And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender
Jarchi supposes he was about twelve years of age, though he observes that the same word is used of Joshua when forty two years of age; it is probable Solomon might be now about twenty:
and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding
magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries:
and such was the temple built by Solomon; it was renowned throughout the whole earth; never was there a temple equal to it, no, not the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, built by the assistance of many kings, and at the expense of all Asia, and was two hundred years in building:
I will therefore now, make preparation for it;
seeing his son was so young, and this building to be so magnificent, though he himself was not admitted to build it:
so David prepared abundantly before his death;
of which we have an after account in this chapter, and more largely in ( 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30 ) .