Dual PanelSolomon succeeds David as king
1KING David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon is the one chosen by God, Solomon alone, a boy of tender years; and this is a great work, for it is a habitation not for man but for the LORD God.
2Now to the best of my ability I have made ready for the house of my God gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the woodwork, together with cornelian and other gems for setting, stones for mosaic work, precious stones of every sort, and marble in plenty.
3Further, because I delight in the house of my God, I have given my own private store of gold and silver for the house of my God -- over and above all the store which I have collected for the sanctuary --
4namely three thousand talents of gold from Ophir, and seven thousand talents of fine silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings,
5for providing gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, and for any work to be done by skilled craftsmen. Now who is willing to give with open hand to the LORD today?”
6Then the heads of families, the officers administering the tribes of Israel, the officers over units of a thousand and a hundred, and the officers in charge of the king's service, responded willingly
7and gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents of gold, ten thousand darics, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and a hundred thousand talents of iron.
8Further, those who possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, into the charge of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9The people rejoiced at this willing response, because in the loyalty of their hearts they had given willingly to the LORD; King David also was full of joy.
10David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly, saying: “Blessed are you, LORD God of our father Israel, from of old and for ever.
11Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, LORD, is the sovereignty, and you are exalted over all as head.
12Wealth and honour come from you; you rule over all; might and power are of your disposing; yours it is to give power and strength to all.
13Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give willingly like this? For everything comes from you, and it is only of your gifts that we give to you.
15We are aliens before you and settlers, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are like a shadow, and we have no abiding place.
16LORD our God, from you comes all this wealth that we have laid up to build a house in honour of your holy name, and it is all yours.
17I know that you test the heart and that integrity pleases you, my God; with an honest heart I have given all these gifts willingly, and have rejoiced now to see your people who are here present give willingly to you.
18LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our forefathers, maintain this purpose for ever in your people's thoughts and direct their hearts toward yourself.
19Grant that Solomon my son may loyally keep your commandments, your solemn charge, and your statutes, that he may fulfil them all, and build the palace for which I have made provision.”
20Turning to the whole assembly, David said, “Now bless the LORD your God.” Then all the assembly blessed the LORD the God of their forefathers, bowing low and prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king.
21The next day they sacrificed to the LORD and offered whole-offerings to him: a thousand oxen, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs, with the prescribed drink-offerings, and abundant sacrifices for all Israel.
22So they ate and drank before the LORD that day with great rejoicing. They then appointed Solomon, David's son, king a second time and anointed him as the LORD's prince, and Zadok as priest.
23So Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David, and he prospered and all Israel obeyed him.
24All the officers and the warriors, as well as all the sons of King David, swore fealty to King Solomon.
25The LORD made Solomon stand very high in the eyes of all Israel, and bestowed upon him sovereignty such as no king in Israel had had before him.
26David son of Jesse had ruled over the whole of Israel,
27and the length of his reign over Israel was forty years, seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
28He died in ripe old age, full of years, wealth, and honour; and Solomon his son ruled in his stead.
29The events of King David's reign from first to last are recorded in the books of Samuel the seer, of Nathan the prophet, and of Gad the seer,
30with a full account of his reign, his prowess, and of the times through which he and Israel and all the kingdoms of the world had passed.