Bible in 90 Days
The Divisions of Priests
24 These were the divisions(A) of the descendants of Aaron:(B)
The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(C) 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did,(D) and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok(E) a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. 4 A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. 5 They divided them impartially by casting lots,(F) for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelek(G) son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.
7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,(H)
8 the third to Harim,(I)
the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,(J)
11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shekaniah,
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,(K)
15 the seventeenth to Hezir,(L)
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah
and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Rest of the Levites
20 As for the rest of the descendants of Levi:(M)
from the sons of Amram: Shubael;
from the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21 As for Rehabiah,(N) from his sons:
Ishiah was the first.
22 From the Izharites: Shelomoth;
from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23 The sons of Hebron:(O) Jeriah the first,[a] Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The son of Uzziel: Micah;
from the sons of Micah: Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah: Ishiah;
from the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari:(P) Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The sons of Merari:
from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur and Ibri.
28 From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 From Kish: the son of Kish:
Jerahmeel.
30 And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites, according to their families. 31 They also cast lots,(Q) just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.
The Musicians
25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,(R) Heman(S) and Jeduthun(T) for the ministry of prophesying,(U) accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.(V) Here is the list of the men(W) who performed this service:(X)
2 From the sons of Asaph:
Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.
3 As for Jeduthun, from his sons:(Y)
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[b] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp(Z) in thanking and praising the Lord.
4 As for Heman, from his sons:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. 5 (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)
6 All these men were under the supervision of their father(AA) for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.
Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman(AB) were under the supervision of the king.(AC) 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord—they numbered 288. 8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots(AD) for their duties.
| 9 The first lot, which was for Asaph,(AE) fell to Joseph, | |
| his sons and relatives[c] | 12[d] |
| the second to Gedaliah, | |
| him and his relatives and sons | 12 |
| 10 the third to Zakkur, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 11 the fourth to Izri,[e] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 14 the seventh to Jesarelah,[f] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 17 the tenth to Shimei, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 18 the eleventh to Azarel,[g] | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 20 the thirteenth to Shubael, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 25 the eighteenth to Hanani, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 27 the twentieth to Eliathah, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 28 the twenty-first to Hothir, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12 |
| 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, | |
| his sons and relatives | 12.(AF) |
The Gatekeepers
26 The divisions of the gatekeepers:(AG)
From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah(AH) the firstborn,
Jediael the second,
Zebadiah the third,
Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth,
Jehohanan the sixth
and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-Edom also had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sakar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh
and Peullethai the eighth.
(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.(AI))
6 Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. 8 All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, who were able men—18 in all.
10 Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),(AJ) 11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and relatives of Hosah were 13 in all.
12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering(AK) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. 13 Lots(AL) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
14 The lot for the East Gate(AM) fell to Shelemiah.[h] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,(AN) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. 15 The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,(AO) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. 16 The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.
Guard was alongside of guard: 17 There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. 18 As for the court[i] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court[j] itself.
19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.(AP)
The Treasurers and Other Officials
20 Their fellow Levites(AQ) were[k] in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.(AR)
21 The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite,(AS) were Jehieli, 22 the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries(AT) of the temple of the Lord.
23 From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:(AU)
24 Shubael,(AV) a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. 25 His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son and Shelomith(AW) his son. 26 Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated(AX) by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. 27 Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord. 28 And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer(AY) and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.
29 From the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were assigned duties away from the temple, as officials and judges(AZ) over Israel.
30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah(BA) and his relatives—seventeen hundred able men—were responsible in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the king’s service. 31 As for the Hebronites,(BB) Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth(BC) year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
Army Divisions
27 This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.
2 In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam(BD) son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. 3 He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.
4 In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai(BE) the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.
5 The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah(BF) son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief and there were 24,000 men in his division. 6 This was the Benaiah who was a mighty warrior among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.
7 The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel(BG) the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.
