⁵And 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 make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. ⁶Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD, the God of Israel. =5.= _exceeding magnifical_] The Temple took seven years in building, and it was richly overlaid with gold, but its proportions were small, viz., about 90 ft. × 45 ft. × 30 ft. These small proportions, are not surprising, for the Temple itself required only to be big enough to hold its furniture. The courts, however, were of large extent, that they might afford room for worshippers at the times of the great feasts. Note the archaic _magnifical_ = _splendid_, _stately_ (magnificent). It is found of course in the Authorized Version (1611), and also in the Geneva Bible (1560); compare Starkey, _England_, ii. i. 176 (1538), “Gudly cytes and townys wyth magnyfycal and gudly housys.” ⁷And David said to Solomon his son¹, As for me, it was in my heart to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God. ¹ According to another reading, _My son, as for me &c._ =7.= _said to Solomon his son_] So _Kethīb_; the margin, =said to Solomon, My son=, follows the _Ḳerī_. _unto the name_] Compare Deuteronomy xii. 5; 2 Samuel vii. 13. ⁸But 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: =8.= _Thou hast shed blood abundantly_] Compare xxviii. 3; in 1 Kings v. 3 Solomon tells Hiram that David wished to build a temple, but was hindered from his design by war. ⁹behold, 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 Solomon¹, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days: ¹ That is, _Peaceful_. =9.= _I will give him rest_] Compare 1 Kings v. 4. The promise here made is of a period of peace sufficiently long for the work of Temple-building. Solomon’s reign was not wholly peaceful; compare 1 Kings xi. 14, 23, 26. ¹⁰he 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. ¹¹Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken concerning thee. ¹²Only the LORD give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. =10.= _for ever_] Compare 2 Samuel vii. 13‒16.