King Solomon resolves to construct a magnificent temple for the LORD and a house for his kingdom. He enlists a vast workforce and sends a request to King Huram of Tyre for skilled laborers and timber, offering provisions in return. Huram agrees, praising the LORD and sending a master craftsman, while Solomon organizes the foreign residents for the building project.
And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
¶ Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 2
Verse 1
Solomon commits to the construction project, emphasizing the dual nature of his building program: a house for the LORD (the Temple) and a house for his own administration (the Palace).
Verse 2
This verse details the massive workforce mobilized, totaling 153,600 laborers and overseers, demonstrating the immense scale and organizational effort required for the Temple project.
Verse 3
Solomon initiates diplomatic relations with Huram (Hiram in 1 Kings), king of Phoenicia. This alliance was crucial for securing the high-quality Lebanese cedar wood and skilled artisans needed for construction.
Verse 4
Solomon defines the Temple’s purpose as perpetual worship—a place to offer incense, maintain the shewbread, and conduct daily and festival burnt offerings according to Mosaic law.
Verse 6
This is a key theological statement (the 'Solomonic paradox'), recognizing God’s absolute transcendence. The Temple is not a dwelling place for God, but a designated location for humanity to worship Him.
Verse 7
Solomon requests specific skilled laborers knowledgeable in metallurgy and dyeing. The specified colors (purple, crimson, and blue) were expensive Phoenician dyes used for sacred textiles, including the veil and priestly garments.
Verse 10
The massive payment of staple goods (wheat, barley, wine, and oil) highlights the economic exchange necessary for accessing Lebanon’s timber and Phoenician expertise, as Israel lacked these resources.
Verse 11
Huram’s response is highly diplomatic and theological, acknowledging that Solomon’s reign and wisdom are gifts from Yahweh, the God of Israel, given out of love for His people.
Verse 12
Huram, a Gentile king, praises Yahweh, the Creator God. The Chronicler includes this detail to emphasize the universal recognition of God’s sovereignty and Solomon’s divinely granted wisdom.
Verse 14
The master craftsman (Huram-abi) had mixed heritage (Tyrian father, Israelite mother from Dan), symbolizing the necessary fusion of Phoenician technical skill and Israelite religious purpose in the Temple design.
Verse 16
Timber was prepared in Lebanon and transported by sea to Joppa (modern Jaffa), the closest port to Jerusalem. From Joppa, the wood had to be hauled overland up to the central mountain ridge.
Verse 17
Solomon re-counts the resident aliens ('strangers') in the land. This massive non-Israelite population formed the core of the forced labor (corvée) utilized for the most strenuous tasks, continuing David's earlier census.
Verse 18
This verse confirms the distribution of the 153,600 workers, matching the numbers given in verse 2, emphasizing the thoroughness of the administration.
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