8 The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth(BH) the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
9 The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira(BI) the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
10 The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez(BJ) the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
11 The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbekai(BK) the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
12 The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer(BL) the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
13 The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai(BM) the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah(BN) the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai(BO) the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel.(BP) There were 24,000 men in his division.
Leaders of the Tribes
16 The leaders of the tribes of Israel:
over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zikri;
over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maakah;
17 over Levi: Hashabiah(BQ) son of Kemuel;
over Aaron: Zadok;(BR)
18 over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David;
over Issachar: Omri son of Michael;
19 over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;
over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20 over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah;
over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;
21 over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;
over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;
22 over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.
These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23 David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less,(BS) because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars(BT) in the sky. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,(BU) and the number was not entered in the book[l] of the annals of King David.
The King’s Overseers
25 Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.
Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.
26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.
27 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.
Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.
28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig(BV) trees in the western foothills.
Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.
29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.(BW)
Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
30 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.
Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
31 Jaziz the Hagrite(BX) was in charge of the flocks.
All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.
32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king’s sons.
33 Ahithophel(BY) was the king’s counselor.
Hushai(BZ) the Arkite was the king’s confidant. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.(CA)
Joab(CB) was the commander of the royal army.
David’s Plans for the Temple
28 David summoned(CC) all the officials(CD) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.
2 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart(CE) to build a house as a place of rest(CF) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool(CG) of our God, and I made plans to build it.(CH) 3 But God said to me,(CI) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,(CJ) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’(CK)
4 “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me(CL) from my whole family(CM) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah(CN) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.(CO) 5 Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many(CP)—he has chosen my son Solomon(CQ) to sit on the throne(CR) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build(CS) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,(CT) and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,(CU) as is being done at this time.’
8 “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel(CV) and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands(CW) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.(CX)
9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion(CY) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart(CZ) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,(DA) he will be found by you; but if you forsake(DB) him, he will reject(DC) you forever. 10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans(DD) for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit(DE) had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.(DF) 13 He gave him instructions for the divisions(DG) of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. 14 He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: 15 the weight of gold for the gold lampstands(DH) and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; 16 the weight of gold for each table(DI) for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; 17 the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls(DJ) and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; 18 and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.(DK) He also gave him the plan for the chariot,(DL) that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow(DM) the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details(DN) of the plan.(DO)”
20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous,(DP) and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake(DQ) you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.(DR) 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled(DS) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
Gifts for Building the Temple
29 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced.(DT) The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold(DU) for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[m](DV) stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.(DW) 3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided(DX) for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents[n] of gold (gold of Ophir)(DY) and seven thousand talents[o] of refined silver,(DZ) for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”
6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials(EA) in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.(EB) 7 They(EC) gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents[p] and ten thousand darics[q] of gold, ten thousand talents[r] of silver, eighteen thousand talents[s] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents[t] of iron. 8 Anyone who had precious stones(ED) gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.(EE) 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly(EF) to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David’s Prayer
10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power(EG)
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.(EH)
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.(EI)
12 Wealth and honor(EJ) come from you;
you are the ruler(EK) of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?(EL) Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.(EM) 15 We are foreigners and strangers(EN) in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow,(EO) without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart(EP) and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.(EQ) 18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion(ER) to keep your commands, statutes and decrees(ES) and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”(ET)
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king.
Solomon Acknowledged as King(EU)
21 The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him:(EV) a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.(EW) 22 They ate and drank with great joy(EX) in the presence of the Lord that day.
Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok(EY) to be priest. 23 So Solomon sat(EZ) on the throne(FA) of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons,(FB) pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25 The Lord highly exalted(FC) Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor(FD) such as no king over Israel ever had before.(FE)
The Death of David(FF)
26 David son of Jesse was king(FG) over all Israel.(FH) 27 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron(FI) and thirty-three in Jerusalem.(FJ) 28 He died(FK) at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.(FL)
29 As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer,(FM) the records of Nathan(FN) the prophet and the records of Gad(FO) the seer, 30 together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.
