Study Desk

The eighth commander, for the eighth month, was Sibkhai the Hushati, from the Zarchi; there were 24,000 in his division.

The ninth commander, for the ninth month, was Avi‘ezer from ‘Anatot, from the Ben-Y'mini; there were 24,000 in his division.

The tenth commander, for the tenth month, was Mahrai, the N'tofati, from the Zarchi; there were 24,000 in his division.

The eleventh commander, for the eleventh month, was B'nayah from Pir‘aton, from the descendants of Efrayim; there were 24,000 in his division.

The twelfth commander, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the N'tofati, from ‘Otni'el; there were 24,000 in his division.

In charge of the vineyards was Shim‘i the Ramati, while Zavdi the Shifmi was responsible for the produce from the vineyards for the wine-cellars.

In charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the Sh'felah was Ba‘al-Hanan from G'derah, while Yo'ash was put over the storehouses for olive oil.

and Yaziz the Hagri over the flocks [of sheep and goats]. All of these were responsible for King David's property.

Then David the king rose to his feet and said: "My kinsmen and my people! Listen to me! I set my heart on building a house where the ark for the covenant of Adonai could remain at rest. It would have been God's footstool, and I prepared to build it.

But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, you have shed blood.'

However, Adonai the God of Isra'el chose me out of my father's whole family to be king over Isra'el forever; for he chose Y'hudah to be the leader; and in the house of Y'hudah, in the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, it was his pleasure to make me king over all Isra'el;

and of all my sons — for Adonai has given me many sons — he has chosen Shlomo my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Adonai over Isra'el.

"Moreover, he said to me, ‘Shlomo your son will build my house and courtyards, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him.

"As for you, Shlomo my son, know the God of your father. Serve him wholeheartedly and with desire in your being; for Adonai searches all hearts and understands all the inclinations of people's thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.

See now that Adonai has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; so be strong, and do it!"

Then David gave Shlomo his son the designs for the hall [of the temple], its buildings, its supply areas, its upper rooms, its inside rooms, and the place for the ark-cover;

also the designs for everything he had been given by the Spirit — for the courtyards of the house of Adonai , for all the rooms surrounding it, for the storehouses in the house of God, for the storehouses for the holy articles,

and for the areas set aside for the cohanim and the L'vi'im; [arrangements] for the work involved in the service of the house of Adonai and for all the articles needed for the service of the house of Adonai ;

[lists] of the weights of gold needed for the gold items to be used for various purposes, and the weights of silver needed for the silver items to be used for various purposes —

the weight of the gold needed for the gold menorahs, the weight needed for each menorah and for its lamps; and for the menorahs of silver, the weight of silver needed for each menorah and for its lamps, according to the way each menorah was to be used;