s about the house of the Lord that he had
longed to build, that the Ark of God might be at rest, and that the
people might have a place of worship for all time to come. He knew
that his son Solomon was to build the temple, but he was still young,
and David made ready as far as he could for the building of the house.
There were men at work in the quarries, cutting great stones, and there
were men in the forests of Lebanon cutting and hewing cedars, and
others gathering iron and brass, and gold, and silver for the treasury
of David. He also spent much time dividing the sons of Levi into
companies, so that they could in turn serve with the priests in the
temple, and ordering the times and manner of service, for he believed
that this temple would be a house of prayer for all nations. David had
been a man of war, for he had been called to destroy idol worship in
the land of Canaan, and to make it the land of Israel, in which the one
true God should be worshipped forever, but Solomon's reign was to be
one of peace, and the Lord chose a man of peace to build his house.

David had another son, Adonijah, who tried to make himself king as
Absalom did, but David heard of it, and had Solomon proclaimed king
before his own death, lest trouble should arise after. When Adonijah
heard the shouts of the people, and the sound of the trumpets he was
afraid, and expected Solomon would kill him, but Solomon said if he
would only show himself a good man no harm should come to him.

The last things that David did were to call his princes and chief men
together and tell them that the Lord had promised many years before,
that Solomon should build the house of the Lord during his reign; and
also that his children's children should rule over Israel, and he
begged them to keep the Lord's commandments, that they might keep the
good land that had been given them.

He also charged Solomon before them all to serve God with all his
heart, but if he failed to do so he would be cast off forever.

David gave Solomon all the plans and patterns for the house of the
Lord, as the Lord had given them to him; also the gold and silver
stored up for time of building. He also told the people, when he had
called them together, what he had stored for the work of the temple,
and asked them who were willing to give also. Then the people brought
gifts, as they did when the Tabernacle was built, and gave them to the
Lord. David led them in a great thanksgiving