2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and he made them masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3 Likewise, David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings, and brass in abundance without weight, 4 also cedar trees in abundance, for the Zidonians and those of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, Solomon, my son, is yet young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be magnificent par excellence, of fame and of glory throughout all lands; I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.