei, his family, and his relatives, 12;
18 the eleventh to Uzziel,[g] his family, and his relatives, 12;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
20 the thirteenth to Shubael, his family, and his relatives, 12;
21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth,[h] his family, and his relatives, 12;
23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his family, and his relatives, 12;
26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his family, and his relatives, 12;
27 the twentieth to Eliathah, his family, and his relatives, 12;
28 the twenty-first to Hothir, his family, and his relatives, 12;
29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his family, and his relatives, 12;
30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his family, and his relatives, 12;
31 and the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his family, and his relatives, 12.
Gatekeepers
26 The divisions of the gatekeepers: from the Korahites: Meshelemiah, Kore’s son, one of Ebiasaph’s[i] family.
2 Meshelemiah’s family: Zechariah the oldest, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-edom’s family: Shemaiah the oldest, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. God truly blessed him. 6 To his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their household, because they were valiant men. 7 Shemaiah’s family: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, and his relatives, Elihu and Semachiah, who were valiant men. 8 All these were members of Obed-edom’s family, they, their sons, and their relatives. They were valiant and strong in their service, 62 men belonging to Obed-edom. 9 Meshelemiah’s family and relatives, valiant men, numbered 18.
10 Hosah, one of Merari’s family, also had a family: Shimri the first (though he wasn’t the oldest, his father gave him that status), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. All of Hosah’s family and relatives numbered 13.
12 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers with their leaders, who were responsible to minister in the Lord’s temple, along with their relatives. 13 They cast lots for each gate in the same way, whether their household was small or large. 14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the North Gate. 15 Obed-edom was assigned the South Gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. 16 Hosah[j] was assigned the West Gate, that is, the chamber[k] gate on the upper road.
The guards had the same task: 17 each day[l] the East had six, the North four, and the South four, with two at each of the storehouses. 18 At the courtyard on the West, there were four at the road and two at the courtyard. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers from Korah’s family and Merari’s family.
20 Their fellow[m] Levites were in charge of the treasuries of God’s temple and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts: 21 from Ladan’s family, the family of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, and the heads of the households belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22 Jehieli’s family: Zetham and Joel his brother were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple. 23 From the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites: 24 Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom, Moses’ son, was the chief officer in charge of the treasuries. 25 His relatives through Eliezer included his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. 26 This Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the gifts dedicated by King David, by the household leaders, by the commanders[n] of the units of a thousand and a hundred, and by the army officers. 27 They had dedicated some of the valuable objects won in battle to repair the Lord’s temple. 28 Everything that was dedicated by Samuel the seer, as well as by Saul, Kish’s son; Abner, Ner’s son; and Joab, Zeruiah’s son—in fact, anything that had been dedicated—was under the supervision of Shelomoth[o] and his relatives.
29 From the Izharites: Chenaniah and his family had responsibilities over Israel outside the temple as officials and judges. 30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, were put in charge of Israel west of the Jordan concerning all of the Lord’s affairs and the king’s service. 31 From the Hebronites: Jerijah was the head of the Hebronites according to the family records of their households. In the fortieth year of David’s rule, a search was made and capable men were found among them in Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jerijah’s relatives, capable men, were 2,700 heads of households. King David put them in charge of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh concerning all of God’s and the king’s affairs.
Divisions of the military
27 This is the list of the Israelites, the heads of households, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and their officers. They served the king in every way their divisions required, and they were on duty for a month at a time through all the months of the year. Each division numbered 24,000.
2 In charge of the first division for the first month was Jashobeam, Zabdiel’s son. His division numbered 24,000. 3 He was a Perezite and the head of all the army officers for the first month.
4 In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai the Ahohite.[p] His division numbered 24,000.
5 The third army commander for the third month was Benaiah the chief priest Jehoiada’s son. His division numbered 24,000. 6 This Benaiah was a warrior of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty. In command of his division was his son Ammizabad.
