New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Chronicles 2
1
Solomon gave orders to build a temple. That's where the Lord would put his Name. Solomon also gave orders to build a royal palace for himself.
Reference
2
He chose 70,000 men to carry things. He chose 80,000 to cut stones in the hills. He put 3,600 men in charge of them.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:18
3
Solomon sent a message to Hiram. Hiram was king of Tyre. The message said, "Send me cedar logs, just as you did for my father David. You sent him cedar to build a palace to live in.
Reference
4
Now I'm about to build a temple. The Name of the Lord my God will be there. I'll set the temple apart for him. "Sweet-smelling incense will be burned in front of him there. The holy bread will be set out at regular times. Burnt offerings will be sacrificed there every morning and evening. They will be sacrificed every Sabbath day. They will be sacrificed at every New Moon Feast. And they will be sacrificed at every yearly appointed feast of the Lord our God. That's a law for Israel that will last for all time to come.
Reference
5
"The temple I'm going to build will be beautiful. That's because our God is greater than all other gods.
Reference
6
So who is able to build a temple for him? After all, the heavens can't hold him. In fact, not even the highest heavens can hold him. So who am I to build a temple for him? It will only be a place to burn sacrifices to him.
Reference
7
"Send me someone who is skilled at working with gold, silver, bronze and iron. He must also be able to work with purple, blue and bright red yarn. He must be skilled in the art of carving. Send him to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers. My father David provided them to help me.
8
"Also send me cedar, pine and algum logs from Lebanon. I know that your men are skilled in cutting wood there. My men will work with yours.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 5:6
9
They'll provide me with plenty of lumber. That's because the temple I'm building must be large and beautiful.
10
"I'll pay your servants. They will cut the wood. I'll pay them 125,000 bushels of wheat that has been ground up. I'll pay them 125,000 bushels of barley. I'll also pay them 115,000 gallons of wine and 115,000 gallons of olive oil."
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 5:11
11
King Hiram of Tyre replied to Solomon. He wrote a letter to him. It said, "The Lord loves his people. That's why he has made you their king."
Reference
12
Hiram continued, "I praise the Lord. He is the God of Israel. He made heaven and earth. He has given King David a wise son. You have good sense. You understand what is right. You will build a temple for the Lord. You will also build a palace for yourself.
Reference
14
His mother was from Dan. His father was from Tyre. He is trained to work with gold, silver, bronze and iron. He knows how to work with stone and wood. He can also work with purple, blue and bright red yarn and fine linen. He's skilled in all kinds of carving. He can follow any pattern you give him. He'll work with your skilled workers. He'll also work with those of your father David. David was my master.
Reference
References David
2 Chronicles 2:7
15
"Now please send us what you promised. Send us the wheat, barley, olive oil and wine.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:10
16
And we'll cut all of the logs from Lebanon you need. We'll make rafts out of them. We'll float them by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem."
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 19:46
17
Solomon counted all of the outsiders who were living in Israel. He did it after his father David had counted them. There were 153,600 of them.
Reference
References David
1 Chronicles 22:2
18
He chose 70,000 to carry things. He chose 80,000 to cut stones in the hills. He put 3,600 men in charge of the people to keep them working.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:2
Summary of 2 Chronicles 2
This chapter describes Solomon's preparations for building the Temple in Jerusalem. After receiving wisdom from God in the previous chapter, Solomon begins organizing the enormous project that will define his reign.
The chapter opens with Solomon deciding to build two major structures: the Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. The Temple receives special attention because it will become the permanent center of Israel's worship. Solomon immediately understands that such a project will require enormous resources and a carefully organized workforce.
He appoints 70,000 men to carry materials, 80,000 to quarry stone, and 3,600 supervisors. These numbers demonstrate the extraordinary scale of the construction project.
Solomon then contacts Hiram, king of Tyre, continuing the friendly relationship that Hiram had established with David. Tyre was one of the leading Phoenician cities and was famous for its timber, craftsmen, maritime trade, and technical skills. Solomon asks Hiram to provide cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon. He also requests an experienced craftsman capable of working with metals, stone, wood, and decorative materials.
