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Bible in 90 Days

An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.
Duration: 88 days
New Life Version (NLV)
Version
1 Chronicles 24:1 - 2 Chronicles 7:10

The Work of the Religious Leaders

24 These were the family groups of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died before their father died. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the religious leaders. With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David divided them by their given duties. More leaders were found from the sons of Eleazar than the sons of Ithamar. So they were divided in this way. There were sixteen heads of families of the sons of Eleazar. And there were eight heads of families of the sons of Ithamar. They were divided by drawing names, all alike. For there were leaders of the holy place and leaders of God, from both the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar. The writer Shemaiah, the Levite son of Nethanel, wrote down their names. He wrote them in front of the king, the princes, Zadok the religious leader, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families of the religious leaders and of the Levites. One family was taken for Eleazar, and one for Ithamar.

The first name drawn was Jehoiarib, the second Jedaiah, the third Harim, the fourth Seorim, the fifth Malchijah, the sixth Mijamin. 10 The seventh name was Hakkoz, the eighth Abijah, 11 the ninth Jeshua, the tenth Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh Eliashib, the twelfth Jakim. 13 The thirteenth name was Huppah, the fourteenth Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth Bilgah, the sixteenth Immer. 15 The seventeenth name was Hezir, the eighteenth Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth Pethahiah, the twentieth Jehezkel. 17 The twenty-first name was Jachin, the twenty-second Gamul, 18 the twenty-third Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth Maaziah. 19 This was the way they were to come on duty to work in the Lord’s house. It was a rule given to them through their father Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had told him.

20 The rest of the sons of Levi were Shubael of the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah of the sons of Shubael, 21 and Isshiah was the first of the sons of Rehabiah. 22 There was Shelomoth of the Izharites, and Jahath of the sons of Shelomoth. 23 Of the sons of Hebron, there were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 24 There was Micah of the sons of Uzziel, and Shamir of the sons of Micah. 25 The brother of Micah was Isshiah. There was Zechariah of the sons of Isshiah. 26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Jaaziah’s son was Beno. 27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri. 28 His son by Mahli was Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 His son by Kish was Jerahmeel. 30 And the sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites by their families. 31 The head of each family and his younger brother drew names just as their brothers the sons of Aaron did. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the religious leaders and of the Levites.

Songs of Joy

25 David and the captains of the army set apart for the work some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman and of Jeduthun. They were to speak God’s Word while harps and timbrels were playing. These are the names of those who served in this way. The sons of Asaph were: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah. They were led by Asaph, who spoke for God under the leading of the king. The six sons of Jeduthun were: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah. They were led by their father Jeduthun, who spoke God’s Word using the harp, giving thanks and praising the Lord. The sons of Heman were: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman the king’s man of God, to honor him by the Words of God. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All of them were led by their father to sing in the Lord’s house. They sang and played timbrels and harps, serving in the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were led by the king. The number of those and their brothers who were taught to sing to the Lord, all who were very good singers, was 288. They drew names for their work, the young and old alike, also the teacher and the one who was taught.

These are how the names were drawn. First was Joseph the son of Asaph. The second was Gedaliah. Together with his brothers and sons, there were twelve. 10 The third was Zaccur. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 11 The fourth was Izri. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 12 The fifth was Nethaniah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 13 The sixth was Bukkiah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 14 The seventh was Jesharelah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 15 The eighth was Jeshaiah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 16 The ninth was Mattaniah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 17 The tenth was Shimei. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 18 The eleventh was Azarel. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 19 The twelfth was Hashabiah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 20 The thirteenth was Shubael. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 21 The fourteenth was Mattithiah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 22 The fifteenth was Jeremoth. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 23 The sixteenth was Hananiah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 24 The seventeenth was Joshbekashah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 25 The eighteenth was Hanani. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 26 The nineteenth was Mallothi. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 27 The twentieth was Eliathah. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 28 The twenty-first was Hothir. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 29 The twenty-second was Giddalti. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 30 The twenty-third was Mahazioth. With his sons and brothers there were twelve. 31 And the twenty-fourth was Romamti-ezer. With his sons and brothers there were twelve.

The Gate-Keepers

26 The gate-keepers were divided up. Of the Korahites there was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, a son of Asaph. Meshelemiah’s sons were Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth. Elam was his fifth son, Johanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. Obed-edom’s sons were Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth. Ammiel was his sixth son, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. God had brought good to the father. To his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over their father’s house. They were strong, able men with strength of heart. The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad. Their brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were strong and able men. All these were sons of Obed-edom. They and their sons and brothers were able men with strength for the work. There were sixty-two men from Obed-edom. Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, eighteen strong and able men. 10 These are the sons of Hosah, one of Merari’s sons: Shimri was the first. (He was not the first-born, but his father made him first.) 11 Hilkiah was his second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. Hosah had thirteen sons and brothers in all.

12 These leaders of the families who were set apart as gate-keepers were given duties like their brothers to work in the Lord’s house. 13 The families drew names by their fathers’ houses, the small and the large alike, for every gate. 14 Shelemiah’s name was drawn for the east gate. Then they drew the name of his son Zechariah for the north gate. Zechariah used much wisdom talking with people. 15 Obed-edom’s name was drawn for the south gate. And his sons were to watch the store-house. 16 Shuppim and Hosah’s names were drawn for the west gate beside the gate of Shallecheth, on the road that goes up a hill. Each one was given his duty to watch. 17 There were six Levites on the east. There were four each day on the north. There were four each day on the south. There were two at one time at the store-house. 18 There were four at the road. And there were two at the place between the west wall of the Lord’s house and the wall of the open space. 19 These were the way the gate-keepers of the sons of Korah and Merari were divided.

20 Their brothers the Levites watched over the riches of the house of God and the riches of the holy gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, who were Gershonites through the family group of Ladan were Jehielites. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, watched over the riches of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was the captain over the riches. 25 His brothers by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. 26 Shelomoth and his brothers watched over all the riches of the holy gifts. These gifts had been set apart by King David and the heads of the fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army. 27 They set apart things taken in battles to do the work needed on the house of the Lord. 28 Samuel the man of God had set apart gifts. So had Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, and everyone who had set apart anything. All these holy gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were given outside duties for Israel. They were leaders and men who decide who is guilty or not. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers were leaders of Israel west of the Jordan. They were 1,700 able men who did all the work of the Lord and the work of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was the leader of the Hebronites by their families and fathers’ houses. Very able men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead in the fortieth year of David’s rule. 32 Jerijah and his brothers were 2,700 able men, heads of fathers’ houses. King David chose them to take care of all the duties of God and of the king, among the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-family group of the Manassites.

The Captains of the Army

27 These were the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. They were the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. These were the captains who worked for the king in anything to do with the armies which came in and went out every month of the year. There were 24,000 men in each army. Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was the leader of the first army for the first month. There were 24,000 in his army. He was a son of Perez, and head of all the captains of the army for the first month. Dodai the Ahohite was the leader of the army for the second month. Mikloth was the head captain. There were 24,000 in his army. The third leader of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the religious leader. There were 24,000 in his army. This is the Benaiah who was the strong man of the thirty, and leader of the thirty. Ammizabad his son was captain of his army. The fourth leader for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. There were 24,000 in his army. The fifth leader for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 in his army. The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 in his army. 10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. 11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. 12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. There were 24,000 in his army. 13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. 14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. 15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel. There were 24,000 in his army.

Leaders of Family Groups

16 The leaders of the family groups of Israel were: Eliezer the son of Zichri was the head captain of the Reubenites; Shephatiah the son of Maacah led the Simeonites. 17 Hashabiah the son of Kemuel led the sons of Levi; Zadok led the sons of Aaron. 18 Elihu, one of David’s brothers, led the sons of Judah; Omri the son of Michael led the sons of Issachar; 19 Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah led the sons of Zebulun; Jeremoth the son of Azriel led the sons of Naphtali; 20 Hoshea the son of Azaziah led the sons of Ephraim; Joel the son of Pedaiah led the half-family group of Manasseh; 21 Iddo the son of Zechariah led the half-family group of Manasseh in Gilead; Jaasiel the son of Abner led the sons of Benjamin; 22 And Azarel the son of Jeroham led the sons of Dan. These were the leaders of the families of Israel. 23 But David did not number those younger than twenty years old because the Lord had promised to make Israel many, as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish. Anger came upon Israel because of this. So the number was not put into the book of the chronicles of King David.

