דברי הימים א, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ב׳

King David invested immense effort and vast resources into gathering raw materials for the future Temple. He emphasized that he did absolutely everything in his power to prepare the necessary supplies for the work [מצודת דוד]. Because this was to be the house of God, it needed to be elevated far above any ordinary building. Therefore, beyond securing basic building stones fit for a holy site, David added special treasures to glorify the structure with gold and silver [מלבי״ם].

The guiding principle behind this massive collection was the precise matching of materials to their specific purposes. Gold was prepared for items or structures requiring gold, silver for elements needing silver, and the same careful sorting applied to all other supplies [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Alongside the metals and wood, David prepared a vast array of precious stones. The collection of onyx and setting stones echoes the offerings brought by the Israelites for the Tabernacle in the desert [רש״י]. The onyx stones were yellowish-brown or reddish [ביאור שטיינזלץ], while the setting stones were precious gems specifically meant to be embedded into pre-made frames or sockets [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He also gathered dark-colored precious stones, which held a deep shade similar to traditional eye makeup [רד״ק, מצודת ציון].

There are different perspectives regarding the inclusion of colorful, varied materials in the collection. Some explain that David prepared fabrics and garments beautifully embroidered in a multitude of colors [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. Others suggest these were actually perforated stones that an artisan would weave and set directly into the garments themselves [רלב״ג]. Another approach views this as a mosaic crafted from colorful, carefully shaped stones [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

To complete the majestic design, various other precious stones were designated to cover the walls of the Temple or to be embedded within golden walls and silver vessels [רש״י, רד״ק]. Finally, marble was brought in massive quantities, intended to form the pillars, tables, and flooring of the sacred structure [רש״י, רד״ק].