7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel, Joab’s brother, and after him his son Zebadiah. His division numbered 24,000.
8 The fifth for the fifth month was the commander Shammoth the Zerahite.[q] His division numbered 24,000.
9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the Tekoite Ikkesh’s son. His division numbered 24,000.
10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite from Ephraim’s family. His division numbered 24,000.
11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite from the Zerahites. His division numbered 24,000.
12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer of Annathoth from the Benjaminites. His division numbered 24,000.
13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite from the Zerahites. His division numbered 24,000.
14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite from Ephraim’s family. His division numbered 24,000.
15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite from Othniel. His division numbered 24,000.
Tribal leaders
16 In charge of the tribes of Israel:
for the Reubenites—the leader was Eliezer, Zichri’s son;
for the Simeonites—Shephatiah, Maacah’s son;
17 for the Levites—Hashabiah, Kemuel’s son;
for Aaron—Zadok;
18 for Judah—Eliab,[r] one of David’s relatives;
for Issachar—Omri, Michael’s son;
19 for Zebulun—Ishmaiah, Obadiah’s son;
for Naphtali—Jerimoth, Azriel’s son;
20 for the Ephraimites—Hoshea, Azaziah’s son;
for half the tribe of Manasseh—Joel, Pedaiah’s son;
21 for half the tribe[s] of Manasseh in Gilead—Iddo, Zechariah’s son;
for Benjamin—Jaasiel, Abner’s son;
22 for Dan—Azarel, Jeroham’s son.
These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David didn’t count those younger than 20 years of age, because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. 24 Joab, Zeruiah’s son, began to count them, but he never finished. Since Israel experienced wrath because of this, the number wasn’t entered into the official records of King David.
Civil servants
25 In charge of the king’s treasuries—Azmaveth, Adiel’s son;
in charge of the treasuries in the country, cities, villages, and towers—Jonathan, Uzziah’s son;
26 in charge of agricultural workers cultivating the fertile land—Ezri, Chelub’s son;
27 in charge of the vineyards—Shimei the Ramathite;
in charge of the vineyard’s produce for the wine cellars—Zabdi the Shiphmite;
28 in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the western foothills—Baal-hanan the Gederite;
in charge of the stores of oil—Joash;
29 in charge of the cattle that grazed in Sharon—Shitrai the Sharonite;
in charge of the cattle in the valleys—Shaphat, Adlai’s son;
30 in charge of the camels—Obil the Ishmaelite;
in charge of the female donkeys—Jehdeiah the Meronothite;
31 in charge of the flocks of sheep and goats—Jaziz the Hagrite.
All these were stewards of King David’s property.
Royal advisors
32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel, Hachmoni’s son, took care of the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s political advisor.[t] 34 After Ahithophel came Benaiah’s son Jehoiada, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.
David addresses Israel’s leaders
28 David assembled all of Israel’s leaders in Jerusalem, the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, as well as the officers, warriors, and all the valiant men. 2 Then King David stood up and said:
Listen to me, my relatives and my people. I wanted to build a temple as the permanent home for the chest containing the Lord’s covenant, our God’s footrest. But when I prepared to build it, 3 God said to me, You must not build a temple for my name, because you are a military man and you’ve shed blood. 4 The Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole household to become king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and within Judah’s family, my household, and among my father’s family he was pleased with me, making me king over all Israel. 5 And from all the many sons the Lord has given me, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom over Israel. 6 He said to me: Your son Solomon will build my temple and my courtyards, for I’ve chosen him to become my son even as I myself will become his father. 7 I’ll establish his kingdom forever if he remains committed to keeping my commands and case laws as he does now.
8 So now, in the presence of all the Lord’s assembly[u] and with God as our witness, carefully observe all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may hold on to this good land and pass it on to your children forever. 9 As for you, Solomon, my son, acknowledge your father’s God and serve him with enthusiastic devotion, because the Lord searches every mind and understands the motive behind every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever. 10 Now then, since the Lord has chosen you to build a temple for him[v] as the sanctuary, work hard.