Solomon Asks for Wisdom(FP)(FQ)
1 Solomon son of David established(FR) himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with(FS) him and made him exceedingly great.(FT)
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel(FU)—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon,(FV) for God’s tent of meeting(FW) was there, which Moses(FX) the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark(FY) of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent(FZ) for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar(GA) that Bezalel(GB) son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired(GC) of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared(GD) to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me(GE) king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise(GF) to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.(GG) 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead(GH) this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth,(GI) possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor,(GJ) such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.(GK)”
13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon accumulated chariots(GL) and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses,[u] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold(GM) as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue[v]—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot(GN) from Egypt for six hundred shekels[w] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.[x] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
Preparations for Building the Temple(GO)
2 [y]Solomon gave orders to build a temple(GP) for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself.(GQ) 2 He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them.(GR)
3 Solomon sent this message to Hiram[z](GS) king of Tyre:
“Send me cedar logs(GT) as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. 4 Now I am about to build a temple(GU) for the Name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense(GV) before him, for setting out the consecrated bread(GW) regularly, and for making burnt offerings(GX) every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths,(GY) at the New Moons(GZ) and at the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.
5 “The temple I am going to build will be great,(HA) because our God is greater than all other gods.(HB) 6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?(HC) Who then am I(HD) to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?
7 “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers,(HE) whom my father David provided.
8 “Send me also cedar, juniper and algum[aa] logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber there. My servants will work with yours 9 to provide me with plenty of lumber, because the temple I build must be large and magnificent. 10 I will give your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors[ab] of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors[ac] of barley, twenty thousand baths[ad] of wine and twenty thousand baths of olive oil.(HF)”
11 Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon:
“Because the Lord loves(HG) his people, he has made you their king.”
12 And Hiram added:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth!(HH) He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment, who will build a temple for the Lord and a palace for himself.
13 “I am sending you Huram-Abi,(HI) a man of great skill, 14 whose mother was from Dan(HJ) and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained(HK) to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue(HL) and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, David your father.
15 “Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil(HM) and wine he promised, 16 and we will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them as rafts by sea down to Joppa.(HN) You can then take them up to Jerusalem.”
17 Solomon took a census of all the foreigners(HO) residing in Israel, after the census(HP) his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. 18 He assigned(HQ) 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.
Solomon Builds the Temple(HR)
3 Then Solomon began to build(HS) the temple of the Lord(HT) in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah[ae](HU) the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 2 He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.(HV)
3 The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide[af](HW) (using the cubit of the old standard). 4 The portico at the front of the temple was twenty cubits[ag] long across the width of the building and twenty[ah] cubits high.
He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree(HX) and chain designs. 6 He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim(HY) on the walls.
8 He built the Most Holy Place,(HZ) its length corresponding to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. He overlaid the inside with six hundred talents[ai] of fine gold. 9 The gold nails(IA) weighed fifty shekels.[aj] He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.
10 For the Most Holy Place he made a pair(IB) of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold. 11 The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits[ak] long and touched the temple wall, while its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim(IC) extended twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main hall.[al]
14 He made the curtain(ID) of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim(IE) worked into it.
15 For the front of the temple he made two pillars,(IF) which together were thirty-five cubits[am] long, each with a capital(IG) five cubits high. 16 He made interwoven chains[an](IH) and put them on top of the pillars. He also made a hundred pomegranates(II) and attached them to the chains. 17 He erected the pillars in the front of the temple, one to the south and one to the north. The one to the south he named Jakin[ao] and the one to the north Boaz.[ap]
The Temple’s Furnishings(IJ)
4 He made a bronze altar(IK) twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.[aq] 2 He made the Sea(IL) of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits[ar] high. It took a line of thirty cubits[as] to measure around it. 3 Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it—ten to a cubit.[at] The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.
4 The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east.(IM) The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 5 It was a handbreadth[au] in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.[av]
6 He then made ten basins(IN) for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings(IO) were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.
