22:1 David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”
The threshing floor of Ornan was the same place where (1) Abraham offered Isaac, (2) the plague was halted, (3) the temple was to be built, and (4) the possible current location of the Dome of the Rock.
22:2 David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple.
The resident foreigners were the Gentiles who were either prior residents of the land or captives in battle. As Jewish proselytes, they were protected by the Mosaic Law.
22:3 David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed,
David accumulated all of the supplies for the temple. This is why the temple should be called “David’s Temple” and not “Solomon’s Temple.” The Philistines were experts in iron.
22:4 and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)
The cedar logs came from Sidon and Tyre. King Hiram and King David were good friends. The Phoenician shipping industry controlled the Mediterranean Sea. They were expert carpenters.
22:5 David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man, and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.
Solomon was about 18 years old at this time. Therefore, David provided all of the materials. David knew that Israel would become a witness to all nations during the reign of Solomon.
22:6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel.
Before David died, he gave Solomon a pep talk about building the temple.
22:7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted to build a temple to honor the Lord my God.
David wanted to build the temple. He built his own palace. He was an expert architect.
22:8 But the Lord said to me: ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me, for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me.
The Lord refused to allow David to build the temple, because David was a man of war who had spilled a lot of blood.
22:9 Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.
Solomon means “peace.” David defeated his enemies so severely, that they would not be able to recover and conquer Solomon. Great building projects only happen during times of peace.
22:10 He will build a temple to honor me; he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’
Solomon would give birth to a Davidic dynasty which would produce Jesus. Jesus will rule over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 literal years.
22:11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would.
David blessed his son Solomon with the responsibility of building the temple.
22:12 Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the Lord your God.
Solomon was too young when he became king. He did not possess the political wisdom of David. David prayed that God would give him political wisdom. This prayer request was granted. God gave Solomon one wish. Solomon’s wish was political wisdom. He should have wished for spiritual wisdom.
22:13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic!
Solomon may have been a Momma’s boy. David commanded him to be strong and courageous.
22:14 Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple. I have stored up 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more!
David supplied all of the materials for the temple.
22:15 You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled
The stonecutters may have come from Egypt. The carpenters may have come from Phoenicia.
22:16 in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!”
Solomon was commanded to start the building program for the glory of God.
22:17 David ordered all the officials of Israel to support his son Solomon.
David placed Solomon over the building project.
22:18 He told them, “The Lord your God is with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the Lord and his people.
David spilt his own blood so that Solomon could reign over the nation.
22:19 Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being! Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s service into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.”
David wanted Solomon to build the temple and transport the tabernacle utensils into the new temple.