And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;

Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.

Read full chapter

Preparations for the Temple

So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners(A) residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters(B) to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.(C) He also provided more cedar logs(D) than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.

Read full chapter