1 And 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 father's,
14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, 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 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.
1 And Solomon H8010 determined H559 to build H1129 an house H1004 for the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 and an house H1004 for his kingdom. H4438
2 And Solomon H8010 told out H5608 threescore and ten H7657 thousand H505 men H376 to bear burdens, H5449 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 H376 to hew H2672 in the mountain, H2022 and three H7969 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 to oversee H5329 them.
3 And Solomon H8010 sent H7971 to Huram H2361 the king H4428 of Tyre, H6865 saying, H559 As thou didst deal H6213 with David H1732 my father, H1 and didst send H7971 him cedars H730 to build H1129 him an house H1004 to dwell H3427 therein, even so deal with me.
4 Behold, I build H1129 an house H1004 to the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 my God, H430 to dedicate H6942 it to him, and to burn H6999 before H6440 him sweet H5561 incense, H7004 and for the continual H8548 shewbread, H4635 and for the burnt offerings H5930 morning H1242 and evening, H6153 on the sabbaths, H7676 and on the new moons, H2320 and on the solemn feasts H4150 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430 This is an ordinance for ever H5769 to Israel. H3478
5 And the house H1004 which I build H1129 is great: H1419 for great H1419 is our God H430 above all gods. H430
6 But who is able H6113 H3581 to build H1129 him an house, H1004 seeing the heaven H8064 and heaven H8064 of heavens H8064 cannot contain H3557 him? who am I then, that I should build H1129 him an house, H1004 save only H518 to burn sacrifice H6999 before H6440 him?
7 Send H7971 me now therefore a man H376 cunning H2450 to work H6213 in gold, H2091 and in silver, H3701 and in brass, H5178 and in iron, H1270 and in purple, H710 and crimson, H3758 and blue, H8504 and that can skill H3045 to grave H6605 H6603 with the cunning men H2450 that are with me in Judah H3063 and in Jerusalem, H3389 whom David H1732 my father H1 did provide. H3559
8 Send H7971 me also cedar H730 trees, H6086 fir trees, H1265 and algum trees, H418 out of Lebanon: H3844 for I know H3045 that thy servants H5650 can skill H3045 to cut H3772 timber H6086 in Lebanon; H3844 and, behold, my servants H5650 shall be with thy servants, H5650
9 Even to prepare H3559 me timber H6086 in abundance: H7230 for the house H1004 which I am about to build H1129 shall be wonderful H6381 great. H1419
10 And, behold, I will give H5414 to thy servants, H5650 the hewers H2404 that cut H3772 timber, H6086 twenty H6242 thousand H505 measures H3734 of beaten H4347 wheat, H2406 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 measures H3734 of barley, H8184 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 baths H1324 of wine, H3196 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 baths H1324 of oil. H8081
11 Then Huram H2361 the king H4428 of Tyre H6865 answered H559 in writing, H3791 which he sent H7971 to Solomon, H8010 Because the LORD H3068 hath loved H160 his people, H5971 he hath made H5414 thee king H4428 over them.
12 Huram H2361 said H559 moreover, Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 that made H6213 heaven H8064 and earth, H776 who hath given H5414 to David H1732 the king H4428 a wise H2450 son, H1121 endued H3045 with prudence H7922 and understanding, H998 that might build H1129 an house H1004 for the LORD, H3068 and an house H1004 for his kingdom. H4438
13 And now I have sent H7971 a cunning H2450 man, H376 endued H3045 with understanding, H998 of Huram H2361 my father's, H1
14 The son H1121 of a woman H802 of the daughters H1323 of Dan, H1835 and his father H1 was a man H376 of Tyre, H6876 skilful H3045 to work H6213 in gold, H2091 and in silver, H3701 in brass, H5178 in iron, H1270 in stone, H68 and in timber, H6086 in purple, H713 in blue, H8504 and in fine linen, H948 and in crimson; H3758 also to grave H6605 any manner of graving, H6603 and to find out H2803 every device H4284 which shall be put H5414 to him, with thy cunning men, H2450 and with the cunning men H2450 of my lord H113 David H1732 thy father. H1
15 Now therefore the wheat, H2406 and the barley, H8184 the oil, H8081 and the wine, H3196 which my lord H113 hath spoken H559 of, let him send H7971 unto his servants: H5650
16 And we will cut H3772 wood H6086 out of Lebanon, H3844 as much as thou shalt need: H6878 and we will bring H935 it to thee in floats H7513 by sea H3220 to Joppa; H3305 and thou shalt carry it up H5927 to Jerusalem. H3389
17 And Solomon H8010 numbered H5608 all the strangers H582 H1616 that were in the land H776 of Israel, H3478 after H310 the numbering H5610 wherewith David H1732 his father H1 had numbered H5608 them; and they were found H4672 an hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 thousand H505 and three H7969 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967
18 And he set H6213 threescore and ten H7657 thousand H505 of them to be bearers of burdens, H5449 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 to be hewers H2672 in the mountain, H2022 and three H7969 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 overseers H5329 to set H5647 the people H5971 a work. H5647
1 Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
2 And Solomon counted out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men that were hewers in the mountains, 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 a house to dwell therein, `even so deal with me'.
