David

1They brought in the ark of God. They set it inside the tent David had put up for it. Then they gave burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

NoteThe ark was a special gold-covered box, and God's rules were kept inside it. Israel treated it as the place where God met his people. A burnt offering was an animal given to God on a fire. A peace offering was cooked and then shared as a happy meal.

2When David finished giving the offerings, he blessed the people. He blessed them in the name of the LORD.

And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

NoteTo bless people is to ask God to be good to them.

3He gave food to every man and woman in Israel. Each one got a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

NoteThe King James says "flesh", an old word for meat, and a "flagon" was a big jug for drinks. The old Hebrew words here are hard to be sure about. Newer Bibles say sweet cakes made from dates and raisins.

4David chose some Levites to serve in front of the ark. Levites were the family who helped with worship. Their job was to call out to the LORD, thank him, and praise him.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

NoteThe Levites were one big family group in Israel. God gave them the job of helping with worship.

5Asaph was the leader. Zechariah came next. Then came Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and another Jeiel. They played harps and lyres, which are stringed instruments. Asaph played the cymbals.

Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

NoteThe King James word "psalteries" means instruments with strings, a little like small harps. Cymbals are two round metal plates. You clash them together to make a loud ring.

6Benaiah and Jahaziel were priests. They blew the trumpets again and again in front of the ark of God's covenant.

Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

NoteA priest was a man whose job was to help people worship God. A covenant is a strong promise between two sides.

7That day David first gave this song of thanks to Asaph and his relatives to sing.

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

NoteA psalm is a song or poem sung to God. The King James word "brethren" means brothers or relatives.

8Give thanks to the LORD. Call out to him. Tell other nations what he has done.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

9Sing to him. Sing songs of praise to him. Talk about all his wonderful works.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

10Be glad and proud of his holy name. Let everyone who looks for the LORD be happy.

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

NoteHoly means special and set apart from everything else. In this song, God's name stands for who God really is.

11Look for the LORD and his strength. Keep looking for him always.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

NoteTo seek someone's face means to want to be with them.

12Remember the amazing things he has done. Remember his wonders and the decisions he has spoken.

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

NoteThe King James word "judgments" means the decisions God has made.

13You are the children of Israel, his servant. You are Jacob's family, the people he chose.

O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

NoteThe King James word "seed" here means children and grandchildren. Jacob was also called Israel, and his family became the nation of Israel.

14He is the LORD our God. His decisions go out over all the earth.

He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15Always remember his covenant. A covenant is a promise he made and will keep. He gave his word to last for a thousand generations.

Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

NoteA covenant is a promise that both sides agree to keep. A generation is all the people born around the same time. A thousand generations is a way of saying a very, very long time.

16This is the promise he made with Abraham. He swore the same promise to Isaac.

Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;

NoteAbraham and Isaac lived long before David. Abraham was Isaac's father, and Isaac was Jacob's father. To swear a promise means to say it in the strongest way you can.

17He made it certain for Jacob as a rule. He made it with Israel as a promise that lasts forever.

And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18He said, "I will give you the land of Canaan. It will belong to you and your family."

Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

NoteCanaan was the land where Israel later lived. The King James calls it "the lot of your inheritance". An inheritance is something your family passes down to you.

19Back then there were only a few of them. They were strangers living in that land.

When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

NoteStrangers here means people living in a land that is not their own.

20They moved from one nation to another. They went from one kingdom to another people.

And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

21God did not let anyone hurt them. He even told kings to stop, for their sake.

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

NoteThe King James word "suffered" here means allowed. "Reproved" means told them firmly that they were wrong.

22He said, "Do not touch the ones I have chosen. Do not harm my prophets." Prophets are people who tell others what God says.

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

NoteAnointed means having oil poured on your head. That was how a leader chosen by God was marked out.

23Sing to the LORD, everyone on earth. Tell every day how he saves people.

Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

NoteSalvation means being rescued or kept safe.

24Tell other nations how great he is. Tell all people about his wonderful works.

Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

NoteThe King James word "heathen" means people from other nations.

25The LORD is great, and he should be praised a lot. He should be honored more than any other god.

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

NoteFeared here does not mean scared. It means treated as very great and important.

26The gods of other nations are only idols, which are statues people made. But the LORD made the heavens.

For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

NoteAn idol is a statue that people treat as a god.

27Splendor and greatness are right in front of him. Strength and joy fill the place where he lives.

Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

28Give praise to the LORD, all you families of the nations. Say that the LORD has glory and strength.

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

NoteThe King James word "kindreds" means families or family groups.

29Give the LORD the honor his name should have. Bring a gift and come to him. Worship the LORD in his beautiful holiness.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

NoteAn offering is a gift a person brings to God.

30Shake with wonder before him, all the earth. He set the world in place, and it cannot be shaken.

Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

NoteThe King James says "Fear before him". Here it means standing still, full of wonder.

31Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth be happy. Let people in every nation say, "The LORD is King!"

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.

32Let the sea roar, and everything in it. Let the fields be full of joy, and all that grows there.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

33Then the trees in the forest will sing for joy. They will sing because the LORD is coming to judge the earth.

Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

NoteThis is a word picture. Trees do not really sing, but the song says the whole world is glad.

34Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good. His faithful love never ends.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

NoteThe King James says "his mercy endureth for ever". It means God's kind, faithful love never stops.

35Then say, "Save us, God who saves us. Bring us back together. Rescue us from other nations. Then we can thank Your holy name and be glad to praise You."

And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

36Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, forever and ever. Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

NoteAmen is a word that means "yes, that is true". People said it out loud to agree together.

37So David left Asaph and his relatives there in front of the ark. They were to serve there every day, doing the work each day needed.

So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required:

38Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his relatives stayed too. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers, who guarded the doors.

And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:

NoteA score means twenty. So the King James "threescore and eight" means sixty-eight. Gatekeepers guarded the doors and watched who came in.

39David also left Zadok the priest and the other priests with him. They served at the LORD's tent at the worship place in Gibeon.

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

NoteThis was the old worship tent from the days of Moses. It stood at Gibeon, a town near Jerusalem. The ark was now in a different tent, in Jerusalem. A high place was a spot on a hill used for worship.

40Their job was to give burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar. They did this every morning and every evening. They followed everything written in the LORD's law for Israel.

To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;

NoteAn altar was a stone table where offerings were given to God. The law was the set of rules God gave Israel through Moses.

41Heman and Jeduthun were with them, along with others chosen and named. Their job was to thank the LORD, singing, "His faithful love never ends."

And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;

42Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music. They also had other instruments for songs to God. The sons of Jeduthun watched the gate.

And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

43Then all the people went home. And David went home to bless his own family.

And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.

NoteThe King James says David went to bless "his house". House here means the people who lived in his home.

1David was living in his fine house made of cedar wood. He spoke to Nathan, a prophet, someone who told people what God said. David said, "I live in a cedar house. But the ark of the LORD still sits under a tent."

Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, that is God's own special name. Cedar is a strong wood that smells sweet. Only rich people had houses built from it. The ark was a special box covered with gold. Inside it were God's rules, written on stone. It showed the people that God was with them. The ark sat inside a big cloth tent, not a building.

2Nathan said to David, "Do whatever you have in mind. God is with you."

Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

3But that same night, God spoke his word to Nathan.

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4God said, "Go and tell my servant David what I say. You are not the one to build me a house to live in.

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

NoteA house for God means a temple. A temple is a large building where people come to worship God.

5I have not lived in a house since I brought Israel up out of Egypt. All this time I have moved from tent to tent, from one place to another.

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

NoteGod's tent was called the tabernacle. It could be taken down and carried to a new place. So it moved wherever the people moved.

6I walked with all Israel wherever they went. I chose leaders to care for my people like a shepherd cares for sheep. I never once asked any of them, "Why have you not built me a cedar house?"

Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

7So tell my servant David this. The LORD of hosts says: I took you from the sheep pen. You were out following the sheep. I made you the ruler over my people Israel.

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

NoteA sheep pen is a fenced place where sheep sleep safely at night. David took care of sheep before he was king. "The LORD of hosts" means God is the leader of huge armies. It is a name for God that shows how strong he is.

8I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have cut down all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name great, like the greatest men on earth.

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

NoteMaking someone's name great means making them famous. People far away would know who David was.

9I will also pick out a place for my people Israel. I will plant them there like a tree. They will live in their own place and not be moved again. Wicked people will not wear them down as before.

Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

NotePlanting people like a tree means giving them a safe home. Trees put their roots down deep and stay put.

10That trouble began long ago and lasted through the days of the judges, the leaders I gave my people. Now I will defeat all your enemies. And I tell you this: the LORD will build you a house.

And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

NoteJudges were leaders God gave Israel before there were kings. They helped the people and led them in war. Here a house does not mean a building. It means a family. God promised that David's family would keep on ruling.

11When your life is over, you will go to rest with your fathers. Then I will raise up one of your own sons to follow you. I will make his kingdom strong.

And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

NoteGoing to rest with your fathers means dying. Fathers means the family who lived long before you.

12He is the one who will build a house for me. I will make his throne strong forever.

He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

NoteThis house is the temple, the building for worshiping God. A throne is the special chair a king sits on. It stands for his power to rule.

13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my kind love away from him. I did take it away from the king who came before you.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

NoteThe king before David was Saul. God chose Saul first, then took the kingdom away from him.

14I will place him over my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will stand strong for all time."

But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

15Nathan told David every word of what he had seen and heard.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

16Then King David went in and sat down in front of the LORD. He said, "Who am I, LORD God? What is my family? Why have you brought me this far?"

And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

NoteDavid went and sat in the tent where the ark was kept. Sitting there was his way of praying. David's family were ordinary shepherds and farmers, not kings.

17And even that was a small thing to you, God. You have also spoken about my family far into the future. You have treated me like a man of great honor, LORD God.

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

18What more can David say to you for honoring me like this? You already know your servant well.

What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19LORD, you have done all this for my sake, because you wanted to. You have shown everyone these great things about yourself.

O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20LORD, there is no one like you. There is no God but you. We have heard it with our own ears.

O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21No other nation on earth is like your people Israel. You went out and set them free to be your very own. You made your name great and awesome. You drove out whole nations ahead of your people, whom you saved from Egypt.

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

NoteIsrael had once been slaves in Egypt, working for a cruel king. God brought them out and made them free. Awesome here means so great that people feel full of wonder.

22You made Israel your own people forever. And you, LORD, became their God.

For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

23So now, LORD, keep the promise you made about me and my family. Let it stand forever. Do just what you said.

Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24Let it stand, so your name will be honored forever. Then people will say, "The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel." And let David's family stand strong before you.

Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

NoteIn those days a name stood for the whole person. Honoring God's name means speaking well of God himself.

25My God, you told me that you would build me a house. That is why I found the courage to pray to you like this.

For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

26And now, LORD, you are God. You have promised this good thing to me.

And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

27So please be pleased to bless my family. Let it stand before you forever. When you bless, LORD, it is blessed forever.

Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

1Satan rose up against Israel. He pushed David to count the people of Israel.

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

NoteSatan is God's enemy. The name means someone who accuses others. A king counted his fighting men to see how strong his army was.

2David said to Joab and the army leaders, "Go and count the people of Israel. Count them from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north. Then bring me the number, so I know it."

And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

NoteBeersheba was the town farthest south in the land. Dan was the town farthest north. Naming both meant the whole country, everybody.

3Joab answered, "May the LORD give you a hundred times more men. My king, they all serve you already. Why do you want this? Why bring guilt on Israel?"

And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

NoteJoab was the leader of David's whole army. Guilt means being in the wrong and owing God something for it.

4But the king would not change his mind. So Joab went all through Israel. Then he came back to Jerusalem.

Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

NoteThe King James says the king's word "prevailed." That means David won the argument and got his way.

5Joab gave David the total. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could fight with a sword. In Judah there were 470,000 men who could fight with a sword.

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

NoteA man "that drew sword" was a grown man ready to fight in a war.

6Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin. He hated the king's order.

But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. The tribe of Levi worked at God's worship tent.

7God was not pleased with what David had done. So God punished Israel.

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

NoteThe King James says God "smote" Israel. Smote is an old word. It just means struck or hit.

8David said to God, "I have sinned badly by doing this. Please forgive me, your servant. I acted very foolishly."

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

NoteTo sin means to do something wrong against God. David is telling God he is sorry.

9The LORD spoke to Gad. Gad was David's seer, a man who told people what God said.

And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,

NoteA seer was another name for a prophet. He was called a seer because God showed him things.

10"Go and tell David that the LORD says this: I am giving you three choices. Pick one, and I will do it to you."

Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

11So Gad went to David and said, "The LORD says, you must choose one of these."

So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee

12"Three years when no food will grow. Or three months of running from your enemies, while their swords catch you. Or three days of the LORD's own sword. That means a deadly sickness in the land. The angel of the LORD will destroy every part of Israel. Now tell me what answer I should bring back to God."

Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to do his work. Angels were often shown as strong and a little scary.

13David said to Gad, "I am in deep trouble. Let me fall into the LORD's hands. He is very kind. Do not let me fall into human hands."

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

NoteThe King James says David was in a "great strait." A strait is a narrow, tight place. He felt stuck.

14So the LORD sent a deadly sickness on Israel. Seventy thousand men of Israel died.

So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

15God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But while the angel was doing it, the LORD saw and stopped the harm. He said to the angel, "That is enough. Put your hand down now." The angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

NoteA threshing floor was a flat, hard patch of ground. Farmers beat grain there to knock the seeds loose. The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem before David's people came. Ornan was one of them.

16David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD. The angel stood between the ground and the sky. He held a sword pointed out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders of Israel wore rough sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces to the ground.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

NoteSackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth, like a grain sack. People wore it to show they were very sad or sorry. The elders were the older men who helped lead the people.

17David said to God, "I am the one who ordered the counting. I sinned and did wrong. But these people are like sheep. What did they do? Please, LORD my God, punish me and my family. Do not hurt your people with this sickness."

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

NoteKings in those days were often called shepherds. David is saying his people are like his sheep.

18Then the angel of the LORD told Gad to give David a message. David must go and build an altar to the LORD. He must build it on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

NoteAn altar was a table built of stones. People burned gifts to God on top of it.

19So David went up, just as Gad had said in the LORD's name.

And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.

NoteTo speak "in the name of the LORD" means Gad spoke God's own words, not his own ideas.

20Ornan was threshing wheat at the time. He turned and saw the angel. His four sons were with him, and they hid.

And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

21David came to Ornan. Ornan looked and saw the king coming. He left the threshing floor and bowed with his face to the ground.

And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

NoteBowing with your face to the ground was how people showed great respect to a king.

22David said to Ornan, "Sell me this threshing floor. I want to build an altar to the LORD here. I will pay you the full price. That way the sickness may stop for the people."

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

23Ornan said, "Take it, my king. Do what seems good to you. I will give you my oxen for the burnt offerings. Take my threshing tools for firewood. Take the wheat for the grain offering. I give it all to you."

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.

NoteOxen are big, strong cattle. They pull heavy farm tools. Threshing tools were heavy wooden boards with sharp stones underneath. Oxen dragged them over the grain.

24King David said, "No. I will pay the full price for it. I will not take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not give offerings that cost me nothing."

And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

25So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold for the place.

So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

NoteA shekel was a weight, not a coin. Coins had not been invented yet. People paid by weighing out gold or silver. Six hundred shekels of gold was a huge amount, about fifteen pounds.

26David built an altar there to the LORD. He gave burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called out to the LORD. The LORD answered by sending fire from heaven onto the altar.

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

NoteA burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned up on the altar. A peace offering was an animal given to God, and part of it was cooked and eaten as a shared meal.

27Then the LORD spoke to the angel. The angel put his sword back into its cover.

And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

NoteThe King James says the sword went back in its "sheath." A sheath is the case a sword slides into.

28David saw that the LORD had answered him at Ornan's threshing floor. So he gave his offerings there.

At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

29The special tent that Moses made in the desert was somewhere else. It stood at the worship place in Gibeon, along with the altar for burnt offerings.

For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

NoteThe tabernacle was a big tent for worshiping God. People used it before the temple was built. Moses led God's people through the desert long before David lived. A high place was a worship spot on a hill. Gibeon was a town a few miles from Jerusalem.

30But David could not go there to ask God what to do. He was afraid of the angel's sword.

But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

NoteTo "enquire of God" means to ask God what to do. People went to the worship tent to ask him.

1Then David said, "This is where the house of the LORD God will be. The altar for burning gifts to God will be here too."

Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.

NoteThe "house of the LORD" means the temple, a big building for worshiping God. An altar is a stone table where gifts to God were burned. People burned animals and grain there as presents for God.

2David told his men to gather the foreigners living in Israel. He put them to work cutting stones for God's house.

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.

NoteThe foreigners were people from other lands who lived in Israel. Cutting big stones was slow, hard work. Workers chipped each stone until it was flat and square.

3David got a lot of iron. It was for nails for the gate doors and for fittings. He got so much bronze that no one could weigh it all.

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;

NoteBronze is a hard metal, brown and shiny. People melted it and shaped it into tools and doors.