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plan for the entrance hall, its buildings, treasuries, upper and inner rooms, and the room for the cover.[w] 12 He provided all of the plans he had in mind: for the courtyards of the Lord’s temple, and for all its surrounding rooms where the treasures of God’s temple and the dedicated gifts would be stored; 13 for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all their responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the equipment used in its service; 14 for the weight of all the gold equipment used for every kind of service, and the weight of all the silver equipment used for every kind of service; 15 for the weight of the gold lampstands and their gold lamps—the weight of gold for each lampstand with its lamps—and for the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps depending on how each would be used; 16 for the weight of gold for each table with the stacks of bread, and the silver for the silver tables; 17 for the forks, bowls, and cups of pure gold; for the weight of each gold dish and the weight of each silver dish; 18 for the weight of the incense altar made of refined gold; and for the construction of the chariot—with the gold winged creatures spreading their wings and covering the chest containing the Lord’s covenant. 19 All of this the Lord made clear to David[x] directly in a document, including the plan for all of the work.
20 “Be strong and courageous,” David said to his son Solomon. “Get to work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He’ll neither let you down nor leave you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is done. 21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. For all this work you will have willing and able workers with you to do it. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.”
Offerings for building the temple
29 Then King David said to the whole assembly:
My son Solomon, the one whom God chose, is too inexperienced for this great task, since this temple won’t be for humans but for the Lord God. 2 Using every resource at my disposal, I’ve provided everything for my God’s temple: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, lumber for wooden objects, carnelian stones for settings, antimony, colorful stones, every kind of precious stone, and a large amount of marble. 3 What’s more, because of my delight in my God’s temple, I have dedicated my own private treasure of gold and silver to my God’s temple, in addition to all that I’ve provided for the holy temple: 4 three thousand kikkars of gold from the gold of Ophir, seven thousand kikkars of refined silver for covering the walls of the rooms,[y] 5 gold for gold objects, and silver for silver objects, to be used for everything the skilled workers will make. Who else, then, will volunteer, dedicating themselves to the Lord today?
6 Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of the units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work volunteered 7 to give five thousand kikkars and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand kikkars of silver, eighteen thousand kikkars of bronze, and one hundred thousand kikkars of iron for the work on God’s temple. 8 Anyone who had precious stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced at this response, because they had presented their offerings to the Lord so willingly and wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.
10 Then David blessed the Lord before the whole assembly:
Blessed are you, Lord,
God of our ancestor Israel,
forever and always.
11 To you, Lord, belong greatness and power,
honor, splendor, and majesty,
because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you.
Yours, Lord, is the kingship,
and you are honored as head of all.
12 You are the source of wealth and honor,
and you rule over all.
In your hand are strength and might,
and it is in your power to magnify and strengthen all.
13 And now, our God, we thank you
and praise your glorious name.
14 Who am I,
and who are my people,
that we should be able to offer so willingly?
Since everything comes from you,
we have given you that which comes from your own hand.
15 To be sure, we are like all our ancestors,
immigrants without permanent homes.
Our days are like a shadow on the ground,
and there’s no hope.
16 Lord, our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a temple for your holy name comes from your hand and belongs to you. 17 Since I know, my God, that you examine the mind and take delight in honesty, I have freely given all these things with the highest of motives. And now I’ve been delighted to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
18 Lord, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep these thoughts in the mind of your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you.
19 As for Solomon my son, give him the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, laws, and regulations—observing all of them—and to build the temple that I have prepared.