4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Jehovah 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 a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
7 Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that knoweth how to grave `all manner of' gravings, `to be' with the skilful 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 know how 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 great and wonderful.
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 Jehovah loveth his people, he hath made thee king over them.
12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
13 And now I have sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
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 devise any device; that there may be `a place' appointed unto him with thy skilful men, and with the skilful 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 sojourners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people at work.
1 And Solomon saith to build a house for the name of Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom,
2 and Solomon numbereth seventy thousand men bearing burden, and eighty thousand men hewing in the mountain, and overseers over them -- three thousand and six hundred.
3 And Solomon sendeth unto Huram king of Tyre, saying, `When thou hast dealt with David my father, then thou dost send to him cedars to build for him a house to dwell in;
4 lo, I am building a house to the name of Jehovah my God, to sanctify `it' to Him, to make perfume before Him, perfume of spices, and a continual arrangement, and burnt-offerings at morning and at evening, at sabbaths, and at new moons, and at appointed seasons of Jehovah our God; to the age this `is' on Israel.
5 `And the house that I am building `is' great, for greater `is' our God than all gods;
6 and who doth retain strength to build to Him a house, for the heavens, even the heavens of the heavens, do not contain Him? and who `am' I that I do build to Him a house, except to make perfume before Him?
7 `And now, send to me a wise man to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and knowing to grave gravings with the wise men who `are' with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father prepared;
8 and send to me cedar-trees, firs, and algums from Lebanon, for I have known that thy servants know to cut down trees of Lebanon, and lo, my servants `are' with thy servants,
9 even to prepare for me trees in abundance, for the house that I am building `is' great and wonderful.
10 `And lo, to hewers, to those cutting the trees, I have given beaten wheat to thy servants, cors twenty thousand, and barley, cors twenty thousand, and wine, baths twenty thousand, and oil, baths twenty thousand.'
11 And Huram king of Tyre saith in writing, and sendeth unto Solomon: `In the love of Jehovah to His people He hath given thee king over them.'
12 And Huram saith, `Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, knowing wisdom and understanding, who doth build a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
13 `And now, I have sent a wise man having understanding, of Huram my father,
14 (son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father a man of Tyre), knowing to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stones, and in wood, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, and to grave any graving, and to devise any device that is given to him, with thy wise men, and the wise men of my lord David thy father.
15 `And, now, the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, as my lord said, let him send to his servants,
16 and we -- we cut trees out of Lebanon, according to all thy need, and bring them in to thee -- floats by sea, to Joppa, and thou dost take them up to Jerusalem.'
17 And Solomon numbereth all the men, the sojourners who `are' in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father numbered them, and they are found a hundred and fifty thousand, and three thousand, and six hundred;
18 and he maketh of them seventy thousand burden-bearers, and eighty thousand hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers, to cause the people to work.
1 And Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
2 And Solomon numbered seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand stone-masons in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred to superintend them.
3 And Solomon sent to Huram king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein [so do for me].
4 Behold, I build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God to dedicate it to him, to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual arrangement [of the shewbread], and for the morning and evening burnt-offerings [and] on the sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Jehovah our God. This is [an ordinance] for ever to Israel.
5 And the house that I will build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? And who am I that I should build him a house, except to burn sacrifice before him?
7 And now send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple and crimson and blue, and experienced in carving, besides the skilful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
8 Send me also cedar-trees, cypress-trees, and sandal-wood trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants are experienced in cutting timber in Lebanon; and behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
9 even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house that I build shall be great and wonderful.
10 And behold, I will give to thy servants the hewers that fell 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 And Huram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because Jehovah loved his people, he made thee king over them.
12 And Huram said, Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, that made the heavens and the earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for Jehovah and a house for his kingdom.
13 And now, I send a skilful man, endued with understanding, Huram Abi,
14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and whose father was a man of Tyre, experienced in working in gold, and in silver, in bronze, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in byssus, and in crimson, and for doing any manner of engraving, and for inventing every device which shall be put to him, besides thy skilful men, and the skilful men of my lord David thy father.
15 And now 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 account that David his father had taken of them, and there were found a hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred.
18 And he set seventy thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand to be stone-masons in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people to work.
1 Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
2 Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3 Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As you dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build him a house in which to dwell, [even so deal with me].
4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Yahweh our God. This is [an ordinance] forever to Israel.
5 The house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
7 Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave [all manner of] engravings, [to be] with the skillful men who 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 your servants know how 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 and wonderful.
10 Behold, I will give to your servants, the cutters who 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 Yahweh loves his people, he has made you king over them.
12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
13 Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father's,
14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; 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 engrave any manner of engraving, and to devise any device; that there may be [a place] appointed to him with your skillful men, and with the skillful 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 floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.
17 Solomon numbered all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
18 He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people at work.
1 Now it was Solomon's purpose to put up a house for the name of the Lord and a house for himself as king.
2 And Solomon had seventy thousand men numbered for transport, and eighty thousand for cutting stone in the mountains, and three thousand, six hundred as overseers.
3 And Solomon sent to Huram, king of Tyre, saying, As you did for my father David, sending him cedar-trees for the building of his house,
4 See! I am building a house for the name of the Lord my God, to be made holy to him, where perfumes of sweet spices will be burned before him, and the holy bread will be placed at all times, and burned offerings will be offered morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and at the new moons, and on the regular feasts of the Lord our God. This is a law for ever to Israel.
5 And the house which I am building is to be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
6 But who may have strength enough to make a house for him, seeing that the heaven and the heaven of heavens are not wide enough to be his resting-place? who am I then to make a house for him? But I am building it only for the burning of perfume before him.
7 So now send me an expert worker in gold and silver and brass and iron? in purple and red and blue, and in the cutting of all sorts of ornament, to be with the expert workmen who are here in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom my father David got together.
8 And send me cedar-trees, cypress-trees and sandal-wood from Lebanon, for, to my knowledge, your servants are expert wood-cutters in Lebanon; and my servants will be with yours,
9 To get trees for me in great numbers, for the house which I am building is to be great and a wonder.
10 And I will give as food to your servants, the wood-cutters, twenty thousand measures of grain, and twenty thousand measures of barley and twenty thousand measures of wine and twenty thousand measures of oil.
11 Then Huram, king of Tyre, sent Solomon an answer in writing, saying, Because of his love for his people the Lord has made you king over them.
12 And Huram said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, maker of heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, full of wisdom and good sense, to be the builder of a house for the Lord and a house for himself as king.
13 And now I am sending you a wise and expert man, Huram who is as my father,
14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, whose father was a man of Tyre, an expert worker in gold and silver and brass and iron, in stone and wood, in purple and blue and fair linen and red, trained in the cutting of every sort of ornament and the invention of every sort of design; let him be given a place among your expert workmen and those of my lord, your father David.
15 So now let my lord send to his servants the grain and the oil and the wine as my lord has said;
16 And we will have wood cut from Lebanon, as much as you have need of, and will send it to you on flat boats by sea to Joppa, and from there you may take it up to Jerusalem.
17 Then Solomon took the number of all the men from strange lands who were living in Israel, as his father David had done; there were a hundred and fifty-three thousand, six hundred.
18 Seventy thousand he put to the work of transport, eighty thousand to cutting stone in the mountains, and three thousand, six hundred as overseers to put the people to work.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 2
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 2 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
(1:18). The account of these is introduced by 1:18: “Solomon thought to build.” אמר with an infinitive following does not signify here to command one to do anything, as e.g., in 1 Chronicles 21:17, but to purpose to do something, as e.g., in 1 Kings 5:5. For יהוה לשׁם , see on 1 Kings 5:17. למלכוּתו בּית , house for his kingdom, i.e., the royal palace. The building of this palace is indeed shortly spoken of in 2 Chronicles 2:11; 2 Chronicles 7:11, and 2 Chronicles 8:1, but is not in the Chronicle described in detail as in 1 Kings 7:1-12.