4He also got more cedar logs than anyone could count. Men from Sidon and Tyre brought David lots of cedar wood.

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

NoteCedar is a tall tree with wood that smells sweet. It does not rot easily, so it was the best wood for building. Sidon and Tyre were two rich towns by the sea, north of Israel.

5David said, "My son Solomon is young and has not learned much yet. The house built for the LORD must be very grand. People in every land must hear how great it is. So I will get things ready for it now." David got a huge amount ready before he died.

And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

NoteThe King James says Solomon was "young and tender." That means he was still learning and had not done big jobs yet.

6Then David called for his son Solomon. He told him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.

Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.

7David said to Solomon, "My son, I wanted to build a house for the name of the LORD my God.

And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:

NoteBuilding a house "for the name of the LORD" means building it for God himself. It was the place where people came to meet him.

8But the LORD said this to me: 'You have spilled much blood and fought big wars. You will not build a house for my name. You have spilled too much blood on the ground while I watched.

But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

Note"Shed blood" means killed people. David had fought in many wars as king.

9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies. His name will be Solomon. I will give Israel peace and quiet while he rules.

Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

NoteThe name Solomon sounds like the Hebrew word for peace. So his name was a promise about the quiet years he would have.

10He is the one who will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will make his family rule Israel forever.'

He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

NoteKings of Israel were often called God's sons. It was a way of saying God chose them and cared for them.

11Now, my son, may the LORD be with you. May you do well and build the house of the LORD your God, just as he said you would.

Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

12Most of all, may the LORD give you good sense and understanding. May he put you in charge of Israel. Then you can keep the law of the LORD your God.

Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

13You will do well if you carefully obey the rules God gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart.

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

NoteMoses was a leader long before David. God gave him rules for the people of Israel to live by.

14Look, I worked hard to get things ready for the house of the LORD. I set aside 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver. I got more bronze and iron than anyone can weigh. I also got wood and stone. You may add more to it.

Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

NoteA talent was a weight, about seventy five pounds. That is heavier than most first graders. So this was more gold and silver than anyone could carry.

15You also have many workers. There are men who cut stone, and men who build with stone and wood. There are men skilled at every kind of work.

Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.

16You have more gold, silver, bronze, and iron than anyone can count. So get up and start the work. May the LORD be with you."

Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.

17David also told all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. He said to them,

David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,

18"Is the LORD your God not with you? Has he not given you rest on every side? He handed the people of this land over to me. The land now obeys the LORD and his people.

Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.

Note"Rest on every side" means no enemies were attacking them. The fighting had stopped, so people felt safe.

19Now give your whole heart to seeking the LORD your God. Get up and build the holy house of the LORD God. Then you can bring in the ark of the covenant of the LORD. You can bring in the holy dishes and tools of God too. They will go into the house built for the name of the LORD."

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

NoteThe ark of the covenant was a special gold covered box. Inside were the stones with God's rules written on them. A covenant is a solemn promise between two sides. The holy dishes and tools were bowls, cups, and other things used only for worship.

1David called all the leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He called the leaders of the tribes, the big family groups. He called the leaders of the groups who took turns serving the king. He called the officers over a thousand soldiers and over a hundred soldiers. He called the men who cared for everything the king and his sons owned. He also called the palace officials, the strong men, and all the brave soldiers.

And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

NoteJerusalem was the city where David lived and ruled as king. The leaders came from all over the country to meet him there.

2Then King David stood up and said: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a house. It would be a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD. The ark was the gold box that held God's agreement with Israel. The house would be like a footstool for our God. I got everything ready to build it."

Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

NoteIn the Bible, a house for God means the temple, a big building for worshiping God. A footstool is a low seat for resting your feet. Calling the place God's footstool was a way of saying God is a king sitting on a throne.

3"But God said to me, 'You will not build a house for my name. You are a man of war, and you have spilled blood.'"

But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

NoteA man of war means a soldier who fought in many battles. David had been a soldier for most of his life.

4"Even so, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of my whole family. He made me king over Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to lead. From Judah he chose my father's family. From my father's sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel."

Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Judah was one of them, and David's family belonged to it.

5"The LORD has given me many sons. Out of all of them, he chose my son Solomon. Solomon will sit on the throne of the LORD's kingdom over Israel."

And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. Sitting on the throne means being the king.

6"God said to me, 'Your son Solomon will build my house and my courtyards. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.'"

And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

NoteCourtyards are open spaces with walls around them and no roof. People gathered in them outside the temple building.

