Topical Encyclopedia
The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, holds a significant place in biblical history as the central place of worship for the Israelites. Although King Solomon is credited with the construction of the Temple, the groundwork for this monumental project was laid by his father, King David. David's role in the preparation for the Temple's construction is a testament to his devotion to God and his desire to establish a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant.
David's Vision and PreparationDavid, the second king of Israel, harbored a deep desire to build a house for the Lord. This aspiration is recorded in
1 Chronicles 17:1, where David expresses his intent to Nathan the prophet: "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent." However, God revealed to David through Nathan that he would not be the one to build the Temple. Instead, this task would fall to his son Solomon (
1 Chronicles 17:11-12).
Despite not being permitted to construct the Temple himself, David took extensive measures to ensure that his son would have the necessary resources and support. David's preparations included gathering materials, organizing labor, and setting aside wealth for the Temple's construction. In
1 Chronicles 22:14, David states, "I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them."
Charging the PrincesUnderstanding the magnitude of the task, David charged the leaders of Israel to assist Solomon in this divine endeavor. In
1 Chronicles 22:17-19, David commands the princes of Israel to support Solomon: "Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 'Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not granted you rest on every side? For He has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and His people. Now set your heart and soul to seek the LORD your God. Get started building the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the house that will be built for the name of the LORD.'"
David's charge to the princes underscores his recognition of the Temple's importance as a spiritual center for Israel. By involving the leaders, David ensured that the project had the necessary political and social support, reflecting his understanding of the Temple as a unifying symbol for the nation.
Legacy and Spiritual SignificanceDavid's preparations and his charge to the princes highlight his commitment to God's covenant and his vision for a centralized place of worship. The First Temple, once completed by Solomon, became the focal point of Israelite worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. David's role in the Temple's inception, though indirect, was crucial in laying the foundation for this sacred edifice, demonstrating his enduring legacy as a man after God's own heart (
1 Samuel 13:14).
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Chronicles 22:17-19David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
How after the Death of Cambyses and the Slaughter of the Magi but ...
... 4. As soon as the first had given the forementioned ... to those that guarded the city
and the temple, as also ... son of Salathiel, of the posterity of David, and of ...
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Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... this creed Ulfilas, bishop of the Goths, then first gave his ... case the merits of the
man and his reputation as ... he had demolished a very ancient temple, and had ...
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Later English Reformers
... unto such as obstinately remain ignorant.""David Laing, The ... sheltering depths of
the forest, a temple of God's ... The very first men whose hearts were turned ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 14 later english reformers.htm
A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm
... was succeeded by a long war, before David was acknowledged as ... of the second
view,[155] where the temple is seen ... In the first view the picture is of seals being ...
/.../vi a clearing-up storm in the.htm
Book ii.
... Now we will not brag of our kings, David and Solomon ... This temple ought to be common
to all men, because he is ... his worship, over whom he that is the first by his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm
The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... of divine worship: from the very first he tolerated ... reappeared within the precincts
of the temple, together with ... had already burnt one of his children during a ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm
A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad!
... be but idol-gods, which defile the temple of God ... divine of Ripon, and the answer
of David was in ... religion is a personal matter"is its first manifestation in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/a mystery saints sorrowing and.htm
Concerning Worship.
... under the law, may justly now be charged with superstition ... before God be worshipped
in the inward temple of the ... For, first, as to their preaching upon a text ...
/.../proposition xi concerning worship.htm
Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... Thus David committed his soul to God, when he said "Arise, O ... beaten them for their
preaching in the temple (Acts 5 ... man bolts in upon him, and the first word he ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm
Footnotes
... in one of Sir William Temple's Letters: "I ... that when Monk returned from his first
projected march ... Leonard's Colledge, Mr. David Nauee, (formerlie possessing ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm
Resources
What is the temple tax? | GotQuestions.orgHow many times did Jesus cleanse the temple? Why did He cleanse the temple? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died? | GotQuestions.orgTemple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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