David gave an order for all foreigners living in Israel to be gathered together. He chose stonecutters from that group of foreigners. Their job was to cut stones ready to be used for building God's Temple.
David said, "We should build a very great Temple for the Lord, but my son Solomon is young and he hasn't learned what he needs to know. The Lord's Temple should be very great. It should be famous in all the nations because of its greatness and beauty. That is why I will make plans for building the Lord's Temple." So David made many plans for building the Temple before he died.
But you have a son who is a man of peace. I will give your son a time of peace. His enemies around him will not bother him. His name is Solomon. And I will give Israel peace and quiet during the time that he is king.
Solomon will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Father. I will make his kingdom strong, and someone from his family will rule Israel forever!'"
He will make you the king of Israel. May the Lord give you wisdom and understanding so that you can lead the people and obey the law of the Lord your God.
"Solomon, I have worked hard making plans for building the Lord's Temple. I have given 3750 tons of gold and about 37,500 tons of silver. I have given so much bronze and iron that it cannot be weighed. And I have given wood and stone. Solomon, you can add to them.
They are skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. You have more skilled workers than can be counted. Now begin the work. And may the Lord be with you."
David said to these leaders, "The Lord your God is with you. He has given you a time of peace. He helped me defeat the people living around us. The Lord and his people are now in control of this land.
Now give your heart and soul to the Lord your God, and do what he says. Build the holy place of the Lord God. Build the Temple for the Lord's name. Then bring the Box of the Agreement and all the other holy things into the Temple."