7"'I will make his kingdom last forever, if he keeps doing what I command. He must keep obeying my rules, the way he is doing today.'"

Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

8"So now, in front of all Israel, the LORD's gathered people, and with our God listening, I say this. Obey and follow all the commands of the LORD your God. Then you will keep this good land. You will pass it on to your children forever."

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

9"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father. Serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. The LORD looks into every heart. He understands every thought a person has. If you look for him, you will find him. But if you turn away from him, he will turn you away forever."

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

10"Think about this now. The LORD has chosen you to build a house for his holy place. Be strong, and do it."

Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

NoteA holy place means a place kept just for God. Nothing else was used there.

11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple. They showed the covered entry, the buildings, and the storage rooms. They showed the upper rooms and the inner rooms. They also showed the room for the mercy seat, the gold cover on top of the ark.

Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

NoteThe mercy seat was the gold lid on top of the ark. It was kept in the most special room of all.

12The plans showed everything David had in his mind. They showed the courtyards of the house of the LORD. They showed all the rooms around it. They showed the rooms for treasure, and for the gifts given to God.

And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:

NoteDedicated things were gifts people gave to God. Once given, they were used only in God's house.

13The plans also showed how the priests and Levites would take turns working. Priests led the worship, and Levites helped them. The plans showed all the work to be done in the LORD's house. They showed all the tools and dishes used there.

Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.

NoteThere were far too many priests to all work at once. So they were put in groups, and each group took its turn.

14David said how much gold to use for each gold object. He did this for every tool used in the work. He also said how much silver to use for each silver object.

He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

15He said how much gold to use for the lampstands and their lamps. He gave the weight for each lampstand and for its lamps. He did the same for the silver lampstands and their lamps. Each weight matched the way that lampstand would be used.

Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.

NoteA lampstand is a stand that holds small oil lamps. Lamps like these gave light inside, because there were no light switches then.

16He said how much gold to use for each table that held the special bread. He also said how much silver to use for the silver tables.

And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:

NoteThe special bread was twelve loaves kept on a table in God's house. There was one loaf for each tribe, and fresh ones each week.

17He said how much pure gold to use for the forks, the bowls, and the pitchers. He gave the weight of gold for each gold dish. He gave the weight of silver for each silver dish.

Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:

NoteThese forks were long and made of metal. Priests used them to lift meat that was given to God.

18He said how much fine gold to use for the altar where sweet-smelling incense was burned. He also gave the plans for the gold chariot. It was made of cherubim, winged creatures, with their wings spread over the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

NoteIncense is a sweet-smelling gum that makes a nice smell when it burns. An altar is a special table where gifts to God were burned. A chariot is a cart pulled by horses; here the winged creatures were pictured like God's chariot.

19David said, "The LORD made me understand all of this. He put it in writing, with his hand on me. Every part of the plan came from him."

All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

Note"His hand upon me" is a way of saying God was helping and guiding David.

20David said to his son Solomon: "Be strong and brave, and do the work. Do not be afraid. Do not give up. The LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. He will stay with you until all the work on the LORD's house is done."

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

21"Look, the groups of priests and Levites are ready. They will help with all the work in God's house. Every willing, skilled worker will help you with any job. The leaders and all the people will do whatever you say."

And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

1King David spoke to all the people gathered there. He said, "God has chosen my son Solomon. Solomon is young and still has much to learn. The work is very big. This great house is not for a man. It is for the LORD God."

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

NoteThe "palace" here is not a king's home. It is the temple, a special house for worshiping God.

2"I worked as hard as I could to get things ready. I gathered gold for the gold parts and silver for the silver parts. I gathered bronze, iron, and wood for their parts too. I also gathered onyx stones, colored stones, and all kinds of costly stones. And I gathered lots of marble."

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

NoteOnyx is a smooth, pretty stone with stripes of color. Marble is a hard white stone used to build walls and floors. Bronze is a hard metal made by mixing copper and tin.

3"I love the house of my God. So I am also giving my own gold and silver. This is extra, on top of all I already got ready for the holy house."

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

4"I am giving three thousand talents of gold from the land of Ophir. I am also giving seven thousand talents of pure silver. These will cover the walls of the buildings."

Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

NoteA talent was a big weight, about seventy-five pounds. That is as heavy as a large dog. Ophir was a faraway land known for very fine gold.