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the Lord your God,” and the whole assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors, bowed down, and worshipped before the Lord and the king. 21 On the very next day they offered sacrifices and entirely burned offerings to the Lord—a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings—and many other sacrifices for all Israel’s sake. 22 They ate and drank with great joy before the Lord that day and made David’s son Solomon the king.[z] They anointed him[aa] in the Lord’s presence as prince, and Zadok as priest. 23 Thus Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king, succeeding his father David, and he prospered. All Israel obeyed him, 24 and all the commanders and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, submitted to King Solomon’s authority. 25 Moreover, the Lord magnified Solomon before all Israel, giving him such royal majesty as no king before him[ab] had enjoyed.
Summary of David’s reign
26 David, Jesse’s son, was king over all Israel. 27 He reigned over Israel for forty years: seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed a full life, wealth, and honor; and his son Solomon followed him as king. 29 The account of King David from beginning to end is written in the records of Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the visionary, 30 including everything concerning his powerful rule, and what happened to him, to Israel, and to all the kingdoms in other lands.
Solomon first meets God
1 Solomon, David’s son, was securely established over his kingdom because the Lord his God was with him and made him very great. 2 Solomon summoned all Israel, including the officers of the army,[ac] the judges, and every Israelite leader who was the head of a family. 3 Then Solomon, accompanied by the whole assembly, went to the shrine at Gibeon because that is where God’s meeting tent was, the tent that the Lord’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had already brought God’s chest from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it because he had pitched a tent for the chest in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson, had made was there in front of the Lord’s dwelling, so that is where Solomon and the assembly worshipped. 6 Solomon went there to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence at the meeting tent and offered a thousand entirely burned offerings upon it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
8 “You showed so much kindness to my father David,” Solomon replied to God, “and you have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be fulfilled because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the earth’s dust. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead this people, because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help.”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is what you wish, and because you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I’ve made you king—rather than asking for wealth, riches, fame, victory over those who hate you, or even a long life— 12 your request for wisdom and knowledge is granted. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame beyond that of any king before you or after you.” 13 Then Solomon went from[ad] the shrine in Gibeon, from the meeting tent to Jerusalem where he ruled over Israel.
Solomon’s wealth
14 Solomon acquired more and more chariots and horses until he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 In Jerusalem, the king made silver and gold as common as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore trees that grow in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue, purchased from Kue by the king’s agents at the going price. 17 They would import a chariot from Egypt for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty, and then export them to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
Solomon prepares to build the temple
2 [ae] Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Lord’s name and to build a royal palace for himself. 2 [af] To work in the highlands, Solomon drafted 70,000 laborers, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,600 supervisors. 3 Solomon sent the following message to King Huram[ag] of Tyre:
When my father David was building his palace, you sent him cedar logs. 4 Now as his son[ah] I am about to build a temple in the name of the Lord my God. I will dedicate it to him to burn fragrant incense before him, to set out the bread that is regularly displayed, and to offer entirely burned offerings every morning and evening, on the sabbaths, the first of every month, and the festivals of the Lord our God, as Israel has been commanded to do forever. 5 The temple I am about to build must be magnificent, because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build such a temple when even the highest heaven can’t contain God? And who am I that I should build this temple for God, except as a place to burn incense in his presence? 7 So now send me a craftsman skilled in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as in purple, crimson, and violet yarn—someone also experienced as an engraver. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem who were provided by my father David. 8 Also send me cedar, cypress, and sandalwood logs from Lebanon. I know your servants know how to cut Lebanese timber, so my servants will work with your servants 9 to prepare plenty of timber for me, because the temple that I am about to build will be magnificent and amazing. 10 I will pay the woodcutters twenty thousand kors[ai] of crushed wheat, twenty thousand kors of barley, twenty thousand baths[aj] of wine, and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.
11 Tyre’s King Huram replied in a letter that he sent to Solomon:
The Lord must love his people Israel because he has made you their king! 12 Bless the Lord, Israel’s God, who made heaven and earth. He gave King David a wise son who possesses the knowledge and understanding to build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 13 I’m sending you a skilled and experienced craftsman, Huram-abi, 14 whose mother is from the tribe of Dan and whose father is from Tyre. He’s skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, as well as purple, violet, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He can do any kind of engraving and make any design given to him with the assistance of your craftsmen and the craftsmen of my master, your father David. 15 So once my master sends the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised, 16 we will cut as much timber as you need from Lebanon and bring it by raft on the sea to you at Joppa, where you can take it up to Jerusalem.
17 Then Solomon counted all the immigrants in the land of Israel, as his father David had done, and the total was 153,600. 18 He made 70,000 of these immigrants laborers, 80,000 of them stonecutters in the highlands, and 3,600 of them supervisors to keep the people working.
Solomon builds the temple
3 Solomon began to build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord[ak] had appeared to his father David, on the place David had prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began building in the second month[al] of the fourth year of his rule. 3 Solomon laid the foundations[am] for these structures in order to build the temple of God. The length according to the old standard of measurement was ninety feet and the width thirty feet. 4 Across the front of the temple[an] was a porch as long as the temple was and thirty feet wide, and thirty feet[ao] high. He covered the inside walls with pure gold. 5 He paneled the walls of the main room with pine, covered them with fine gold, and decorated them with palm trees and chains. 6 He studded the room with precious stones for beauty; the gold was from Parvaim. 7 He covered the room, its beams, doorframes, walls, and doors with gold, and carved images of winged creatures on the walls. 8 Then he made the most holy place. It was as long as the temple was wide, thirty feet long and thirty feet wide. He covered it with six hundred kikkars of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed fifty shekels.[ap] He also covered the upper rooms with gold.
10 In the most holy place he formed two statues of winged creatures and covered them with gold. 11 Together the wingspan of these creatures was thirty feet. One of the first creature’s wings was seven and a half feet long and touched the temple wall, while the other wing was seven and a half feet long, touching the wing of the other creature. 12 Similarly, one wing of the other creature was seven and a half feet long and touched the temple wall, while the other wing was seven and a half feet long and touched the other creature. 13 The wings of these creatures extended thirty feet. They stood on their feet facing the main room.
14 Then he made the curtain out of fine linen and violet, purple, and crimson yarn, weaving winged creatures into it. 15 Then he made two columns in front of the temple, fifty-two and a half feet high, with a seven and a half foot cap on top of each. 16 Then he made chains like a necklace[aq] and placed them on the tops of the columns. He made a hundred pomegranates and placed them into the chains. 17 Then he set up the pillars in front of the sanctuary, one on the south, the other on the north. The one on the south he named Jachin, and the one on the north he named Boaz.
Solomon’s temple equipment
4 He[ar] also made a bronze altar thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and fifteen feet high. 2 Then he made a tank of cast metal called the Sea. It was circular in shape, fifteen feet from rim to rim, seven and a half feet high, and forty-five feet in circumference. 3 Under the rim were two rows of oxlike figures completely encircling it, ten every eighteen inches, each cast in its mold. 4 The Sea rested on twelve oxen with their backs toward the center, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. 5 The Sea was as thick as the width of a hand. Its rim was shaped like a cup or an open lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.[as] 6 He also made ten washbasins and put five on the south and five on the north. The items used for the entirely burned offerings were rinsed in these. The priests washed in the Sea. 7 He made ten gold lampstands as prescribed and put them in the sanctuary, five on the south and five on the north. 8 He also made ten tables and put them in the sanctuary, five on the south and five on the north, as well as a hundred gold bowls. 9 He made the courtyard of the priests and the great courtyard, with doors covered with bronze for the courtyard. 10 He placed the Sea at the southeast corner.
11 Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the bowls. So Huram finished all his work on God’s temple for King Solomon:
12 two columns;
two circular capitals on top of the columns;
two networks adorning the two circular capitals on top of the columns;
13 four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, with two rows of pomegranates for each network that adorned the two circular capitals on top of the columns;
14 ten[at] stands with ten[au] basins on them;
15 one Sea;
twelve oxen beneath the Sea;
16 and the pots, the shovels, and the meat forks.
