"You worked with my father David and sent him cedar to build his house. Do the same for me. I'm about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God — dedicated entirely to him. It will be a place for burning fragrant incense before him, for the regular display of the sacred bread, and for Burnt Offerings every morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at the new moon festivals, and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord our God. This is an eternal calling for Israel.
The house I'm going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all gods.
But honestly — who could ever build a house for him? Heaven itself, even the highest heaven, can't contain him. Who am I to build him a house? All I can do is create a place to make Offerings before him.
So send me a master craftsman — someone skilled in gold, silver, bronze, iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, someone trained in engraving — to work alongside the skilled workers my father David already provided here in Judah and Jerusalem.
Also send cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon. I know your people are the best in the world at cutting timber there. My workers will partner with yours to prepare lumber in huge quantities, because this house is going to be great and wonderful.
In return, I'll pay your woodsmen: 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil."