Bible in 90 Days
The Organization of the Priests
24 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3 David, Eleazar’s descendant Zadok, and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron’s descendants into groups for service. 4 Since Eleazar’s descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar’s descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar’s descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar’s descendants had 8 family leaders. 5 Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants. 6 The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech (son of Abiathar), and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.
7 The first lot drawn was for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9 the fifth for Malchiah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19 These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at the Lord’s temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
The Organization of the Levites
20 ⌞The following men were leaders⌟ for Levi’s descendants ⌞from Kohath⌟:
Jehdeiah (for Amram’s descendants through Shubael),
21 Isshiah (⌞for Amram’s descendants⌟ through Rehabiah),
22 Jahath (for Izhar’s descendants through Shelomoth),
23 Jeriah (for Hebron’s descendants [a]),
Amariah (the second ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
Jahaziel (the third ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
Jekameam (the fourth ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
24 Shamir (for Uzziel’s descendants through Micah),
25 and Zechariah (for ⌞Uzziel’s⌟ descendants through Micah’s brother Isshiah).
26 The following men were leaders from Levi’s descendants from Merari:
Mahli, Mushi, and Merari’s son Jaaziah,
27 Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri (for Merari’s descendants through his son Jaaziah),
28 Eleazar (who had no sons, for Mahli’s descendants),
29 Jerahmeel (for ⌞Mahli’s⌟ descendants through Kish),
30 Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth (for Mushi’s descendants).
These were Levi’s descendants according to their families. 31 They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.
David Appoints Musicians for the Temple
25 David and the army commanders appointed the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 From the sons of Asaph were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. (They were directed by Asaph, who served as a prophet under the king’s direction.)
3 From the sons of Jeduthun were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah. (The six brothers were directed by their father, the prophet Jeduthun. They thanked and praised the Lord as they played lyres.)
4 From the sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 (All of them were the sons of the king’s seer [b] Heman. They were given to him to make him prominent, as God had promised. So God gave Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters.)
6 All these ⌞Levites⌟ sang at the Lord’s temple under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. They played cymbals, lyres, and harps for worship in God’s temple under the direction of the king. 7 They, along with their relatives, were trained, skilled musicians for the Lord. There were 288 of them.
8 They drew lots for their assignment of duties, the youngest as well as the oldest, the skilled ⌞musicians⌟ along with the students.
9 The first lot drawn chose Joseph, the son of Asaph.
The second chose Gedaliah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
10 The third chose Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
11 The fourth chose Izri, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
12 The fifth chose Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
13 The sixth chose Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
14 The seventh chose Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
15 The eighth chose Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
16 The ninth chose Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
17 The tenth chose Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
18 The eleventh chose Azarel, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
19 The twelfth chose Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
20 The thirteenth chose Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
21 The fourteenth chose Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
22 The fifteenth chose Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
23 The sixteenth chose Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
24 The seventeenth chose Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
25 The eighteenth chose Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
26 The nineteenth chose Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
27 The twentieth chose Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
28 The twenty-first chose Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
29 The twenty-second chose Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
30 The twenty-third chose Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
31 The twenty-fourth chose Romamti Ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
David Appoints Gatekeepers for the Temple
26 The following were the divisions of the gatekeepers: For Korah’s descendants there was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, from the descendants of Asaph. 2 Meshelemiah’s sons were Zechariah (the firstborn), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth), 3 Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth), Eliehoenai (the seventh).
4 ⌞Also for Korah’s descendants⌟ there were Obed Edom’s sons Shemaiah (the firstborn), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sachar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth), 5 Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), Peullethai (the eighth). God had blessed Obed Edom. 6 His son Shemaiah had sons who ruled their families because they were soldiers. 7 Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, and Othni’s skilled brothers Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, as well as Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All of these people were Obed Edom’s descendants. They, their sons, and their relatives were skilled and had the ability to perform the service. Obed Edom’s family included 62 men.
9 Meshelemiah’s sons and relatives were 18 skilled men.
10 From the descendants of Merari there were Hosah’s sons. Shimri was the head, although he was not the firstborn. His father appointed him head. 11 Hosah’s other sons were Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). There were 13 sons and relatives of Hosah.
12 These divisions of gatekeepers through their head men were assigned duties with their relatives to serve in the Lord’s temple. 13 They drew lots by families, youngest and oldest alike, for every gate. 14 Shelemiah was chosen for the east side. His son Zechariah, a counselor who displayed insight, was chosen for the north side. 15 Obed Edom was chosen for the south side, and his sons were chosen for the storerooms. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the west side with Shallecheth Gate at the gateway that goes to the palace.
One squad of guards served its watch after another. 17 On the east side there were six Levites. On the north there were four every day. On the south there were four every day. At the storerooms there were four, two at each entrance. 18 At the courtyard on the west there were four Levites at the gateway to the palace and two at the courtyard itself. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among Korah’s and Merari’s descendants.
David Appoints Treasurers for the Temple
20 Ahijah, a Levite, was in charge of the treasuries in God’s temple and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God. 21 ⌞There were also⌟ the descendants of Ladan, who was descended from Gershon. ⌞Those who served⌟ for Ladan, the descendant of Gershon, were the heads of Ladan’s families: Jehiel 22 ⌞and⌟ Jehiel’s sons Zetham and Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries in the Lord’s temple. 23 For the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, 24 there was Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’ son Gershom. He was the highest-ranking official in charge of the treasuries. 25 From his relatives on Eliezer’s side of the family was Shelomith. (Eliezer’s son was Rehabiah; his grandson was Jeshaiah; his great-grandson was Joram. Joram’s son was Zichri; his grandson was Shelomith.) 26 He and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God that King David, the heads of families, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the commanders of the army had donated. 27 (They had donated some of the loot taken in battle to support the Lord’s temple.) 28 Everything that Samuel the seer,[c] Saul (son of Kish), Abner (son of Ner), and Joab (son of Zeruiah) had donated—everything that had been donated—was under the supervision of Shelomith and his relatives.
David Appoints Levites to Oversee Israel’s Worship
29 From Izhar’s descendants Chenaniah and his sons were assigned duties. They served as officials and judges outside ⌞the temple⌟ in Israel. 30 From Hebron’s descendants Hashabiah and his 1,700 skilled, male relatives were appointed to serve Israel west of the Jordan River. They did everything the Lord wanted them to do, and they served the king. 31 Jeriah was the head of Hebron’s descendants. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, the ancestry of Hebron’s descendants was researched family by family. Warriors from these families were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32 Jeriah’s relatives were 2,700 skilled men, who were heads of families. King David appointed them to be overseers in every matter involving God or the king for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.
David’s Government Officials
27 This is a list of Israelite family heads, regiment and battalion commanders, and officers who were serving the king in all the army’s units. Throughout each year they came for a month at a time and then left. Each unit consisted of 24,000 men.
2 Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first unit, the one during the first month. In his unit there were 24,000. 3 He was a descendant of Perez, and he was head of all of the army’s officers for the first month.
4 Dodai, Ahoh’s descendant, was in charge of the unit during the second month. It was his unit. (Mikloth was one of its leaders.) In Dodai’s unit there were 24,000.
5 The third commander of the army during the third month was Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada. He was the head, and in his unit there were 24,000. 6 This Benaiah was one of the thirty fighting men and commander of the thirty as well as his own unit. His son was Ammizabad.
7 Asahel, Joab’s brother, was in charge of the fourth unit during the fourth month, and after him was his son Zebadiah. In his unit there were 24,000.
8 Shamhuth, Izrah’s descendant, was commander of the fifth unit during the fifth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
9 Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, was in charge of the sixth unit during the sixth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
10 Helez, a Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim, was in charge of the seventh unit during the seventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.
11 Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was in charge of the eighth unit during the eighth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
12 Abiezer, a member of the tribe of Benjamin from Anathoth, was in charge of the ninth unit during the ninth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
13 Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
14 Benaiah, a member of the tribe of Ephraim from Pirathon, was in charge of the eleventh unit during the eleventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.
15 During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniel’s descendant. In his unit there were 24,000.
16 The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel:
for the tribe of Reuben
Eliezer, son of Zichri
for the tribe of Simeon
Shephatiah, son of Maacah
17 for the tribe of Levi
Hashabiah, son of Kemuel
for the family of Aaron
Zadok
18 for the tribe of Judah
Elihu, one of David’s brothers
for the tribe of Issachar
Omri, son of Michael
19 for the tribe of Zebulun
Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah
for the tribe of Naphtali
Jerimoth, son of Azriel
20 for the tribe of Ephraim
Hoshea, son of Azaziah
for half of the tribe of Manasseh
Joel, son of Pedaiah
21 for the half of Manasseh in Gilead
Iddo, son of Zechariah
for the tribe of Benjamin
Jaasiel, son of Abner
22 for the tribe of Dan
Azarel, son of Jeroham
These were the commanders of Israel’s tribes.
23 David didn’t count those under 20 years old, because the Lord had promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. 24 Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but didn’t finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.
25 These were all the commanders in charge of King David’s property: [d]
for the royal treasuries
Azmaveth, son of Adiel
for the goods in the fields, cities, villages, and watchtowers
Jonathan, son of Uzziah
26 for the farm workers in the fields
Ezri, son of Chelub
27 for the vineyards
Shimei from Ramah
for storing wine that came from the vineyards
Zabdi from Shepham
28 for the olive and fig trees in the foothills
Baal Hanan from Gedor
for storing olive oil
Joash
29 for the herds grazing in Sharon
Shitrai from Sharon
for the herds in the valleys
Shaphat, son of Adlai
30 for the camels
Obil, a descendant of Ishmael
for the donkeys
Jehdeiah from Meronoth
31 for the flocks
Jaziz from Hagar
32 David’s uncle Jonathan, an educated man who possessed insight, was David’s adviser. Jonathan and Jehiel, son of Hachmoni, were in charge of the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s adviser. Hushai, a descendant of Archi, was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada (son of Benaiah) and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was the commander of the royal army.
David’s Public Assembly at Jerusalem
28 David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel—the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.
2 David stood in front of them and said, “Listen to me, my relatives and subjects. I had my heart set on building the temple where the ark of the Lord’s promise could be placed. This temple would be a stool for our God’s feet, and I have made preparations to build it. 3 But God told me, ‘You must not build the temple for my name. You have fought wars and caused bloodshed.’ 4 Yet, from my entire family the Lord God of Israel chose me to be king of Israel permanently. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead ⌞Israel⌟. From the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. From among my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king of all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (the Lord has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom to rule Israel.
6 “He told me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.’ 8 Now, ⌞leaders, I order you⌟ in the sight of Israel (the Lord’s congregation) and as our God listens to dedicate your lives to doing everything the Lord your God has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants.
9 “And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought ⌞we have⌟. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on. 10 So be careful, because the Lord has chosen you to build the temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the temple, its storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy. 12 He gave him plans for the courtyards of the Lord’s temple and for all the rooms around it. (These rooms served as treasuries for God’s temple and the gifts dedicated to God.) 13 He determined the divisions of priests and Levites. He planned all the work done for worship in the Lord’s temple. He designed all the utensils for worship in the Lord’s temple. 14 ⌞David specified⌟ the weight of gold to be used for each of the utensils for worship, 15 the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps (⌞that is,⌟ the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps), the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps (according to the use of each lamp stand for worship), 16 the weight of gold for each table with the rows of bread, and the silver for the silver tables, 17 the pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, the weight of each gold bowl, the weight of each silver bowl, 18 and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels [e] with their wings spread to cover the ark of the Lord’s promise. 19 ⌞David said,⌟ “All this was written for me by the Lord’s hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.”
20 David also told his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or terrified. The Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on the Lord’s temple is finished. 21 Here are also the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in God’s temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do all the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.”
29 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for the Lord God. 2 With all my might I gathered ⌞the materials⌟ for the temple of my God: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, wood for wooden objects, onyx stones and settings, black stones, stones of different colors, gems, and marble. 3 Moreover, I delight in the temple of my God. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my God’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple. 4 There are 225,000 pounds of gold from Ophir and 525,000 pounds of refined silver. They are to be used to cover the walls of the buildings, 5 to make gold objects, silver objects, and everything else the craftsmen will make. Who else is willing to make an offering and dedicate himself to the Lord today?”
6 Then the leaders of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave generously. 7 They gave 375,186 pounds of gold, 750,000 pounds of silver, 135,000 pounds of bronze, and 7,500,000 pounds of iron for the work on God’s temple. 8 Whoever happened to have precious stones gave them to Jehiel, Gershon’s descendant, for the treasury of the Lord’s temple. 9 The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to the Lord.
King David was also overjoyed, and 10 he praised the Lord while the whole assembly watched. David said,
“May you be praised, Lord God of Israel,
our father forever and ever.[f]
11 Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Lord,
because everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
The kingdom is yours, Lord,
and you are honored as head of all things.
12 Riches and honor are in front of you.
You rule everything.
You hold power and strength in your hands,
and you can make anyone great and strong.
13 “Our God, we thank you
and praise your wonderful name.
14 But who am I and who are my people
that you enable us to give so generously?
Everything comes from you.
We give you only what has come from your hands.
15 To you we are all like our ancestors—
foreigners without permanent homes.
Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.
There’s no hope ⌞for them⌟.
16 “Lord, our God, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17 I know, my God, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18 Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19 Make my son Solomon completely committed ⌞to you⌟ so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”
Solomon Is Made King
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God!” So the whole assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors and knelt in front of the Lord and the king.
21 The next day they sacrificed to the Lord. They sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22 That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of the Lord. For the second time they made David’s son Solomon king. On the Lord’s behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.
23 Then Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David’s sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 The Lord made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.
David’s Reign(A)
26 David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.
29 Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seer [g] Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30 It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.
God Appears to Solomon(B)
1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.
2 Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and the heads of Israel’s families. 3 Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because God’s tent of meeting was there. Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made the tent in the desert. 4 (However, David had ⌞already⌟ brought God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He had put up a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was in front of the Lord’s tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped the Lord. 6 In the Lord’s presence Solomon went to the bronze altar in front of the tent of meeting and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon. He said, “What can I give you?”
8 Solomon responded to God, “You’ve shown great love to my father David, and you’ve made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, you’ve kept the promise you made to my father David. You’ve made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
11 God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life. Instead, you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. 12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you.”
13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.
14 Solomon built up ⌞his army⌟ with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem.
15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.
16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king’s traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price. 17 They imported each chariot from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.
Solomon Assembles the Labor and Materials for the Temple(C)
2 [h]Solomon gave orders to begin building the temple for the Lord’s name and a royal palace for himself.
2 Solomon drafted 70,000 men to carry heavy loads, 80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains, and 3,600 foremen. 3 Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre by saying, “Do what you did for my father David. You sent him cedar so that he could build a palace to live in. 4 I want to build the temple for the name of the Lord my God. I want to dedicate it to him, burn sweet-smelling incense in his presence, and have rows of bread there continually. I want to ⌞sacrifice⌟ burnt offerings every morning and evening, on weekly days of rest—holy days, New Moon Festivals, and during the annual festivals appointed by the Lord our God. (⌞These festivals⌟ are always to be celebrated by Israel.) 5 The temple I am building will be great because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build him a temple when heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold him? Who am I to build him a temple except as a place to sacrifice in his presence?
7 “Send me a man who has the skill to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron as well as purple, dark red, and violet cloth. He should know how to make engravings with the skilled men whom my father David provided for me in Judah and Jerusalem. 8 Send me cedar, cypress, and sandalwood from Lebanon. I know that your servants are skilled Lebanese lumberjacks. My workers will work with your workers. 9 They’ll prepare plenty of lumber for me, because the temple I want to build will be large and astonishing. 10 I will give your lumberjacks 120,000 bushels of ground wheat, 120,000 bushels of barley, 200,000 gallons of wine, and 200,000 gallons of olive oil.”
11 Then King Huram of Tyre responded to Solomon by sending a letter that said, “Because the Lord loves his people, he made you their king.” 12 Huram added, “May the Lord God of Israel be praised. He made the heavens and the earth and has given King David a wise son who has insight and intelligence and can build the Lord’s temple and a royal palace. 13 And now, I’m sending a man with skill and intelligence—Huram Abi. 14 He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan, and his father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. ⌞He can work⌟ with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father. 15 Your Majesty may now send the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised the workers. 16 We will cut all the lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it ⌞from there⌟ to Jerusalem.”
17 Solomon counted all the men who were foreigners in the land of Israel, as his father David had counted them. Solomon counted 153,600 foreigners. 18 He made 70,000 of them carry heavy loads, 80,000 of them quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 of them supervise the work as foremen.
The Temple Built and Furnished(D)
3 Solomon began to build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to his father David. There David had prepared the site on the threshing floor [i] of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.
3 This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build God’s temple. It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. (They used the old standard measurement.) 4 The entrance hall in front of ⌞the main room⌟ was 30 feet wide (the same as the width of the temple) and 30 feet high. He covered its inside walls with pure gold. 5 He paneled the larger building with cypress, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with ⌞designs in the form of⌟ palm trees and chains. 6 He covered the building with gems to beautify it and used gold from Parvaim. 7 He also overlaid the building, the rafters, the threshold, the walls, and the doors with gold, and he carved angels [j] into the walls.
8 He made the most holy place. It was as long as the temple was wide, 30 feet long. It was also 30 feet wide. He overlaid it with 45,000 pounds of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed 20 ounces. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.
10 In the most holy place he made two sculptured angels and covered them with gold. 11 The combined length of the angels’ wings was 30 feet. A wing of one of the angels was 7½ feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was 7½ feet long and touched one wing of the other. 12 The wing of the other one of the angels was 7½ feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was 7½ feet long and touched the wing of the first. So the angels’ combined wingspan was 30 feet. 13 They stood on their feet and faced the main hall. 14 Solomon made the canopy of violet, purple, and dark red cloth and of linen and decorated it with angels.
15 He made two pillars for the front of the temple. They were 53 feet long, and the capital on each pillar was 7½ feet ⌞high⌟. 16 He made chains for the inner room and ⌞also⌟ put them on the capitals. He made 100 pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin [He Establishes] and the one on the left Boaz [In Him Is Strength].
4 He made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.
2 Huram made a pool from cast metal. It was 15 feet in diameter. It was round, 7½ feet high, and had a circumference of 45 feet. 3 Under the rim were two rows of figurines shaped like bulls all around the 45-foot circumference of the pool. They were cast in metal when the pool was cast. 4 The pool was set on 12 metal bulls. Three bulls faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The pool was set on them, and their hindquarters were toward the center ⌞of the pool⌟. 5 The pool was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, shaped like a lily’s bud. It held 18,000 gallons.
6 Huram also made ten basins for washing and put five on the south side and five on the north side. The priests rinsed the meat prepared for the burnt offerings in them. They used the pool to wash themselves.
7 Huram made ten gold lamp stands according to their specifications and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. 8 He made ten tables and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. And he made 100 gold bowls.
9 He also made the priests’ courtyard and the large courtyard and its doors. He covered the doors with bronze. 10 He set the pool on the south side in the southeast ⌞corner⌟. 11 Huram also made the pots, shovels, and bowls.
So Huram finished the work for King Solomon in God’s temple: 12 2 pillars, bowl-shaped capitals on top of the 2 pillars, and 2 sets of filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on top of the pillars, 13 400 pomegranates for the 2 sets of filigree (2 rows of pomegranates for each filigree to cover the 2 bowl-shaped capitals on the pillars), 14 10 stands and 10 [k] basins on the stands, 15 1 pool and the 12 bulls under it, 16 pots, shovels, and three-pronged forks. Huram made all of them out of polished bronze for the Lord’s temple at King Solomon’s request. 17 The king cast them in foundries in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made so many of these products that no one tried to determine how much the bronze weighed.
19 Solomon made all the furnishings for God’s temple: the gold altar, the gold tables on which the bread of the presence was placed, 20 lamp stands and lamps of pure gold (to burn as directed in front of the inner room), 21 flowers, lamps, pure gold tongs, 22 snuffers, basins, dishes, incense burners of pure gold, the gold entrance to the temple, the gold doors of the inner ⌞room⌟ (the most holy place), and the gold doors of the temple.
5 All the work Solomon did on the Lord’s temple was finished. He brought the holy things that had belonged to his father David—the silver, gold, and all the utensils—and put them in the storerooms of God’s temple.
The Lord Comes to His Temple(E)
2 Then Solomon assembled the respected leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem to take the ark of the Lord’s promise from the City of David (that is, Zion). 3 All the men of Israel gathered around the king at the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟ in the seventh month.
4 When all the leaders of Israel had arrived, the Levites picked up the ark. 5 They brought the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils in it ⌞to the temple⌟. The priests and the Levites carried them 6 while King Solomon and the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the ark. 7 The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s promise to its place in the inner room of the temple (the most holy place) under the wings of the angels.[l]
8 The angels’ outstretched wings were over the place where the ark ⌞rested⌟ so that the angels became a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long that their ends could be seen in the holy place by anyone standing in front of the inner room,[m] but they couldn’t be seen outside. (They are still there today.) 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses placed there at Horeb, where the Lord made a promise to the Israelites after they left Egypt.
11 All the priests who were present had performed the ceremonies to make themselves holy to God without regard to staying in their divisions. 12 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons, and their relatives—were dressed in fine linen and stood east of the altar with cymbals, harps, and lyres. With the musicians were 120 priests blowing trumpets. When the priests left the holy place,[n] 13 the trumpeters and singers praised and thanked the Lord in unison. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they sang in praise to the Lord: “He is good; his mercy endures forever.” Then the Lord’s temple was filled with a cloud. 14 The priests couldn’t serve because of the cloud. The Lord’s glory filled God’s temple.
Solomon Addresses the People(F)
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord said he would live in a dark cloud. 2 But I have built you a high temple, a home for you to live in permanently.”
3 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly from Israel while they were standing. 4 “Thanks be to the Lord God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David; with his hand he carried it out. He said, 5 ‘Ever since I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I didn’t choose any city from the tribes of Israel as a place to build a temple for my name. And I didn’t choose any man to be prince over my people Israel. 6 But now I’ve chosen Jerusalem to be a place for my name; I’ve chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
7 “My father David had his heart set on building a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8 However, the Lord said to my father David, ‘Since you had your heart set on building a temple for my name, your intentions were good. 9 But you must not build the temple. Instead, your own son will build the temple for my name.’ 10 The Lord has kept the promise he made. I’ve taken my father David’s place, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised. I’ve built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 I’ve put the ark which contains the Lord’s promise to Israel there.”
Solomon’s Prayer(G)
12 In the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stretched out his hands ⌞to pray⌟. 13 (Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet long, 7½ feet wide, and 4½ feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.) 14 He said,
“Lord God of Israel,
there is no god like you in heaven or on earth.
You keep your promise [o] of mercy to your servants,
who obey you wholeheartedly.
15 You have kept your promise to my father David, your servant.
With your mouth you promised it.
With your hand you carried it out as it is today.
16 “Now, Lord God of Israel,
keep your promise to my father David, your servant.
You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir
sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel
if your descendants are faithful to me
as you have been faithful to me.’
17 “So now, Lord God of Israel,
may the promise you made to David, your servant, come true.
18 “Does God really live on earth with people?
If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you,
then how can this temple that I have built?
19 Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy.
Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you.
20 Day and night may your eyes be on this temple,
the place about which you said your name will be there.
Listen to me as I pray toward this place.
21 Hear the plea for mercy
that your people Israel and I pray toward this place.
Hear us in heaven, the place where you live.
Hear and forgive.
22 “If anyone sins against another person
and is required to take an oath
and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,
23 then hear ⌞that person⌟ in heaven, take action, and make a decision.
Repay the guilty person with the proper punishment,
but declare the innocent person innocent.
24 “An enemy may defeat your people Israel
because they have sinned against you.
But when your people turn, praise your name, pray,
and plead with you in this temple,
25 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, forgive the sins of your people Israel,
and bring them back to the land
that you gave to them and their ancestors.
26 “When the sky is shut and there’s no rain
because they are sinning against you
and they pray toward this place, praise your name,
and turn away from their sin because you made them suffer,
27 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven.
Forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.
Teach them the proper way to live.
Then send rain on the land,
which you gave to your people as an inheritance.
28 “There may be famine in the land.
Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts,
or grasshoppers may destroy crops.
Enemies may blockade Israel’s city gates.
During every plague or sickness
29 ⌞hear⌟ every prayer for mercy
made by one person or by all the people in Israel,
all who know suffering or pain,
who stretch out their hands toward this temple.
30 Hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, where you live.
Forgive ⌞them⌟, and give each person the proper reply.
(You know what is in their hearts,
because you alone know what is in people’s hearts.)
31 Then, as long as they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors,
they will fear you and follow you.
32 “People who are not Israelites
will come from distant countries because of your great name,
mighty hand, and powerful arm.
When they come to pray facing this temple,
33 then hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, the place where you live.
Do everything they ask you
so that all the people of the world may know your name
and fear you like your people Israel
and learn that this temple which I built bears your name.
34 “When your people go to war against their enemies
(wherever you may send them)
and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen
and the temple I built for your name,
35 then hear their prayer for mercy in heaven,
and do what is right ⌞for them⌟.
36 “They may sin against you.
(No one is sinless.)
You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy
who takes them to ⌞another⌟ country as captives,
⌞whether it is⌟ far or near.
37 If they come to their senses,
are sorry for what they’ve done,
and plead with you in the land where they are captives,
saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong.
We have been wicked,’
38 if they change their attitude toward you
in the land where they are captives,
if they pray to you
toward the land that you gave their ancestors,
and the city you have chosen,
and the temple I have built for your name,
39 then in heaven, the place where you live, hear their prayer for mercy.
Do what is right for them.
Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
40 “Finally, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive
to the prayers ⌞offered⌟ in this place.
41 “Now arise, and come to your resting place, Lord God—
you and the ark of your power.
Clothe your priests, Lord God, with salvation.
Let your godly ones rejoice in what is good.
42 Lord God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember your mercy to your servant David!”
Solomon Offers Sacrifices(H)
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices, and the Lord’s glory filled the temple. 2 The priests couldn’t go into the Lord’s temple because the Lord’s glory had filled the Lord’s temple. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the Lord’s glory on the temple, they knelt down with their faces on the pavement. They worshiped and praised the Lord, ⌞by saying,⌟ “He is good; his mercy endures forever.”
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the Lord. 5 King Solomon offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to the Lord. So the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple.
6 The priests were standing at their posts. So were the Levites who had the Lord’s musical instruments which King David made for praising the Lord with “his mercy endures forever” and which he used to offer praise. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing trumpets while all Israel was standing ⌞there⌟.
7 Solomon designated the courtyard in front of the Lord’s temple as a holy place. He sacrificed the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat because the bronze altar that he had made and that was in front of the Lord was not able to hold all of them.
8 At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟. A very large crowd had come from ⌞the territory between⌟ the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day there was an assembly. They had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for ⌞another⌟ seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon dismissed the people to their tents. They rejoiced with cheerful hearts for all the blessings the Lord had given David, Solomon, and his people Israel.
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