5"The gold is for gold work, and the silver is for silver work. Skilled workers will make it all." Then David asked, "Who will give himself to the LORD today?"

The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

Note"Give himself to the LORD" means to offer your gifts and your work to God.

6So the leaders of the families gave gladly. The officers of the tribes gave too. So did the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. So did the men in charge of the king's work.

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly,

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Commanders of thousands and hundreds were army leaders. The number tells how many soldiers each one led.

7For the work on God's house they gave five thousand talents of gold. They also gave ten thousand gold coins. They gave ten thousand talents of silver and eighteen thousand talents of bronze. And they gave one hundred thousand talents of iron.

And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

NoteThese gold coins were small and flat, like the money we use. The talents were weights of metal instead of coins.

8Anyone who had costly stones gave them for the LORD's house. A man named Jehiel, from the family of Gershon, took care of them.

And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

NoteGershon was one of the family groups that helped care for God's house. Jehiel kept the gifts safe, like a person who guards a treasure room.

9The people were happy because their leaders gave so freely. They gave to the LORD with their whole hearts. King David was very happy too.

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10David praised the LORD in front of all the people. He said, "We praise you, LORD, the God of our father Israel. We praise you forever and ever."

Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

NoteIsrael was another name for Jacob. He lived long before, and all these people came from his family.

11"LORD, you are great and strong and full of glory. You win every battle, and you shine with beauty. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom is yours, LORD. You are lifted up as the head over all."

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

12"Riches and honor come from you. You rule over everything. Power and strength are in your hands. You can make anyone great and strong."

Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

13"So now, our God, we thank you. We praise your wonderful name."

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

14"But who am I? And who are my people? How could we give so much? Everything comes from you. We only gave you what was already yours."

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

15"We are like visitors here with you, just as our fathers were. Our days on earth are like a shadow. Nothing here stays."

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

NoteDavid means they are like guests staying in someone else's house. The land is really God's, and people stay only a little while.

16"LORD our God, we gathered all this to build you a house for your holy name. But it all came from your hand. It all belongs to you."

O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

17"My God, I know you look inside people's hearts. You are glad when people are honest. I gave all these things gladly, with an honest heart. Now I see your people here giving to you gladly too. That makes me happy."

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

18"LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, please keep this wish in your people's hearts forever. Turn their hearts toward you."

O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

NoteAbraham, Isaac, and Israel were the great-grandfathers of this whole nation. They lived hundreds of years before David.

19"Give my son Solomon a whole heart to obey you. Help him keep your commands, your rules, and your laws. Help him do all these things and build the great house I got ready for."

And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

NoteGod's commands, rules, and laws were his instructions for how the people should live.

20Then David said to all the people, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed their heads low to honor the LORD and the king.

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

NoteBowing your head low was the way people showed great respect. They did it for God and for their king.

21The next day they gave animals to the LORD as gifts. They brought a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs. They also poured out drink offerings and gave many more gifts for all Israel.

And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:

NoteThese animals were gifts burned on an altar, a special stone table for giving gifts to God. A drink offering was wine poured out as a gift too. A ram is a grown male sheep.

22That day they ate and drank with great joy before the LORD. Then they made David's son Solomon king a second time. They poured oil on him to show he was chosen as ruler. They chose Zadok to be the priest.

And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.

NotePouring olive oil on someone's head was a special sign. It showed God had picked that person to be king. A priest was a man who led the people in worship and brought their gifts to God.

23So Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David. Things went well for him. All Israel obeyed him.

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.

NoteCalling it "the LORD's throne" means the king ruled for God. The kingdom really belonged to God, not to the king.

24All the leaders and the strong soldiers promised to obey King Solomon. All of King David's other sons promised too.

And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

25The LORD made Solomon very great in front of all Israel. He gave Solomon more royal honor than any king in Israel before him.

And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

26David, the son of Jesse, was king over all Israel.

Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

NoteJesse was David's father. David was his youngest son.

27He was king over Israel for forty years. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

NoteHebron and Jerusalem were both towns in Israel. David ruled from Hebron first, then moved to Jerusalem.

28He died when he was very old. He had a long life, much wealth, and much honor. Then his son Solomon became king.

And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

29The things King David did, from first to last, are written down. They are in the books of Samuel the seer, a man who saw messages from God. They are also in the books of Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. A seer was another name for the same kind of person.

30Those books tell about his whole time as king and how strong he was. They tell what happened to him, to Israel, and to the kingdoms around them.

With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.