Study Desk

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

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a delighted soul; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Then King David said to the entire assembly, "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for Yahweh God.

"But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.

And God said to Solomon, "Because you had this in your heart, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may do justice for My people over whom I have made you king,

But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?

He also made ten lavers and set five on the right side and five on the left, in which to wash things, that is, in which they would rinse things for the burnt offering; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and they are there to this day.

but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.'

But Yahweh said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will come forth from your loins, he shall build the house for My name.'

"But will God truly dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.

"But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,

But Solomon did not make slaves for his work from the sons of Israel; for they were men of war, his chief captains and his chariot commanders and his horsemen.

"Your father made our yoke harsh; but now, lighten the harsh service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."

But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had counseled him, and took counsel with the young men who grew up with him and stood before him.

Then the young men who grew up with him spoke with him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!

So now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"

and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."

But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.