David commanded all the leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem. There were the leaders of the tribes, commanders of the divisions serving the king, commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, leaders who took care of the property and animals that belonged to the king and his sons, men over the palace, the powerful men, and all the brave warriors.
King David stood up and said, “Listen to me, my relatives and my people. I wanted to build a place to keep the Ark of the Agreement with the LORD. I wanted it to be God’s footstool. So I made plans to build a temple. But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple for worshiping me, because you are a soldier and have killed many people.’
“But the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king of Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to lead, and from the people of Judah, he chose my father’s family. From that family God was pleased to make me king of Israel. The LORD has given me many sons, and from those sons he has chosen Solomon to be the new king of Israel. Israel is the LORD’s kingdom. The LORD said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards. I have chosen Solomon to be my son, and I will be his father. He is obeying my laws and commands now. If he continues to obey them, I will make his kingdom strong forever.’ ”
David said, “Now, in front of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of God, I tell you these things: Be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God. Then you will keep this good land and pass it on to your descendants forever.
“And you, my son Solomon, accept the God of your father. Serve him completely and willingly, because the LORD knows what is in everyone’s mind. He understands everything you think. If you go to him for help, you will get an answer. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you forever. Solomon, you must understand this. The LORD has chosen you to build the Temple as his holy place. Be strong and finish the job.”
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for building the Temple and the courtyard around the Temple. They included its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inside rooms, and the place where the people’s sins were removed.
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