25 Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s store-houses. Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the store-houses in the country, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who worked in the fields, plowing and planting. 27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the grape-fields. Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the fruit of the grape-fields for the wine. 28 Baalhanan the Gederite was over the olive and sycamore trees in the plains. Joash was captain of the stores of oil. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite was over the cattle which were eating in the fields of Sharon. Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the cattle in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys. 31 And Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were over all that belonged to King David.

32 Jonathan, the brother of David’s father, used much wisdom talking with people. And he was a writer. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni taught the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel talked about problems with the king. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abaiathar, talked with the king after Ahithophel. And Joab was the captain of the king’s army.

Solomon to Build the House of God

28 David gathered together all the leaders of Israel. There were leaders of the family groups, and leaders of the armies that served the king. There were captains of thousands, and of hundreds. There were leaders who cared for all the things and animals belonging to the king and his sons. There were the leaders and all the powerful soldiers. Then King David stood up and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had wanted to build a house of rest for the special box with the Law of the Lord, a place for God to rest His feet, so I had made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You must not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and blood.’ But the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be the king of Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader. And in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among my father’s sons, He was pleased to make me king of all Israel. The Lord has given me many sons. And of all my sons, He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the nation of the Lord over Israel. He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build My house and My open spaces. For I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his father. I will make him king forever, if he is faithful to obey My Words and My Laws, as he is doing now.’ So now I say to you in front of all these people of Israel, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to do all the Law of the Lord your God. If you obey you will receive the good land and also leave it to your children after you forever.

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord looks into all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you look to Him, He will let you find Him. But if you turn away from Him, He will turn away from you forever. 10 Listen now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a place of worship. Be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the Lord’s house, its buildings, and its store-houses. He gave him the plan of the rooms on its second floor, its inside rooms, and the room for the mercy-seat. 12 He gave him the plan of all he had in mind. It showed the open spaces of the Lord’s house, and all the rooms around them. It showed the store-houses of the house of God, and the store-houses of the holy things. 13 He gave him the plan for the way the religious leaders and the Levites were to be divided up for all the work of the Lord’s house. He told how all the objects were to be used in worship in the Lord’s house. 14 David gave the weight of all the gold objects to be used in each part of worship. He gave the weight for all the silver objects to be used in each part of the worship. 15 The plan gave the weight of gold for the gold lamp-stands and gold lamps. It gave the weight of each lamp-stand and its lamps. It gave the weight of silver for the silver lamp-stands. It gave the weight of each lamp-stand and its lamps, by the use of each lamp-stand. 16 It gave the weight of gold for each table of holy bread, and of silver for the silver tables. 17 It gave the weight of the meat-hooks, the pots and the cups of pure gold. It gave the weight for each of the gold and silver pots. 18 It gave the weight of the fine gold of the altar of special perfume, and of the gold wagon and of the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the special box with the Law of the Lord. 19 David said, “This is in writing because His hand was upon me. He helped me to know all the plan.”

20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong. Have strength of heart, and do it. Do not be afraid or troubled, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not stop helping you. He will not leave you until all the work of the house of the Lord is finished. 21 See, the religious leaders and the Levites are divided up to do all the work of the house of God. Every willing man who is able to do a special work will help you in all that is to be done. The leaders and all the people will do what you say.”

Gifts for the Building of the House of God

29 Then King David said to all the people, “My son Solomon is the one God has chosen. He is still young and has not had much time to know what to do. It is a very big work because this beautiful house is not for man, but for the Lord God. I have given all that I have been able to give for the house of my God. I have given the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass. I have given the iron for the things of iron, and the wood for the things of wood. I have given stones of much worth, stones for setting, silver-white stones, and stones of different colors. I have given all kinds of stones of much worth, and many smooth, special white stones. The house of my God means much to me. I have much gold and silver and I give it to the house of my God, together with all I have already given for the holy house. I gave gold weighing as much as 3,000 men, of the gold of Ophir. I gave fine silver weighing as much as 7,000 men, to cover the walls of the house. I gave gold for the things of gold, and silver for the things of silver for all the work done by the able men. Now who is willing to give himself and be set apart today to the Lord?”

Then the rulers of the families gave because they wanted to. The leaders of the family groups of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and those who watched over the king’s work gave because they wanted to. For the work of the house of God, they gave gold weighing as much as 5,000 men, and 10,000 gold pieces. They gave silver weighing as much as 10,000 men. They gave brass weighing as much as 18,000 men, and iron weighing as much as 100,000 men. And whoever had stones of much worth gave them to the store-house of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people were filled with joy because they had been so willing to give. They gave their gift to the Lord with a whole heart. And King David was filled with great joy.

David’s Praise to God

10 So David praised the Lord in front of all the people. He said, “Honor and thanks be to You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 O Lord, You have great power, shining-greatness and strength. Yes, everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. You are the King, O Lord. And You are honored as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You. You rule over all. Power and strength are in Your hand. The power is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 So now, our God, we thank You. We praise Your great and honored name.

14 “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be able to give so much? For all things come from You. We have given You only what already belongs to You. 15 We are strangers before You. We are just staying here for a time, as all our fathers did. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and without hope. 16 O Lord our God, from Your hand are all these many things that we have given to build You a house for Your holy name. It all belongs to You. 17 O my God, I know that You test the heart and are pleased with what is right. I have given these things because I have wanted to with a clean heart. And now I have seen with joy how Your people who are here give gifts to You because they want to. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people. Lead their hearts to You. 19 Give my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your Words and Your Laws and to obey them all. And so let him build the beautiful house I have planned and given for.”

20 Then David said to all the people, “Now praise the Lord your God.” And all the people gave praise to the Lord, the God of their fathers. They bowed low to the ground before the Lord and the king. 21 On the next day they killed animals and gave burnt gifts in worship to the Lord.

They gave 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 lambs, with their drink gifts. They gave many gifts in worship for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank that day with great joy before the Lord.

They made David’s son Solomon king a second time. They poured oil on him to set him apart as ruler for the Lord. And they set Zadok apart as religious leader. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of his father David. Everything went well for him, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the powerful men and all the sons of King David promised to be faithful to King Solomon. 25 The Lord brought much honor to Solomon in the eyes of all Israel. He gave him greater power than any king before him in Israel.

26 So David the son of Jesse ruled over all Israel. 27 And he ruled over Israel for forty years. He ruled in Hebron seven years, and in Jerusalem thirty-three years. 28 Then he died as an old man. He had lived many years, had many riches and much honor. And his son Solomon ruled in his place. 29 The acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the books of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, the men of God. 30 They tell of all his rule, his power, and of the things which happened to him, to Israel, and to all the nations of the lands.

Solomon the son of David became a strong king. The Lord his God was with him, and gave him much honor. Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. He spoke to the men who judge and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. Then Solomon and all the people with him went to a place of worship at Gibeon where God’s meeting tent was. It was the tent which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the desert. (But David had brought up the special box of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had made ready for it. For he had set up a tent for it in Jerusalem.) Now the brass altar was there in front of the meeting tent of the Lord. It was the altar which was made by Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur. Solomon and the people worshiped the Lord there. Solomon went before the Lord to the brass altar at the meeting tent. And he gave a thousand burnt gifts on it.

That night God showed Himself to Solomon and said to him, “Ask Me for anything and I will give it to you.” Solomon said to God, “You have acted toward my father David with great loving-kindness. And You have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David has come true. For You have made me king over as many people as the dust of the earth. 10 Now give me wisdom and much understanding, that I may lead these people. For who can rule this great nation of Yours?” 11 God said to Solomon, “You have not asked for riches, much money, or honor, or the life of those who hate you. And you have not asked for a long life for yourself. But you have asked for wisdom and much understanding, that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king. Because this was in your heart, 12 wisdom and much understanding have been given to you. And I will give you riches and much money and honor. You will have more than all the kings who were before you, and more than all who will come after you.”

Solomon’s Power and Riches

13 So Solomon went from the place of worship at Gibeon, from the meeting tent to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel.

14 Solomon gathered together war-wagons and horsemen. He had 1,400 war-wagons and 12,000 horsemen. And he kept some of them in the war-wagon cities, and some with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as easy to find in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar trees as easy to find as sycamore trees in the valley. 16 Solomon’s horses were brought in from Egypt and Kue. The men who traded for the king received them from Kue for a special price. 17 They paid 600 pieces of silver for each war-wagon brought in from Egypt and 150 pieces of silver for each horse. They also sold them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Solomon Gets Ready to Build the House of God

Solomon planned to build a house for the name of the Lord, and a king’s house for himself. So he picked 70,000 men to carry loads, 80,000 men to cut stones in the mountains, and 3,600 men to watch over these men. Then Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre, saying, “You sent my father David cedar trees to build him a house to live in. Do the same for me. See, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God. I will set it apart for Him. There special perfume will be burned before Him. The holy bread will be there all the time. Burnt gifts will be given morning and evening, on Days of Rest, on new moons, and during the special suppers of the Lord our God. This is to be done forever in Israel. The house I am about to build will be great. For our God is greater than all the gods. But who is able to build a house for Him? For the heavens and the highest heavens are not big enough to hold Him. So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn special perfume before Him? Now send me an able man to work with gold, silver, brass, iron, and purple, red and blue cloth who knows how to cut all kinds of pictures. He will work with the able men I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David gave me. Send me cedar, cypress and algum trees from Lebanon. I know you have able men who know how to do this work. My servants will work with your servants to cut many trees for me. For the house I am about to build will be very great and beautiful. 10 I will give to your servants who cut trees, 200,000 baskets of crushed grain, 200,000 baskets of barley, 200,000 bottles of wine, and 200,000 bottles of oil.”

11 Then King Huram of Tyre answered by letter to Solomon, “The Lord has made you king over His people because He loves them.” 12 Then Huram said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He has made heaven and earth. And He has given King David a wise son. Wisdom and understanding have been given to David’s son who will build a house for the Lord and a king’s house for himself. 13 Now I am sending Huram-abi, an able man of understanding. 14 He is the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father. He knows how to work with gold, silver, brass, iron, stone and wood and with purple, blue, and red cloth. He knows how to cut all kinds of pictures, any kind given him to do. He is to work with your able men, and with those of my lord David your father. 15 So now let my lord send the grain, barley, oil and wine to his servant, as he has said. 16 We will cut whatever trees you need in Lebanon, and bring them to you by ship to Joppa. Then you may carry them up to Jerusalem.”

17 Solomon numbered all those in Israel who were from other lands, using the number of them which his father David had taken. And 153,600 were found. 18 He picked 70,000 of them to carry loads, 80,000 to cut stones in the mountains, and 3,600 men to see that the people did their work.

Solomon Builds the House of God

Then Solomon began to build the Lord’s house in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. It was there that the Lord had shown Himself to his father David. It was the place that David had chosen, on the grain-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Solomon began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his rule. He laid the base for building the house of God. It was thirty long steps, using the old way to find the length. And it was ten long steps wide. The porch in front of the house was as long as the house was wide, ten long steps. It was thirty-three times taller than a man. And he covered the inside with pure gold. He covered the large room with cypress wood, and covered that with fine gold. Then he made palm trees and chains on it. He put stones of much worth on the house for beauty. And the gold was from Parvaim. He covered the house with gold. He covered its cross-pieces, its door-ways, its walls, and its doors. And he cut pictures of cherubim on the walls.

He made the most holy place. It was as long as the house was wide, ten long steps. And it was as wide as ten long steps. He covered it with fine gold weighing as much as 600 men. The nails weighed as much as fifty pieces of gold. He covered the rooms on the second floor with gold also.

10 Then he made two cherubim of wood in the most holy place, and covered them with gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim spread as far as ten long steps. The wing of one was as long as three steps, and touched the wall of the house. Its other wing was as long as three steps, and touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 The wing of the other cherub was as long as three steps, and touched the wall of the house. Its other wing was as long as three steps, and was joined to the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim spread as far as ten long steps. And they stood on their feet with their faces toward the holy place. 14 He made the curtain of blue, purple and red cloth and fine linen. And he worked cherubim on it. 15 He made two pillars in front of the house that were ten times taller than a man. The top piece of each one was as tall as a man can raise his hand. 16 For the inside holy place he made chains, and put them on the tops of the pillars. Then he made 100 pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 He put up the pillars in front of the house of God. One was on the right and the other was on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin, and the one on the left Boaz.

Objects for Worship

Then he made a brass altar. It was ten steps long, and ten steps wide, and three times taller than a man. He melted brass and made a pool. It was round, and five long steps from one side to the other. It was as tall as a man can raise his hand. And it took fifteen steps to walk around it. There were objects that looked like oxen under the pool and all around it, (ten long steps around it). The oxen were in two rows, and were made of one piece. The pool was put on the twelve oxen. Three had their faces toward the north, three toward the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east. The pool was put on top of them. All their tails were toward the center. The brass of the pool was as thick as a hand is wide. Its round top was made like the top of a cup, like a lily flower. It could hold 22,000 bottles of water. He made ten pots in which to wash. He put five on the right side and five on the left side. They were to wash what was used for the burnt gifts. But the pool was for the religious leaders to wash in.

Then he made ten gold lamp-stands, as was shown in the plan. He put them in the house of God, five on the right side and five on the left. He made ten tables and put them in the house of God. Five were on the right side and five on the left. And he made 100 deep dishes out of gold. Then he made the open space of the religious leaders, the large open space, and the doors for the open space. And he covered their doors with brass. 10 He set the pool at the south-east corner of the house.

11 Then Huram made the pails, the tools for digging, and the pots. So Huram finished the work of God’s house that he did for King Solomon. 12 He finished making the two pillars, the pots, and the two pieces on top of the pillars. He finished the two networks to cover the two pots of the pieces on top of the pillars. 13 He finished the 400 pomegranates for the two networks. There were two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two pots of the pieces on top of the pillars. 14 He made the stands and he made the pots on the stands. 15 He made the one pool with the twelve oxen under it. 16 Huram-abi made the pails, the tools for digging, the meat-hooks, and all their objects. He made them of shining brass for King Solomon for the house of the Lord. 17 The king had them made on the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made so many of these objects that the weight of the brass could not be known.

19 Solomon made all the things that were in the house of God. He made the gold altar, and the tables for the holy bread. 20 He made the lamp-stands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the most holy place in the way given. 21 He made the flowers, the lamps and their objects of pure gold. 22 He made the things to put out the lamps, the pots and the fire-holders of pure gold. And he made the front of the house, its inside doors for the most holy place, and the doors of the holy place, all of gold.

So all the work that Solomon did for the Lord’s house was finished. He brought in the things that his father David had set apart, the silver and the gold and all the objects. He put them in the store-rooms of the house of God.

The Special Box Brought into the House of God

Then Solomon gathered to Jerusalem the leaders of Israel, and all the heads of the families, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the sons of Israel. He called them together to bring up the special box with the Law of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. All the men of Israel gathered together in front of the king at the special supper in the seventh month. All the leaders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the special box of God. They brought up the special box of God, the meeting tent, and all the holy objects that were in the tent. The religious leaders and the Levites brought them up. Then King Solomon and all the people of Israel who were with him were in front of the special box of God. There they gave on the altar in worship so many sheep and oxen that they could not be numbered. The religious leaders brought the special box of the Lord to its place. They brought it into the most holy place in the house, under the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the special box of God. They made a covering over the special box and its long pieces of wood used for carrying. The pieces of wood for the special box of God were so long that their ends could be seen in front of the holy place. But they could not be seen outside. They are there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the special box of God except the two stone writings which Moses put there at Horeb. It was there that the Lord made an agreement with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

11 Then the religious leaders came out of the holy place. All the religious leaders who were there had set themselves apart, without thinking of how they were divided. 12 All the Levite singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and brothers, were dressed in fine linen. They stood east of the altar, with timbrels and different kinds of harps. With them were 120 religious leaders sounding horns. 13 Those who sounded the horns and the singers made themselves heard as with one voice, praising and thanking the Lord. They sang in a loud voice, with horns, and timbrels, and other objects for making music. They praised the Lord, saying, “He is good. For His loving-kindness lasts forever.” Then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud. 14 The religious leaders could not stand to do their work because of the cloud. For the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the house of God.

Solomon’s Words to the People

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would live in the thick cloud. I have built a great house for You. It is a place for You to live in forever.” Then the king turned around and prayed that good would come to all the people of Israel, while all the people of Israel stood.

Solomon said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He spoke with His mouth to my father David. And He has kept His promises with His hands, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the families of Israel in which to build a house for My name. I did not choose any man to be a leader over My people Israel. But I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there. And I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.’ Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord 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. But you will not build the house. Your son who will be born to you will build the house for My name.’ 10 Now the Lord has kept His promise which He made. For I have taken the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. And I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 11 There I have put the special box with the Law of the Lord which He gave to the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in front of all the people of Israel, and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a special place to stand, out of brass. It was as long and as wide as three steps, and as high as a man’s chest. And he had put it in the center of the open space. He stood on it, then got down on his knees in front of all the people of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth. You keep Your promises and show loving-kindness to Your servants who walk with You with all their hearts. 15 You have kept Your promises to Your servant David my father. Yes, You have spoken with Your mouth, and have done all You said You would do, as it is today. 16 So now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep Your promise which You made to Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You will never be without a man to sit on the throne of Israel. But your sons must be careful to walk in My Law, as you have done.’ 17 So now, O Lord, God of Israel, let Your Word be made sure which You have spoken to Your servant David.