All the things that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the Lord’s temple were made of polished bronze. 17 The king cast them in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zarethan.[av] 18 Due to the very large number of objects, Solomon didn’t even try to weigh the bronze. 19 Solomon also made all the equipment for God’s temple: the gold altar; the tables for the bread of the presence; 20 the lampstands with their lamps, all of pure gold, to burn before the inner sanctuary as prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of pure gold; 22 and the wick trimmers, bowls, ladles, and censers of pure gold. As for the temple entrance, the inner doors to the most holy place as well as the doors to the main hall were made of gold.
5 When all of Solomon’s work on the Lord’s temple was finished, he brought the silver, gold, and all the objects his father David had dedicated and put them in the treasuries of God’s temple.
Solomon dedicates the temple
2 Then Solomon assembled Israel’s elders, all the tribal leaders, and the clan chieftains of Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the chest containing the Lord’s covenant from Zion, David’s City. 3 Everyone in Israel assembled before the king in the seventh month,[aw] during the festival. 4 When all Israel’s elders had arrived, the Levites picked up the chest. 5 They brought the chest, the meeting tent, and all the holy objects that were in the tent. The priests and[ax] the Levites brought them up, 6 while King Solomon and the entire Israelite assembly that had joined him before the chest sacrificed countless sheep and oxen. 7 The priests brought the chest containing the Lord’s covenant to its designated spot beneath the wings of the winged creatures in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the most holy place. 8 The winged creatures spread their wings over the place where the chest rested, covering the chest and its carrying poles. 9 The carrying poles were so long that their tips could be seen from the holy place[ay] in front of the inner sanctuary, though they weren’t visible from outside. They are still there today. 10 Nothing was in the chest except the two stone tablets Moses placed there while at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they left Egypt.
11 Then the priests left the holy place. All the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12 All the levitical musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their families and relatives—were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and zithers, along with one hundred twenty priests blowing trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord as one. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they began to sing, praising the Lord:
Yes, God is good!
Yes, God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple.[az] 14 The priests were unable to carry out their duties on account of the cloud because the Lord’s glory filled God’s temple.
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said that he would live in a dark cloud; 2 but God, I have built you a lofty temple—a place where you can live forever.”
3 The king turned around, and while the entire assembly of Israel was standing there, he blessed them, 4 saying:
Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke directly to my father David and now has kept his promise: 5 “From the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I haven’t selected a city from any Israelite tribe as a site for the building of a temple for my name. Neither have I chosen anyone as prince over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place for my name, and David as prince over my people Israel.”
7 My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God. 8 But the Lord said to my father David: “It is very good that you thought to build a temple for my name. Nevertheless, 9 you yourself won’t build that temple. Instead, your very own son will build the temple for my name.” 10 The Lord has kept his promise—I have succeeded my father David on Israel’s throne, just as the Lord said, and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, Israel’s God. 11 There I’ve placed the chest that contains the covenant that the Lord made with the Israelites.
12 Solomon stood before the Lord’s altar in front of the entire Israelite assembly and spread out his hands. 13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform seven and a half feet long, seven and a half feet wide, and four and a half feet high, and he set it in the middle of the enclosure. He stood on it. Then, kneeling before the whole assembly of Israel and spreading his hands toward the sky, 14 he said:
Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on the earth. You keep the covenant and show loyalty to your servants who walk before you with all their heart. 15 This is the covenant you kept with your servant David my father, which you promised him. Today you have fulfilled what you promised.
16 So now, Lord God of Israel, keep what you promised my father David your servant when you said to him, “You will never fail to have a successor sitting on Israel’s throne as long as your descendants carefully walk according to my Instruction, just as you have walked before me.” 17 So now, Lord God of Israel, may your promise to your servant David come true.
