2 Chronicles 2:1-18--Preparing to Build the Temple

2 Chronicles 2
English Standard Version

Preparing to Build the Temple
2  Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself. 2  And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. 3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: “As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. 4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel. 5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, 9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. 10 I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”

11 Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you king over them.” 12 Hiram also said, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

13 “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, 14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. 15 Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. 16 And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”

17 Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600. 18 Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.

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At the same time that Solomon announces the construction of the Temple, he announces that he is going to build a new palace for himself as well--for some reason it seems that the kings were always building newer and bigger palaces for themselves instead of using the palaces that already existed.  153,600 men were charged to this task--70,000 as unskilled laborers to bear burdens, 80,000 as skilled laborers to quarry the rock in the hill country, and 3,600 men to oversee them (foremen).  We'll see later these jobs were all given to resident aliens after a census was taken.  No Israelites were assigned to be laborers.

Solomon writes to Hiram, king of Tyre and asks that he work with Solomon in the same way that he worked with King David to make the workers and the laborers available that he promised and to let him know that now is the time for the work to begin.  Solomon makes sure to include in this letter that the LORD is the greatest of all gods and though they are building a great and magnificent Temple for His Name, there is no place in all creation (nor the whole of it) that could contain the LORD's Presence unless He Himself decides to dwell there.  Solomon says that the entire universe could not contain the LORD, so what can one Temple hope to accomplish?  No, this will be a place for the peoples of the world to come and worship Him, sacrifice to Him, pray to Him, and, because He chooses to dwell among His people, meet with Him.

Solomon asks for all the materials and workers that Hiram and David had agreed that Hiram, king of Tyre would provide to be sent immediately so that the work might begin and not be delayed.  Then Solomon agrees to what he believes just compensation will be for the laborers that Hiram is providing--large supplies of wheat, barley, wine and olive oil to make sure that they are well-fed for the work that they will be doing.  You can't have malnourished laborers and expect them to do good work.

Hiram answers Solomon's letter well and said that it is because the LORD loves His people that He has chosen Solomon to be king over them.  Hiram then worships the LORD for who He is, but also for blessing Solomon with such wisdom (Hiram apparently already knew about that, or the Spirit revealed this to him).

Hiram sends his best laborers with his answer and instructions on how he believes they can best serve Solomon in the construction of the Temple and the royal palace.  Hiram agrees to the terms of the contract and asks that payment be sent in full, and Solomon takes a census and finds that there are just the right number of resident aliens so that none of the Israelites need to be assigned to do the work of building the Temple--it will all be built for them by the work of the king of Tyre and the resident aliens living in Israel.