Study Desk

O LORD our God, from Your hand comes all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy Name, and all of it belongs to You.

And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision."

The next day they offered sacrifices and presented burnt offerings to the LORD: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

That day they ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD. Then, for a second time, they designated David's son Solomon as king, anointing him before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok as the priest.

Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.

Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"

God said to Solomon, "Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies-and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king-

A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

Then Solomon sent word to King Hiram of Tyre: "Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in.

Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever.

The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.

But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?

Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours

to prepare for me timber in abundance, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful.

And Hiram added: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard.

He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.

He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.