18 But how could God possibly live on earth with people? If heaven, even the highest heaven, can’t contain you, how can this temple that I have built contain you? 19 Lord, my God, listen to your servant’s prayer and request, and hear the cry and prayer that I your servant pray to you. 20 Constantly watch over this temple, the place where you promised to put your name, and listen to the prayer your servant is praying concerning this place. 21 Listen to the request of your servant and your people Israel when they pray concerning this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive!
22 If someone wrongs another and must take a solemn pledge asserting his innocence before your altar in this temple, 23 then listen from heaven, act, and decide which of your servants is right. Condemn the guilty party, repaying them for their conduct, but justify the innocent person, repaying them for their righteousness.
24 If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, but then they change their hearts, give thanks to your name, and ask for mercy in your presence at this temple, 25 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. Return them to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
26 When the sky holds back its rain because Israel has sinned against you, but they then pray concerning this place, give thanks to your name, and turn away from their sin because you have punished them for it,[ba] 27 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the best way for them to follow, and send rain on your land that you gave to your people as an inheritance.
28 Whenever there is a famine or plague in the land, or whenever there is blight, mildew, locusts, or grasshoppers, or whenever someone’s enemies attack them in their cities, or any plague or illness comes, 29 whatever prayer or petition is made by any individual or by all of your people Israel—because people will recognize their own pain and suffering and spread out their hands toward this temple— 30 then listen from heaven where you live. Forgive, act, and repay each person according to all their conduct because you know their hearts. You alone know the human heart! 31 Do this that they may revere you by following your ways all the days they live on the fertile land that you gave to our ancestors.
32 Listen also to the foreigner who isn’t from your people Israel, but who comes from a distant country because of your great reputation, your great power, and your outstretched arm. When they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then listen from heaven where you live, and do everything the foreigner asks. Do this so that all the people of the earth may know your reputation and revere you, as your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I have built bears your name.
34 When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you may send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and concerning this temple that I have built for your name, 35 then listen from heaven to their prayer and request and do what is right for them.
36 When they sin against you, for there is no one who doesn’t sin, and you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to enemy territory, whether distant or nearby, 37 if they change their heart in whatever land they are held captive, turning back and begging for your mercy,[bb] saying, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted wickedly!” 38 and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they’ve been taken captive, and pray concerning their land, which you gave to their ancestors, concerning the city you have chosen, and concerning this temple I have built for your name, 39 then listen to their prayer and request from your heavenly dwelling place. Do what is right for them, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers of this place. 41 And now go, Lord God, to your resting place, you and your mighty chest. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation; may those loyal to you rejoice in what is good. 42 Lord God, don’t reject your anointed one.[bc] Remember your faithful loyalty to your servant David.
7 As soon as Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the entirely burned offering and the sacrifices, while the Lord’s glory filled the temple. 2 The priests were unable to enter the Lord’s temple because the Lord’s glory had filled the Lord’s temple. 3 All the Israelites were watching when the fire fell. As the Lord’s glory filled the temple, they knelt down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, worshipping and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “Yes, God is good! Yes, God’s faithful love lasts forever!”
4 Then the king and all the people sacrificed to the Lord. 5 King Solomon sacrificed twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep when the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple. 6 The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “Yes, God’s faithful love lasts forever!” and which David had used when he gave praise. Across from them, the priests were blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing.
7 Solomon also dedicated the middle of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s temple. He had to offer the entirely burned offerings and the fat of the well-being sacrifices there because the bronze altar Solomon had made was too small to contain the entirely burned offerings, the grain offerings, and the pieces of fat.
8 At that time Solomon, together with all Israel, celebrated the festival for seven days. It was a very large assembly that came from Lebo-hamath to the border[bd] of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day there was a gathering. They had dedicated the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for another seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month,[be] Solomon dismissed the people to their tents, happy and content because of the goodness the Lord had shown to David, to Solomon, and to his people Israel.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible