1 Chronicles22

King David designated the site for the LORD's house and began extensive preparations, gathering vast quantities of materials and workmen. He charged his son Solomon to build the Temple, explaining that God forbade him due to his wars, but promised Solomon, a man of peace, would accomplish the task. David also exhorted Solomon and the princes to diligently undertake this sacred work.

David Prepares Materials for the Temple

1
Then David said, "This is the house of ADONAI, God; and this is the altar Isra'el is to use for burnt offerings." ​
2
David ordered that the foreigners in the land of Isra'el should be assembled, and he appointed stone-workers to shape stones for building the house of God. ​
3
David prepared a large store of iron from which to make nails and clamps for the gateway doors and, a quantity of bronze too great to weigh,
4
and cedar logs beyond numbering - because the Tzidonim and the people from Tzor brought cedar logs in abundance to David.
5
David said, "Shlomo my son is young and inexperienced, while the house to be built for ADONAI must be so magnificent and splendid that its fame and glory will be known in every country; so I will make preparations for him." Therefore David made extensive preparations before his death. ​

David Charges Solomon to Build the Temple

6
Then he summoned Shlomo his son and charged him to build a house for ADONAI, the God of Isra'el. ​
7
"My son,"said David to Shlomo, "my heart was set on building a house for the name of ADONAI my God.
8
But a message from ADONAI came to me, 'You have shed much blood and fought great wars. You are not to build a house for my name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth in my sight. ​
9
But you will have a son who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies that surround him; for his name is to be Shlomo, and during his reign I will give peace [Hebrew: shalom] and quiet to Isra'el. ​
10
It is he who will build a house for my name. He will be my son and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Isra'el forever.' ​
11
"Now, my son, may ADONAI be with you and give you success as you build the house of ADONAI your God, in keeping with what he said about you.
12
May ADONAI give you common sense and understanding, and may he give you his orders concerning Isra'el, so that you will observe the Torah of ADONAI your God. ​
13
Then you will succeed, if you take care to obey the laws and rulings that ADONAI ordered Moshe concerning Isra'el. Be strong, be bold; don't be afraid or become discouraged!
14
"Now look: despite my difficulties, I have prepared for the house of ADONAI 3,300 tons of gold, 33,000 tons of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can't be weighed. I've also prepared timber and stone, and you can add to it. ​
15
Moreover, you have plenty of workers - quarrymen, stone-workers, lumbermen, and all kinds of skilled craftsmen to do whatever has to be done with
16
the gold, silver, bronze and iron-they're beyond number. So get up, and get to work! And may ADONAI be with you."

David Commands the Princes to Help

17
David also ordered all the leaders of Isra'el to help Shlomo his son: ​
18
"Isn't ADONAI your God with you? Hasn't he given you rest on every side? For he has put the inhabitants of the land under my power - the land has been subdued before ADONAI and his people. ​
19
Now set your heart and being on seeking ADONAI your God. Get up, and build the sanctuary for ADONAI, God. Then you can bring the ark for the covenant of ADONAI and the holy articles of God into the house that will be built for the name of ADONAI." ​

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 22

Verse 1

This verse establishes the sacred location for the future Temple and altar, identified earlier as Araunah's threshing floor (1 Chr 21:28). This site was purchased by David and consecrated by divine fire.

Verse 2

David utilized resident aliens (“strangers”) for the heavy labor of quarrying stone, a common practice for large-scale royal building projects in the ancient Near East.

Verse 5

David recognized that the Temple needed to be “exceeding magnifical” to reflect God’s glory, thus justifying his massive, preemptive preparation before his death, knowing his son was still young.

Verse 6

This marks the formal transition of the Temple project authority from David, the warrior king, to Solomon, the designated successor.

Verse 8

God forbade David from building the Temple because he was a man of war who had shed much blood, establishing a theological principle that the Temple, a house of peace and reconciliation, required a peaceful builder.

Verse 9

Solomon’s name (Hebrew: *Shelomoh*) is highlighted as reflecting the peace (*shalom*) God would grant during his reign, providing the necessary political stability for the Temple construction.

Verse 10

This promise reaffirms the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7), linking the stability of the everlasting throne directly to Solomon's role in building the Temple for God's name.

Verse 12

David prays specifically for Solomon to receive wisdom and understanding, recognizing that righteous governance and adherence to the Law are necessary components for the success of the sacred building project.

Verse 14

The monetary figures cited (100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver) are symbolic of unimaginable abundance, emphasizing the completeness and divine blessing upon David's preparation rather than literal calculation.

Verse 17

David ensures that the entire governmental structure supports Solomon’s monumental task by commanding the national leaders to offer their full assistance.

Verse 18

The 'rest on every side' confirms that David had successfully subdued all immediate enemies, creating the peaceful political environment necessary for Solomon to begin the work of building the sanctuary.

Verse 19

David directs the leaders to focus their spiritual energy ('set your heart and your soul') on seeking God and completing the sanctuary project, emphasizing that the physical building must be matched by spiritual commitment.

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