32 NADAV NA’AMAN by stage, over many generations, until it became the major temple of the kingdom 28. I evaluate the historical progression in this man- ner because of the late biblical authors’ struggle with the question of why the temple was built by Solomon rather then by David, his ven- erated predecessor. To resolve this difficulty, a late (exilic/post-ex- ilic) author narrated that David bought the site of the future temple and built an altar there as an early stage in the sanctification of the site and the construction of the temple (2 Sam 24) 29. Even more re- markable are the efforts of the Chronicler to present David as mak- ing wide-range preparations in anticipation of the construction of the temple (1 Chr 22-29). This author could not reverse his sources’ explicit statements in the books of Samuel and Kings and assign the construction of the temple to David. Instead, he attributed to David as much as he could, in order to emphasize his deep involvement in the enterprise. There must have been a strong tradition in Jerusalem that Solomon was the founder of the temple, and the author of the king’s history adopted, expanded and elaborated the tradition in his composition. The reality of two royal residences ― one on the Temple Mount and the other in the City of David ― raises the question of their re- lations. Tentatively, I suggest that the residence in the City of David was the earlier and the more important in the early stage of the Ju- dahite monarchy. The residence on the Temple Mount was initially a modest building ― originally perhaps a ceremonial palace ― 28 For the dependence of the original Solomonic shrine on the palace and its gradual growth until it became the state temple, see D. USSISHKIN, “The Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the First Temple Period: An Archaeolo- gist’s View”, Exploring the Longue Durée. Essays in Honor of Lawrence E. Stager (ed. D. SCHLOEN) (Winona Lake, IN 2009) 473-483; A. LEMAIRE, “The Evolution of the 8th-Century B.C.E. Jerusalem Temple”, The Fire Signals of Lachish. Studies in the Archaeology and History of Israel in the Late Bronze, Iron Age, and Persian Period in Honor of David Ussishkin (eds. I. FINKELSTEIN – N. NA’AMAN) (Winona Lake, IN 2011) 195-202, with earlier literature on p. 195. 29 In addition to the commentaries, see K. RUPPRECHT, Der Tempel von Jerusalem. Gründung Salomos oder jebusitisches Erbe? (BZAW 144; Berlin – New York 1977) 5-17; H. DONNER, “Der Felsen und der Tempel”, ZDPV 93 (1977) 5-6, with earlier literature in n. 24; H.P. MATHYS, “Anmerkungen zu 2. Sam 24”, “Sieben Augen auf einem Stein” (Sach 3,9). Festschrift für I. Willi-Plein (eds. F. HARTENSTEIN – M. PIETSCH) (Neukirchen-Vluyn 2007) 229-234, 242-246.