Dawud1 assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valour, to Jerusalem.
2Then Dawud the king stood up on his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brothers, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of YAHWEH2, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building. 3But God3 said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my Name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’ 4However YAHWEH, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever: for he has chosen Judah to be prince; and from the house of Judah, he chose the house of my father; and from among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5Of all my sons (for YAHWEH has given me many sons), he has chosen Sulayman4 my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of YAHWEH over Israel. 6He said to me, ‘Sulayman your son shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’
8“Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of YAHWEH, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of YAHWEH your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. 9You, Sulayman my son, know the God of your father, and worship him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for YAHWEH searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10Take heed now; for YAHWEH has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.”
11Then Dawud gave to Sulayman his son the plans for the porch of the temple, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of its upper rooms, and of its inner chambers, and of the place of the mercy seat. 12He gave him the plans of all that he had received by the Spirit5, for the courts of the House of YAHWEH, and for all the chambers around it, for the treasuries of the House of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things. 13He also gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the House of YAHWEH, and for all the vessels of service in the House of YAHWEH. 14Dawud gave gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, silver by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand; 16and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17and the meat-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl; 18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans of the chariot, even the karubin6, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of YAHWEH. 19“All this,” said Dawud, “I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of YAHWEH, even all the details of this plan.”
20Dawud said to Sulayman his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; for YAHWEH God, even my God, is with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the House of YAHWEH is finished. 21Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the House of God: and there shall be with you in all manner of work every willing man who has skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at your commandment.”
- 28:1 Dawud, this Arabic name is derived from David (Hebrew) and means “Beloved.” ↩︎
- 28:2 YAHWEH, God’s personal Name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15: ‘God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”’ ↩︎
- 28:3 God, English translation of elohim. Elohim (Hebrew) is related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
- 28:5 Sulayman, this Arabic name and the name Solomon are both derived from the Hebrew name Shlomo which means “peace.” ↩︎
- 28:12 Spirit, or Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God; not an angel, created being, nor an impersonal force, but the uncreated, eternal essence of God himself. The Spirit was present and active at the creation of heaven and earth (see Genesis 1:2). He is also the one who moved the prophets to speak God’s Word to mankind (see 2 Peter 1:21). The Spirit also lives inside of every follower of ‘ISA AL-MASIH, empowering them to live in a way pleasing to God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). ↩︎
- 28:18 karubin, an Arabic word based on the plural Hebrew word cherubim, describing a class of angels first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 as living creatures guarding the way to the Garden of Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Hawa. ↩︎