II Chronicles 2: Preparing for the Temple
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.
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.
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
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,
Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
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.
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
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.
Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
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.
II Chronicles 2 details Solomon's meticulous preparations for building the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. This chapter highlights not only the scale of the project but also Solomon's diplomatic skills and his recognition of God's greatness. The groundwork laid here is crucial for understanding the significance of the temple as a central place of worship for Israel.
Assembling Resources and Manpower (II Chronicles 2:1-2)
Solomon began his ambitious project by assembling a massive workforce. II Chronicles 2:1-2 mentions over 150,000 people, including porters, stonecutters, and supervisors. These laborers were primarily foreigners residing in Israel, as further clarified in II Chronicles 2:17-18. The sheer size of this workforce underscores the magnitude of the undertaking. It’s worth noting that despite this immense labor force working continuously, the temple took seven years to complete (see 1 Kings 6:37-38). This lengthy construction period emphasizes the dedication and commitment required for such a monumental task.
Diplomatic Alliance with Hiram of Tyre (II Chronicles 2:3-10)
Recognizing the need for skilled craftsmen and specialized materials, Solomon turned to King Hiram of Tyre. In a carefully crafted letter, Solomon appealed to the existing friendship between Hiram and his father, David (II Chronicles 2:3), setting a tone of respect and mutual benefit. Solomon acknowledged the LORD our God, who is greater than any of the gods (II Chronicles 2:4-5), recognizing that the temple could never fully contain God, who reigns over all creation (II Chronicles 2:4-6). This shows Solomon's understanding of God's transcendence, even while building a physical place of worship.
Solomon's request to Hiram included a skilled craftsman to oversee the temple's adornment, as well as various types of wood and other construction materials (II Chronicles 2:7-9). In return for Hiram's services, Solomon offered abundant agricultural produce (II Chronicles 2:10), demonstrating a practical and mutually beneficial agreement.
Hiram's Favorable Response (II Chronicles 2:11-16)
Hiram's response, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth" (II Chronicles 2:12), was likely a diplomatic courtesy extended to Solomon, though it may not have reflected Hiram's personal faith. He agreed to provide Huram-Abi, a skilled craftsman capable of intricate engraving and various artistic endeavors (II Chronicles 2:13-14). Huram-Abi's half-Israelite heritage likely facilitated his work with Solomon's craftsmen and his understanding of Israelite culture (II Chronicles 2:14). With the terms of payment agreed upon, Solomon was poised to begin construction in Jerusalem (II Chronicles 2:15-16).
A Shadow of Oppression (II Chronicles 2:17-18)
The brief mention of supervisors ensuring the laborers worked diligently hints that these thousands of foreign workers were not volunteers. In fact, Solomon's increasing demands, even from his own people, eventually led to the secession of the ten northern tribes after his death (10:1-4). While II Chronicles 2 focuses on the positive aspects of temple preparation, this subtle detail foreshadows the potential for injustice and oppression that would later contribute to the kingdom's division. This serves as a reminder that even great achievements can be tainted by flawed leadership and inequitable practices.
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.
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.
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
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,
Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
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.
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
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.
Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
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.
II Chronicles 2 details Solomon's meticulous preparations for building the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. This chapter highlights not only the scale of the project but also Solomon's diplomatic skills and his recognition of God's greatness. The groundwork laid here is crucial for understanding the significance of the temple as a central place of worship for Israel.
Assembling Resources and Manpower (II Chronicles 2:1-2)
Solomon began his ambitious project by assembling a massive workforce. II Chronicles 2:1-2 mentions over 150,000 people, including porters, stonecutters, and supervisors. These laborers were primarily foreigners residing in Israel, as further clarified in II Chronicles 2:17-18. The sheer size of this workforce underscores the magnitude of the undertaking. It’s worth noting that despite this immense labor force working continuously, the temple took seven years to complete (see 1 Kings 6:37-38). This lengthy construction period emphasizes the dedication and commitment required for such a monumental task.
Diplomatic Alliance with Hiram of Tyre (II Chronicles 2:3-10)
Recognizing the need for skilled craftsmen and specialized materials, Solomon turned to King Hiram of Tyre. In a carefully crafted letter, Solomon appealed to the existing friendship between Hiram and his father, David (II Chronicles 2:3), setting a tone of respect and mutual benefit. Solomon acknowledged the LORD our God, who is greater than any of the gods (II Chronicles 2:4-5), recognizing that the temple could never fully contain God, who reigns over all creation (II Chronicles 2:4-6). This shows Solomon's understanding of God's transcendence, even while building a physical place of worship.
Solomon's request to Hiram included a skilled craftsman to oversee the temple's adornment, as well as various types of wood and other construction materials (II Chronicles 2:7-9). In return for Hiram's services, Solomon offered abundant agricultural produce (II Chronicles 2:10), demonstrating a practical and mutually beneficial agreement.
Hiram's Favorable Response (II Chronicles 2:11-16)
Hiram's response, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth" (II Chronicles 2:12), was likely a diplomatic courtesy extended to Solomon, though it may not have reflected Hiram's personal faith. He agreed to provide Huram-Abi, a skilled craftsman capable of intricate engraving and various artistic endeavors (II Chronicles 2:13-14). Huram-Abi's half-Israelite heritage likely facilitated his work with Solomon's craftsmen and his understanding of Israelite culture (II Chronicles 2:14). With the terms of payment agreed upon, Solomon was poised to begin construction in Jerusalem (II Chronicles 2:15-16).
A Shadow of Oppression (II Chronicles 2:17-18)
The brief mention of supervisors ensuring the laborers worked diligently hints that these thousands of foreign workers were not volunteers. In fact, Solomon's increasing demands, even from his own people, eventually led to the secession of the ten northern tribes after his death (10:1-4). While II Chronicles 2 focuses on the positive aspects of temple preparation, this subtle detail foreshadows the potential for injustice and oppression that would later contribute to the kingdom's division. This serves as a reminder that even great achievements can be tainted by flawed leadership and inequitable practices.