7 He made ten gold lampstands(IP) according to the specifications(IQ) for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
8 He made ten tables(IR) and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold sprinkling bowls.(IS)
9 He made the courtyard(IT) of the priests, and the large court and the doors for the court, and overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.
11 And Huram also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls.
So Huram finished(IU) the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of God:
12 the two pillars;
the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
the two sets of network decorating the two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars;
13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network, decorating the bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars);
14 the stands(IV) with their basins;
15 the Sea and the twelve bulls under it;
16 the pots, shovels, meat forks and all related articles.
All the objects that Huram-Abi(IW) made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Sukkoth(IX) and Zarethan.[aw] 18 All these things that Solomon made amounted to so much that the weight of the bronze(IY) could not be calculated.
19 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in God’s temple:
the golden altar;
the tables(IZ) on which was the bread of the Presence;
20 the lampstands(JA) of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;
21 the gold floral work and lamps and tongs (they were solid gold);
22 the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes(JB) and censers;(JC) and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.
5 When all the work Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished,(JD) he brought in the things his father David had dedicated(JE)—the silver and gold and all the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of God’s temple.
The Ark Brought to the Temple(JF)
2 Then Solomon summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark(JG) of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David. 3 And all the Israelites(JH) came together to the king at the time of the festival in the seventh month.
4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the Levites took up the ark, 5 and they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The Levitical priests(JI) carried them up; 6 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
7 The priests then brought the ark(JJ) of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim(JK) spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9 These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10 There was nothing in the ark except(JL) the two tablets(JM) that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions.(JN) 12 All the Levites who were musicians(JO)—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.(JP) 13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”(JQ)
Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,(JR) 14 and the priests could not perform(JS) their service because of the cloud,(JT) for the glory(JU) of the Lord filled the temple of God.
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;(JV) 2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.(JW)”
3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 4 Then he said:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, 5 ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem(JX) for my Name(JY) to be there, and I have chosen David(JZ) to rule my people Israel.’
7 “My father David had it in his heart(KA) to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 8 But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. 9 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’
10 “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant(KB) of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(KC)(KD)
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform,(KE) five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high,[ax] and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down(KF) before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said:
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you(KG) in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love(KH) with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. 15 You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised(KI) and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
16 “Now, Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail(KJ) to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law,(KK) as you have done.’ 17 And now, Lord, the God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true.
18 “But will God really dwell(KL) on earth with humans? The heavens,(KM) even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet, Lord my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes(KN) be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name(KO) there. May you hear(KP) the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 21 Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.(KQ)
22 “When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath(KR) and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, condemning(KS) the guilty and bringing down on their heads what they have done, and vindicating the innocent by treating them in accordance with their innocence.
24 “When your people Israel have been defeated(KT) by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.
26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain(KU) because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive(KV) the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.
28 “When famine(KW) or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive,(KX) and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart),(KY) 31 so that they will fear you(KZ) and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.
32 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come(LA) from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand(LB) and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 33 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner(LC) asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.
34 “When your people go to war against their enemies,(LD) wherever you send them, and when they pray(LE) to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
36 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin(LF)—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive(LG) to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart(LH) in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive(LI) your people, who have sinned against you.
40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive(LJ) to the prayers offered in this place.
41 “Now arise,(LK) Lord God, and come to your resting place,(LL)
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests,(LM) Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.(LN)
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.(LO)
Remember the great love(LP) promised to David your servant.”
The Dedication of the Temple(LQ)
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire(LR) came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled(LS) the temple.(LT) 2 The priests could not enter(LU) the temple of the Lord because the glory(LV) of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”(LW)
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites(LX) with the Lord’s musical instruments,(LY) which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat(LZ) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
8 So Solomon observed the festival(MA) at that time for seven days, and all Israel(MB) with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(MC) to the Wadi of Egypt.(MD) 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated(ME) the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival(MF) for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.
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