(2:1). With 2 Chronicles 2:1 begins the account of the preparations which Solomon made for the erection of these buildings, especially of the temple building, accompanied by a statement that the king caused all the workmen of the necessary sort in his kingdom to be numbered. There follows thereafter an account of the negotiations with King Hiram of Tyre in regard to the sending of a skilful architect, and of the necessary materials, such as cedar wood and hewn stones, from Lebanon (2 Chronicles 2:2-15); and, in conclusion, the statements as to the levying of the statute labourers of Israel (2 Chronicles 2:1) are repeated and rendered more complete (2 Chronicles 2:16, 2 Chronicles 2:17). If we compare the parallel account in 1 Kings 5:5., we find that Solomon's negotiation with Hiram about the proposed buildings is preceded (1 Kings 5:5) by a notice, that Hiram, after he had heard of Solomon's accession, had sent him an embassy to congratulate him. This notice is omitted in the Chronicle, because it was of no importance in the negotiations which succeeded. In the account of Solomon's negotiation with Hiram, both narratives (2 Chronicles 2:2-15 and 1 Kings 5:16.) agree in the main, but differ in form so considerably, that it is manifest that they are free adaptations of one common original document, quite independent of each other, as has been already remarked on 1 Kings 5:5. On 2 Chronicles 2:2 see further on 1 Kings 5:15.
(2:2-9). Solomon, through his ambassadors, addressed himself to Huram king of Tyre, with the request that he would send him an architect and building wood for the temple. On the Tyrian king Huram or Hiram, the contemporary of David and Solomon, see the discussion on 2 Samuel 5:11. According to the account in 1 Kings 5, Solomon asked cedar wood from Lebanon from Hiram; according to our account, which is more exact, he desired an architect, and cedar, cypress, and other wood. In 1 Kings 5 the motive of Solomon's request is given in the communication to Hiram, viz., that David could not carry out the building of the proposed temple on account of his wars, but that Jahve had given him (Solomon) rest and peace, so that he now, in accordance with the divine promise to David, desired to carry on the building (1 Kings 5:3-5). In the 2 Chronicles 2:2-5, on the contrary, Solomon reminds the Tyrian king of the friendliness with which he had supplied his father David with cedar wood for his palace, and then announces to him his purpose to build a temple to the Lord, at the same time stating that it was designed for the worship of God, whom the heavens and the earth cannot contain. It is clear, therefore, that both authors have expanded the fundamental thoughts of their authority in somewhat freer fashion. The apodosis of the clause beginning with כּאשׁר is wanting, and the sentence is an anacolouthon. The apodosis should be: “do so also for me, and send me cedars.” This latter clause follows in 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 2:7, while the first can easily be supplied, as is done e.g., in the Vulg., by sic fac mecum .
2 Chronicles 2:4
“Behold, I will build.” הנּה with a participle of that which is imminent, what one intends to do. לו להקדּישׁ , to sanctify (the house) to Him. The infinitive clause which follows ( וגו להקטיר ) defines more clearly the design of the temple. The temple is to be consecrated by worshipping Him there in the manner prescribed, by burning incense, etc. סמּים קטרת , incense of odours, Exodus 25:6, which was burnt every morning and evening on the altar of incense, Exodus 30:7. The clauses which follow are to be connected by zeugma with להקטיר , i.e., the verbs corresponding to the objects are to be supplied from הקטיר : “and to spread the continual spreading of bread” (Exodus 25:30), and to offer burnt-offerings, as is prescribed in Num 28 and 29. וגו זאת לעולם , for ever is this enjoined upon Israel, cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31.
2 Chronicles 2:5-6
In order properly to worship Jahve by these sacrifices, the temple must be large, because Jahve is greater than all gods; cf. Exodus 18:11; Deuteronomy 10:17.
