were skilful in singing, or in playing on instruments of music, and were instructed in the songs of the Lord; and he divided them also into twenty-four courses, under Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were the chief of the musicians, to prophesy, or praise God, with harps and psalteries and cymbals. And they stood before the tabernacle of the Lord every morning and every evening, to thank and praise the Lord, and to bless His name continually.

1 Chronicles xxii. xxiii. xxiv. xxv.

The name Solomon means peaceable.

Harps, psalteries, and cymbals, are different kinds of instruments of music.

Chapter CXXXXV.

THE ANOINTING OF SOLOMON KING OVER ISRAEL.

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AFTER David had made preparations for the building of the house of the Lord, and had ordered 1016. all things which related to the worship of the Lord and the service of His tabernacle, that the

Lord God of Israel might be honoured among His people, he resolved to anoint Solomon his son to be king over Israel. For David was now old and full of days, and the time of his death seemed to be nigh at hand.

So king David commanded Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet to anoint Solomon his son to be king over Israel. Then Benaiah, the captain of the king's guard, placed Solomon on the king's mule, and brought him forth through the city to the fount of Gihon, which was on the west side of Jerusalem. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and there anointed Solomon to be king in the presence of all the people. And they blew with a trumpet ; and all the people said, "God save king Solomon." And all the people came up after him playing with pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the whole city rang with the sound. And they placed Solomon on the throne of the king.

Then king David gave thanks to God, and said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes

seeing it." And his servants said, "God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne."

After Solomon had been anointed to be king over Israel, David assembled at Jerusalem all the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of his guard, and the chief officers of his household, and all the valiant and mighty men in Israel. Then king David stood up, and said, "Hear me, my brethren, and my people: I had in my 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: 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.' 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, and of the house of my father, He liked me to make me king over all 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. And He said unto me, 'Solomon thy son shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.""

Then David charged Solomon his son, in the presence of all the chief officers and the princes of his people, to keep all the commandments of the Lord God of Israel, and said, "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. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it."

Then David gave to Solomon the pattern of the house of the Lord, of the courts, and of the chambers round about, and of the place of the

mercy seat, and of all the vessels that were to be used in the service of the Lord: for the Lord had revealed to David by the Spirit the pattern of the temple which Solomon was to build, and of all the things that were to be therein.

1 Kings i. 32-48. 1 Chronicles xxviii.

Chapter CXXXV.

THE OFFERINGS OF KING DAVID AND THE PRINCES
OF ISRAEL FOR THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD.

WHEN David had given to Solomon his son the
pattern of the house which he was to build for
the Lord, and of all the things which he was to
make for the service of the Lord's house, he
spoke again to the congregation of the chief men
of Israel, and said, "Solomon my son is yet
young and tender, and the work is great: for the
palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.
Now I have prepared with all my might for the
house of my God gold and silver, and brass and
iron, and wood, and all manner of precious stones,

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