18 “But is it true that God will live with man on the earth? See, heaven and the highest heaven cannot hold You. How much less can this house hold You which I have built! 19 But respect the prayer of Your servant and what he asks of You, O Lord my God. Listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays to You. 20 May Your eyes be open day and night toward this house, the place where You have promised to put Your name. Listen to the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place. 21 Listen to what Your servant and Your people Israel ask for when they pray toward this place. Hear from the place where You live, from heaven. Hear and forgive.

22 “If a man sins against his neighbor, and has to make a promise, and he comes and makes a promise before Your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven, and act. Judge Your servants. Punish the sinful by bringing his actions on his own head. And make it known that the one who is right and good is not guilty. Bring good to him because he is right and good.

24 “If Your people Israel lose a battle against those who hate them, because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and tell of Your name, and pray and ask of You in this house, 25 then listen to them from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. Bring them back to the land You have given to them and to their fathers.

26 “When the heavens are shut up and give no rain because the people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and tell of Your name, and turn from their sin when You bring trouble to them, 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel. Teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people.

28 “If there is a time of no food in the land, and if there is a disease that kills the plants, or if there are locusts or grasshoppers, if those who hate Your people send armies to trap them in their cities, whatever trouble or sickness there is, 29 hear the prayer made by any man or by all Your people Israel. Each one will know his own trouble and his own pain. And when he spreads his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven where You live, and forgive. Give to each man what he should have. For You, and only You, know the hearts of men. 31 May they fear You and walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land You have given to our fathers.

32 “If a stranger who is not from Your people Israel comes from a far country because of Your great name, Your powerful hand, and Your strong arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven where You live. Do all that the stranger asks of You. Then all the people of the earth may know Your name and honor You with fear, as Your people Israel do. And then they may know that this house I have built is called by Your name.

34 “When Your people go out to battle against those who hate them, by whatever way You send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house I have built for Your name, 35 then hear their prayer from heaven and help them.

36 “When they sin against You, (for there is no man who does not sin), and You are angry with them and give them to those who hate them, they will be carried away against their will to a land far away or near. 37 If they think about it in the land where they have been taken, and are sorry for their sins and turn away from them and pray to You in the land where they have been taken, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have been bad and have done wrong.’ 38 If they come back to You with all their heart and soul in the land where they have been taken and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers and toward the city You have chosen and toward the house I have built for Your name, 39 then hear from heaven where You live. Hear their prayer and what they ask for, and help them. Forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

40 “Now, O my God, I ask You, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears listen to the prayer given in this place. 41 Now rise up, O Lord God. Go to Your resting place, You and the special box of Your power. O Lord God, let Your religious leaders be dressed in saving power. Let those who belong to You be filled with joy in what is good. 42 O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your chosen one. Remember Your loving-kindness to Your servant David.”

The House of God Is Set Apart for God

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and burned up the burnt gift and gifts of worship. And the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the house. The religious leaders could not go into the house of the Lord because it was filled with the Lord’s shining-greatness. All the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the shining-greatness of the Lord upon the house. So they bowed their faces to the ground and worshiped. They gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good. For His loving-kindness lasts forever.”

Then the king and all the people gave gifts to the Lord. King Solomon gave a gift of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people set apart the house of God. The religious leaders stood in their places while the Levites were praising the Lord using objects King David had made. They were playing, “For His loving-kindness lasts forever.” As the religious leaders blew horns on the other side, all Israel stood.

Then Solomon set apart the center of the open space in front of the Lord’s house. There he gave the burnt gifts and the fat of the peace gifts. The brass altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt gift, the grain gift and the fat.

At that time Solomon gave the special supper for seven days, and all Israel with him. Many people were there. They had come from the gate of Hamath to the river of Egypt. On the eighth day they gathered together for a special time. For seven days they had to set apart the altar, and for seven days they had the special supper. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month Solomon sent the people to their tents. They were full of joy and happy in their heart for the good that the Lord had shown to David and Solomon and His people Israel.

New Life Version (NLV)

Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.