No one is able ( כּוח עצר as in 1 Chronicles 29:14) to build a house in which this God could dwell, for the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. These words are a reminiscence of Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18). How should I (Solomon) be able to build Him a house, scil. that He should dwell therein? In connection with this, there then comes the thought: and that is not my purpose, but only to offer incense before Him will I build a temple. הקטיר is used as pars pro toto , to designate the whole worship of the Lord. After this declaration of the purpose, there follows in Deuteronomy 10:6 the request that he would send him for this end a skilful chief workman, and the necessary material, viz., costly woods. The chief workman was to be a man wise to work in gold, silver, etc. According to 2 Chronicles 4:11-16 and 1 Kings 7:13., he prepared the brazen and metal work, and the vessels of the temple; here, on the contrary, and in 2 Chronicles 2:13 also, he is described as a man who was skilful also in purple weaving, and in stone and wood work, to denote that he was an artificer who could take charge of all the artistic work connected with the building of the temple. To indicate this, all the costly materials which were to be employed for the temple and its vessels are enumerated. ארגּון , the later form of ארגּמן , deep-red purple, see on Exodus 25:4. כּרמיל , occurring only here, 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 2:13, and in 2 Chronicles 3:14, in the signification of the Heb. שׁני תּולעת , crimson or scarlet purple, see on Exodus 25:4. It is not originally a Hebrew word, but is probably derived from the Old-Persian, and has been imported, along with the thing itself, from Persia by the Hebrews. תּכלת , deep-blue purple, hyacinth purple, see on Exodus 25:4. פּתּוּהים פּתּח , to make engraved work, and Exodus 28:9, Exodus 28:11, Exodus 28:36, and Exodus 39:6, of engraving precious stones, but used here, as כּל־פּתּוּח , 2 Chronicles 2:13, shows, in the general signification of engraved work in metal or carved work in wood; cf. 1 Kings 6:29. עם־החכמים depends upon לעשׂות : to work in gold ..., together with the wise (skilful) men which are with me in Judah. הכין אשׁר , quos comparavit , cf. 1 Chronicles 28:21; 1 Chronicles 22:15.
2 Chronicles 2:7
The materials Hiram was to send were cedar, cypress, and algummim wood from Lebanon. אלגוּמים , 2 Chronicles 2:7 and 2 Chronicles 9:10, instead of אלמגּים , 1 Kings 10:11, probably means sandal wood, which was employed in the temple, according to 1 Kings 10:12, for stairs and musical instruments, and is therefore mentioned here, although it did not grow in Lebanon, but, according to 1 Kings 9:10 and 1 Kings 10:11, was procured at Ophir. Here, in our enumeration, it is inexactly grouped along with the cedars and cypresses brought from Lebanon.
2 Chronicles 2:8-9
The infinitive וּלהכין cannot be regarded as the continuation of לכרות , nor is it a continuation of the imperat. לי שׁלח (2 Chronicles 2:7), with the signification, “and let there be prepared for me” (Berth.). It is subordinated to the preceding clauses: send me cedars, which thy people who are skilful in the matter hew, and in that my servants will assist, in order, viz., to prepare me building timber in plenty (the ו is explic ). On 2 Chronicles 2:8 cf. 2 Chronicles 2:4. The infin. abs. הפלא is used adverbially: “wonderfully” (Ew. §280, c ). In return, Solomon promises to supply the Tyrian workmen with grain, wine, and oil for their maintenance - a circumstance which is omitted in 1 Kings 5:10; see on 2 Chronicles 2:14. להטבים is more closely defined by העצים לכרתי , and ל is the introductory ל : “and behold, as to the hewers, the fellers of trees.” חטב , to hew (wood), and to dress it (Deuteronomy 29:10; Joshua 9:21, Joshua 9:23), would seem to have been supplanted by חצב , which in 2 Chronicles 2:2, 2 Chronicles 2:18 is used for it, and it is therefore explained by העצים כּרת . “I will give wheat מכּות to thy servants” (the hewers of wood). The word מכּות gives no suitable sense; for “wheat of the strokes,” for threshed wheat, would be a very extraordinary expression, even apart from the facts that wheat, which is always reckoned by measure, is as a matter of course supposed to be threshed, and that no such addition is made use of with the barley. מכּות is probably only an orthographical error for מכּלת , food, as may be seen from 1 Kings 5:11.
The answer of King Hiram; cf. 1 Kings 5:7-11. - Hiram answered בּכתב , in a writing, a letter, which he sent to Solomon. In 1 Kings 5:7 Hiram first expresses his joy at Solomon's request, because it was of importance to him to be on a friendly footing with the king of Israel. In the Chronicle his writing begins with the congratulation: because Jahve loveth His people, hath He made thee king over them. Cf. for the expression, 2 Chronicles 9:8 and 1 Kings 10:9. He then, according to both narratives, praises God that He has given David so wise a son. ויּאמר , 2 Chronicles 2:12, means: then he said further. The praise of God is heightened in the Chronicle by Hiram's entering into Solomon's religious ideas, calling Jahve the Creator of heaven and earth. Then, further, חכם בּן is strengthened by וּבינה שׂכל יודע , having understanding and discernment; and this predicate is specially referred to Solomon's resolve to build a temple to the Lord. Then in 2 Chronicles 2:13. he promises to send Solomon the artificer Huram-Abi. On the title אבי , my father, i.e., minister, counsellor, and the descent of this man, cf. the commentary on 1 Kings 7:13-14. In 2 Chronicles 2:14 of the Chronicle his artistic skill is described in terms coinciding with Solomon's wish in 2 Chronicles 2:6, only heightened by small additions. To the metals as materials in which he could work, there are added stone and wood work, and to the woven fabrics בּוּץ (byssus), the later word for שׁשׁ ; and finally, to exhaust the whole, he is said to be able כּל־מח ולחשׁב , to devise all manner of devices which shall be put to him, as in Exodus 31:4, he being thus raised to the level of Bezaleel, the chief artificer of the tabernacle. עם־חכמיך is dependent upon לעשׂות , as in 2 Chronicles 2:6. The promise to send cedars and cypresses is for the sake of brevity here omitted, and only indirectly indicated in 2 Chronicles 2:16. In 2 Chronicles 2:15, however, it is mentioned that Hiram accepted the promised supply of grain, wine, and oil for the labourers; and 2 Chronicles 2:16 closes with the promise to fell the wood required in Lebanon, and to cause it to be sent in floats to Joppa (Jaffa), whence Solomon could take it up to Jerusalem. The word צרך , “need,” is a ἅπαξ λεγ . in the Old Testament, but is very common in Aramaic writings. רפסדות , “floats,” too, occurs only here instead of דּבבות , 1 Kings 5:9, and its etymology is unknown. If we compare 1 Kings 5:13-16 with the parallel account in 1 Kings 5:8-11, we find that, besides Hiram's somewhat verbose promise to fell the desired quantity of cedars and cypresses on Lebanon, and to send them in floats by sea to the place appointed by Solomon, the latter contains a request from Hiram that Solomon would give him לחם , maintenance for his house, and a concluding remark that Hiram sent Solomon cedar wood, while Solomon gave Hiram, year by year, 20,000 kor of wheat as food for his house, i.e., the royal household, and twenty kor beaten oil, that is, of the finest oil. In the book of Kings, therefore, the promised wages of grain, wine, and oil, which were sent to the Tyrian woodcutters, is passed over, and only the quantity of wheat and finest oil which Solomon gave to the Tyrian king for his household, year by year, in return for the timber sent, is mentioned. In the Chronicle, on the contrary, only the wages or payment to the woodcutters is mentioned, and the return made for the building timber is not spoken of; but there is no reason for bringing these two passages, which treat of different things, into harmony by alterations of the text. For further discussion of this and of the measures, see on 1 Kings 5:11.
In 2 Chronicles 2:17 and 2 Chronicles 2:18 the short statement in 2 Chronicles 2:2 as to Solomon's statute labourers is again taken up and expanded. Solomon caused all the men to be numbered who dwelt in the land of Israel as strangers, viz., the descendants of the Canaanites who were not exterminated, “according to the numbering ( ספר occurs only here) as his father David had numbered them.” This remark refers to 1 Chronicles 22:2, where, however, it is only said that David commanded the strangers to be assembled. But as he caused them to be assembled in order to secure labourers for the building of the temple, he doubtless caused them to be numbered; and to this reference is here made. The numbering gave a total of 153,000 men, of whom 70,000 were made bearers of burdens, 80,000 חצב , i.e., probably hewers of stone and wood בּהר , i.e., on Lebanon, and 3600 foremen or overseers over the workmen, את־העם להעביד , to cause the people to work, that is, to hold them to their task. With this cf. 1 Kings 5:15., where the number of the overseers is stated at 3300. This difference is explained by the fact that in the Chronicle the total number of overseers, of higher and lower rank, is given, while in the book of Kings only the number of overseers of the lower rank is given without the higher overseers. Solomon had in all 550 higher overseers of the builders (Israelite and Canaanite), - cf. 1 Kings 9:23; and of these, 250 were Israelites, who alone are mentioned in 2 Chronicles 8:10, while the remaining 300 were Canaanites. The total number of overseers is the same in both accounts, - 3850; who are divided in the Chronicle into 3600 Canaanitish and 250 Israelitish, in the book of Kings into 3300 lower and 550 higher overseers (see on 1 Kings 5:16). It is, moreover, stated in 1 Kings 5:12. that Solomon had levied a force of 30,000 statute labourers from among the people of Israel, with the design that a third part of them, that is, 10,000 men, should labour alternately for a month at a time in Lebanon, looking after their own affairs at home during the two following months. This levy of workmen from among the people of Israel is not mentioned in the Chronicle.