D H 2:1. Determination to build.
J 2:2-18. Preparation.
K 3:1-5:1. Execution.
J 5:2-7:10. Dedication.
H 7:11. Completion of building.
920-917 B.C.
2 Chronicles 2)
1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, (see Ps. 20:1) and an house for his kingdom. (This described in 1 Kings 7, which is complimentary to 2 Chron. 8:1)
J d Laborers.
e 3-10. Embassy to Hiram. Request.
e 11-16. Embassy to Hiram. Agreement.
d 17,18. Laborers.
2 And Solomon (the 11th Sedar ends here. See intro to the Book of Samuel) 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. (Cp. 1 Kings 5:16)
3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, "According as you did deal with David my father, and did send him cedars to build him a 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 incense of spices, and for the continual shew-bread, (see Ex. 25:30; 40:4) 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: (in magnificence, not in size. Not for People; but for Yehovah's presence with them.) for great is our God above all gods.
6 But who is able to build Him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him?
7 Send me now therefore a man skillful (see 1 Chron. 22:15; 25:7. Ex. 26:1) to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that know how to grave with the skillful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
8 Send me also cedar trees, cypress trees, and algum trees, (1 Kings 10:11) out of Lebanon: for I know that your servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with your servants,
9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be great, wonderfully great.
10 And, behold, I will give to your servants, (no discrepancy here with 1 Kings 5:11. There the allowance was for Hiram's household at Tyre; here for Hiram's laborers in Lebanon) the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures (1 measure = 8 bushels) of beaten wheat, (i.e. wheat prepared for food) and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, (about 6 gallons) and twenty thousand baths of oil.
11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the Lord has loved his people, he has made thee king over them.
12 Huram said moreover, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, (see Deut. 4:26) who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build a house for the Lord, and a house for his kingdom.
13 And now I have sent a skillful man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, (by birth. 1 Kings 7:14, a widow...of Naphtali. By marriage. No discrepancy, as alleged) and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful 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 your skillful men, and with the cunning men of my lord David your father.
15 Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants:
16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need: and we will bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem."
17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers (see 2 Sam. 12:31, and cp. 1 Chron. 22:2) 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 keep the people at work.