1 Chronicles 22

22 ¹ Then David said, "This is the house of our Father, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel."

² So David gave orders to gather the foreigners living in the land of Israel, and he appointed stonecutters to cut and shape the stones for building the house of our Father.

³ David provided iron in abundance for the nails of the gate doors and for the clamps, and bronze in abundance beyond weighing, ⁴ and cedar timbers beyond counting, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought David cedar logs in abundance.

⁵ David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for our Father must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all the lands. Therefore I will prepare for it." So David made lavish preparation before his death.

A Father's Charge: Build Our Father's House

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for our Father of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon, "My son, it was in my heart to build a house for the name of my Father. ⁸ But the word of our Father came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You shall not build a house for my name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before me.' ⁹ A son will be born to you who will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. ¹ 1 v9 The name Solomon means peace—the rest and quiet our Father promised to give through his reign. ¹⁰ He will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

¹¹ Now, my son, may our Father be with you, so that you may succeed and build the house of your Father, as he has said about you. ¹² Only may our Father give you wisdom and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the law of your Father. ¹³ Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and rules that our Father commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

¹⁴ See, with great effort I have provided for the house of our Father nearly four thousand tons of gold, about thirty-four thousand tons of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them. ¹⁵ You have many workmen with you: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen skilled in every work, ¹⁶ skilled in gold, silver, bronze, and iron beyond counting. Rise up and get to work, and may our Father be with you.

¹⁷ David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸ "Is not your Father with you? Has he not given you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before our Father and before his people. ¹⁹ Now set your heart and soul to seek your Father. Arise and build the sanctuary of our Father, so that the ark of his covenant and his holy vessels may be brought into the house built for his name.