The relationship is based on a practical trade agreement. Solomon offers large quantities of wheat, barley, wine, and olive oil as payment for the timber and the labor of Hiram's workers. Hiram responds positively and praises God for giving David a wise son to rule Israel.
Hiram then sends Huram, a highly skilled craftsman. Huram is described as having a Tyrian father and an Israelite mother from Dan. His expertise includes gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, and decorative materials. He is capable of producing complex artistic work and cooperating with Solomon's craftsmen.
The chapter also describes the transportation of the timber. Hiram's workers would cut the trees in Lebanon and transport them by sea to Joppa, from where Solomon's workers would carry the materials to Jerusalem. This demonstrates the sophisticated international logistics involved in the project.
The final verses discuss the 153,600 foreign residents counted by Solomon. These workers were organized according to their responsibilities: 70,000 carried materials, 80,000 quarried stone, and 3,600 supervised the workforce.
Historically, the chapter provides valuable insight into the organization of the Solomonic building program during the 10th century BC. The Temple was not constructed through Israel's resources alone. It depended upon international trade, Phoenician craftsmanship, imported timber, maritime transportation, agricultural production, and a massive organized workforce.
The chapter also shows Solomon's ability to combine wisdom, diplomacy, administration, and economic resources. His relationship with Hiram allowed Israel to obtain materials and skills that were especially valuable for the Temple.
Most importantly, Solomon's preparations demonstrate that building the Temple was not simply a construction project. It was intended to create the central place where Israel would offer sacrifices, burn incense, present the bread of the Presence, and observe the nation's appointed worship calendar.
The chapter therefore establishes the foundation for the Temple's construction. The workforce is organized, international agreements are made, materials are secured, skilled craftsmen are obtained, and transportation systems are established. Everything is now ready for Solomon to begin the actual construction of the house of God.
The chapter opens with Solomon deciding to build two major structures: the Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. The Temple receives special attention because it will become the permanent center of Israel's worship. Solomon immediately understands that such a project will require enormous resources and a carefully organized workforce.
He appoints 70,000 men to carry materials, 80,000 to quarry stone, and 3,600 supervisors. These numbers demonstrate the extraordinary scale of the construction project.
Solomon then contacts Hiram, king of Tyre, continuing the friendly relationship that Hiram had established with David. Tyre was one of the leading Phoenician cities and was famous for its timber, craftsmen, maritime trade, and technical skills. Solomon asks Hiram to provide cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon. He also requests an experienced craftsman capable of working with metals, stone, wood, and decorative materials.
The relationship is based on a practical trade agreement. Solomon offers large quantities of wheat, barley, wine, and olive oil as payment for the timber and the labor of Hiram's workers. Hiram responds positively and praises God for giving David a wise son to rule Israel.
Hiram then sends Huram, a highly skilled craftsman. Huram is described as having a Tyrian father and an Israelite mother from Dan. His expertise includes gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, and decorative materials. He is capable of producing complex artistic work and cooperating with Solomon's craftsmen.
The chapter also describes the transportation of the timber. Hiram's workers would cut the trees in Lebanon and transport them by sea to Joppa, from where Solomon's workers would carry the materials to Jerusalem. This demonstrates the sophisticated international logistics involved in the project.
The final verses discuss the 153,600 foreign residents counted by Solomon. These workers were organized according to their responsibilities: 70,000 carried materials, 80,000 quarried stone, and 3,600 supervised the workforce.
Historically, the chapter provides valuable insight into the organization of the Solomonic building program during the 10th century BC. The Temple was not constructed through Israel's resources alone. It depended upon international trade, Phoenician craftsmanship, imported timber, maritime transportation, agricultural production, and a massive organized workforce.
The chapter also shows Solomon's ability to combine wisdom, diplomacy, administration, and economic resources. His relationship with Hiram allowed Israel to obtain materials and skills that were especially valuable for the Temple.
Most importantly, Solomon's preparations demonstrate that building the Temple was not simply a construction project. It was intended to create the central place where Israel would offer sacrifices, burn incense, present the bread of the Presence, and observe the nation's appointed worship calendar.
The chapter therefore establishes the foundation for the Temple's construction. The workforce is organized, international agreements are made, materials are secured, skilled craftsmen are obtained, and transportation systems are established. Everything is now ready for Solomon to begin the actual construction of the house of God.