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.
3,600 supervising them. Then Shlomo sent this message to Huram the king of Tzor: "[Deal with me] as you dealt with David my father when you sent him cedar logs, so that he could build himself a palace to live in.
Here, I am about to build a house for the name of ADONAI my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before Him incense made of sweet spices; the house will also be for the continuing showbread and for the burnt offerings presented every morning and evening, on the shabbats, at every Rosh-Hodesh, and at the designated times of ADONAI our God. This is a perpetual regulation for Isra'el.
But who is equal to building him a house? Why, heaven itself, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain him; so who am I to build him a house, except to offer sacrifices before him?
"Now, therefore, send me a man skilled at working with gold, silver, bronze and iron; dealing with purple, crimson, and blue dyed materials; and capable of doing all kinds of engraving. He will be with the skilled craftsmen I have with me in Y'hudah and Yerushalayim, whom David my father provided.
Also send me cedar, cypress and sandalwood logs from the L'vanon; for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting timber in the L'vanon. I will have my servants work together with your servants
I will give your servants, the woodcutters who cut the timber, 100,000 bushels of cracked wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 100,000 gallons of wine, and 100,000 gallons of olive oil."
Huram continued, "Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, who made heaven and earth, who has given David the king a wise, knowledgeable son with common sense to build a house for ADONAI and a royal palace for himself.
the son of a woman who was one of the daughters of Dan, while his father was a man from Tzor. He is skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and timber, as well as purple and blue dyed materials, fine linen and crimson material; he can do any kind of engraving; and he can make all the equipment necessary to accomplish any task assigned to him, with the help of your craftsmen and those of my lord David your father.
and we will cut wood from the L'vanon, as much as you need; we will float it to you as rafts by sea to Yafo, and you will take it up to Yerushalayim."
Shlomo took a census of all the foreigners in the land of Isra'el, following the pattern of the census of David his father; they were found to number 153,600.
He appointed 70,000 of them to carry loads, 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as supervisors to assign the people their 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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