_that ye may possess this good land_] _possess_ = _inherit_. The Hebrew word connotes _three_ different ideas, which may all have been present to the mind of the speaker, viz. (1) continued holding of the land by passing it from father to son (compare Exodus xx. 12), (2) completion of the work of conquest left unfinished by Joshua (compare Genesis xxiv. 60), (3) enjoyment of the fruits of the land (compare Psalms xxv. 13). =9‒21.= DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON. ⁹And 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. =9.= _know thou the God of thy father_] For this use of _know_ compare Exodus v. 2; Isaiah i. 3; Jeremiah xxxi. 34. _with a perfect heart_] i.e. with a _single, undivided heart_; compare xii. 33 “they were not of double heart.” In 2 Chronicles xv. 17 the heart of king Asa is described as _perfect_, because he took no part in the idolatrous practices which prevailed in his day. Faithfulness to Jehovah, not moral perfection, is implied in phrases of this kind. _the LORD searcheth_] Compare Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord’s detection of secret idolatry (Ezekiel viii.). ¹⁰Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. =10.= _hath chosen thee_] See on verse 5. ¹¹Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch _of the temple_, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place¹ of the mercy-seat: ¹ Hebrew _house_. =11.= _the pattern_] Compare verse 12; Exodus xxv. 9. The Temple, like the tabernacle, was to be constructed according to a pattern or model communicated by inspiration (see verse 19). A verbal description rather than a drawing is meant. _the porch_] compare 2 Chronicles iii. 4; 1 Kings vi. 3. _the houses thereof_] Compare 2 Chronicles xxxiv. 11. “Thereof” of course refers to the Temple as a whole, and by “houses” we must understand the various portions of the building. _the treasuries_] A different Hebrew word from that used in verse 12. The inner treasuries mentioned here were for treasure; the outer treasuries (verse 11) were perhaps rather store-chambers. _upper rooms_] compare 2 Chronicles iii. 9; and 1 Kings vi. 6 (where however the Hebrew word is different). _the place of the mercy-seat_] The Holy of Holies. ¹²and the pattern of all that he had by¹ the spirit, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things: ¹ Or, _in his spirit_.