Study Desk

He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.

Then King David went into the Tent of the Lord 's presence, sat down, and prayed, "I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, Lord God, nor is my family.

It was your will and purpose to do this for me and to show me my future greatness.

There is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom you rescued from slavery to make them your own people. The great and wonderful things you did for them spread your fame throughout the world. You rescued your people from Egypt and drove out other nations as your people advanced.

"And now, O Lord , fulfill for all time the promise you made about me and my descendants, and do what you said you would.

Your fame will be great, and people will forever say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel.' And you will preserve my dynasty for all time.

David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand cavalry troops, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He kept enough horses for a hundred chariots and crippled all the rest.

He also took a great quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Kun, cities ruled by Hadadezer. (Solomon later used this bronze to make the tank, the columns, and the bronze utensils for the Temple.)

So he sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for his victory over Hadadezer, against whom Toi had fought many times. Joram brought David presents made of gold, silver, and bronze.

King David dedicated them for use in worship, along with the silver and gold he took from the nations he conquered—Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.

They were too ashamed to return home. When David heard what had happened, he sent word for them to stay in Jericho and not return until their beards had grown again.

Be strong and courageous! Let's fight hard for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord 's will be done."

And he paid Araunah six hundred gold coins for the threshing place.

King David gave orders for all the foreigners living in the land of Israel to assemble, and he put them to work. Some of them prepared stone blocks for building the Temple.

He supplied a large amount of iron for making nails and clamps for the wooden gates, and so much bronze that no one could weigh it.

David thought, "The Temple that my son Solomon is to build must be splendid and world-famous. But he is young and inexperienced, so I must make preparations for it." So David got large amounts of the materials ready before he died.

He sent for his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for the Lord , the God of Israel.

But the Lord told me that I had killed too many people and fought too many wars. And so, because of all the bloodshed I have caused, he would not let me build a temple for him.

He will build a temple for me. He will be my son, and I will be his father. His dynasty will rule Israel forever.'"

David continued, "Now, son, may the Lord your God be with you, and may he keep his promise to make you successful in building a temple for him.