1 Chronicles 22 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
The closing years of David's reign, around 970 BC, before Solomon took the throne
Location
Jerusalem, with materials being gathered from Sidon and Tyre on the Phoenician coast and stone quarried locally
Audience
Jews of the Persian period who had rebuilt a modest temple and needed a charter showing that its plan and its funding went back to David himself
Situation
David stockpiles iron, bronze, cedar, and stone for the temple, assigns resident foreigners to cut the stone, and formally charges his son Solomon to build it. He also orders Israel's leaders to support the young king.
Key Background
Cedar from Lebanon was the prestige timber of the region, shipped down the coast by Phoenician crews who dominated that trade, and no local wood could match it for large roof beams. A ruler stockpiling material and handing his heir a building commission was a recognized pattern in the ancient Near East, where an unfinished royal project could legitimize a successor. The reason given for barring David from building, that he had shed much blood in war, does not condemn his campaigns but reserves the sanctuary for a reign of rest, and Solomon's name itself is tied to the Hebrew word for peace.
Then David said, "This is where the of Yahweh God will be, and this is where the altar for Israel's will stand."
David ordered the living in Israel to be gathered together, and he assigned stonecutters to cut dressed stones for building the house of God.
David also stockpiled large quantities of iron for nails and fittings for the gates, and more bronze than could be weighed.
He also gathered logs beyond counting, because the people of Sidon and Tyre had brought massive amounts of to David.
David thought, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for Yahweh must be — famous and glorious throughout every nation. So I'll get things ready for him." And David made extensive preparations before he died.
Then he called for his son Solomon and him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
David said to Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the of Yahweh my God.
But the of came to me: 'You have shed too much blood and fought too many wars. You will not build a house for my name, because you have spilled so much blood on the ground in my sight.
But look — a son will be born to you who will be a man of I will give him from all his enemies on every side. His name will be and I will grant Israel and quiet during his lifetime.
He is the one who will build a house for my name. He will be a to me, and I will be a to And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
"Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you so that you succeed and build the house of Yahweh your God, just as he said you would.
Above all, may Yahweh give you and when he puts you in charge of Israel, so that you can keep the of Yahweh your God.
Then you'll succeed — if you're careful to follow the statutes and rules that Yahweh gave Moses for Israel. Be and Don't be afraid or discouraged.
"Look — through great effort I've set aside for Yahweh's house a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing — there's so much of it. I've also prepared timber and stone, and you can add to all of it.
You also have plenty of workers — stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and people skilled in every kind of craft.
The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are beyond counting. Get up and get to work, and may Yahweh be with you!"
David also ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon.
He said, "Isn't Yahweh your God with you? Hasn't he given you rest on every side? He has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land has been before Yahweh and before his people.
"Now and to Get up and build the for so that the of the of and the equipment for can be brought into the house built for the name of