2 Chronicles 2 KJV
Preparations for the Temple
Preparations for the Temple
Solomon's assertion that even the heaven of heavens cannot contain God reframes the temple not as a divine residence but strictly as a site for sacrifice, distinguishing it from ancient Near Eastern temple ideologies.
1nd Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
6 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?
7 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.
8 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,
9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my fatherโs,
14 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.
15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
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Did You Know?
Solomon's assertion that even the heaven of heavens cannot contain God reframes the temple not as a divine residence but strictly as a site for sacrifice, distinguishing it from ancient Near Eastern temple ideologies.
Hiram's reply credits the Lord as creator of heaven and earth, recording an unusual instance of a Gentile ruler publicly affirming Israel's deity in diplomatic correspondence.
The 153,600 foreign laborers counted for the project echo David's censuses yet redirect their purpose toward sacred construction, symbolizing the inclusion of outsiders in Israel's covenantal work.
The request for a multi-skilled artisan named Huram (whose name mirrors the king's) creates a deliberate literary parallel to Bezalel of Exodus, positioning the temple as an expanded tabernacle.
Solomon's barter of wheat, barley, oil, and wine for Lebanese timber reveals a precise economic treaty that underscores Israel's dependence on Phoenician resources and expertise for monumental building.
Solomon's throne, overlaid with gold and ivory, featured six steps flanked by twelve lions symbolizing the tribes of Israel and incorporated a calf-shaped seat back, making it a unique artifact unmatched by any other royal throne of the era.
After being told by Isaiah that he would die from his illness, Hezekiah prayed and received both a fifteen-year extension of life and the miraculous reversal of the sun's shadow on Ahaz's stairway as a divine sign, details recorded in both 2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38.
At age twenty-six Josiah funded an unprecedented national Passover from his own resources and those of his officials, an observance described as unequaled since the era of the judges and attended by participants from both Judah and the remnant of the northern tribes.
He established both local judges in Judah's fortified cities and a supreme tribunal in Jerusalem staffed by Levites, priests, and family heads to handle religious and civil cases, formalizing a two-tier legal system.
Jerusalem sits at about 2,500 feet elevation. Higher than most surrounding areas.
The New Testament further develops this imagery to portray the heavenly Jerusalem where believers gather to the living God.
The city fell to Persia in 539 BC exactly as Daniel prophesied. Conquered without a battle.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain 1. Solomon determined to build โ The temple is the grand subject of this narrative, while the palace โ here and in other parts of this book โ is only incidentally noticed. The dutyโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 2 Chronicles 2 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Solomon's laborers for building the temple; His message to huram for skilful artificers; Huram's kind answer.
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- Solomon sent to Huram โ The correspondence was probably conducted on both sides in writing (2Ch 2:11; also see on 1Ki 5:8). As thou didst deal with David my father โ This would seem decisive of the question whether the Huram then reigning in Tyre was David's friend (see on 1Ki 5:1-6). In opening the business, Solomon grounded his request for Tyrian aid on two reasons:
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- The temple he proposed to build must be a solid and permanent building because the worship was to be continued in perpetuity; and therefore the building materials must be of the most durable quality.
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