2 Chronicles 2:1-18

2 Chronicles: God desires loyal people

Solomon rules *Israel

2 Chronicles Chapter s 1 to 9

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 2

Preparations for the *temple – 2 Chronicles 2:1-18

v1 Solomon gave orders for the construction of a *temple for the name of the *LORD. Also, he decided to build a palace for himself. v2 He chose 70 000 men to carry loads. He chose 80 000 men to cut stone in the hill country. And he appointed 3600 men to control these workers.

v3 Solomon sent a message to Hiram. Hiram was the king of the city called Tyre. Solomon said, ‘You traded with my father David. You sent him *cedar wood to build a house for him to live in. In the same way, trade with me. v4 I will build a *temple for the name of the *LORD my God. And I will *dedicate it to him. In front of him, we will burn *incense for a sweet smell. And there we will set out the holy bread each week. We will give *sacrifices by fire each morning and each evening. Also, we will give these *sacrifices on the *Sabbath days, at the new moon and on the *LORD’s special days. *Israel’s people must continue to do this for all time.

v5 The *temple that I build will be great. It will be great because our God is greater than all other gods. v6 Nobody can really build a *temple for him. The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him. I can only build a *temple as a place to give *sacrifices by fire in front of him.

v7 So, send to me a man who has the skill to work with metals and cloth. He will work with gold, silver, *bronze and iron. Also, he will work with purple, red and blue materials. He must be able to cut patterns. He will work in Judah and Jerusalem with the skilled men whom my father David provided.

v8 Also, send me *cedar, *pine and *algum wood from Lebanon. I know that your men have the skill to cut down trees in Lebanon. My men will come and help them. v9 They need to send plenty of wood to me for the *temple that I will build. The *temple must be large and magnificent. v10 I will give to your men who cut the wood 20 000 *cors of wheat and 20 000 *cors of *barley. Also, I will give to them 20 000 *baths of wine and 20 000 *baths of oil.’

v11 Then King Hiram of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon, ‘The *LORD loves his people. Therefore, he has made you their king.’ v12 Also, Hiram said, 'Praise the *LORD, the God of *Israel. He made heaven and the earth. He has given a wise son to King David. His son is intelligent and he understands things well. This son will build a *temple for the *LORD and a palace for himself.

v13 I have sent to you Huram-Abi, who is a skilful and wise man. v14 His mother was from the *tribe of Dan, and his father was from Tyre. He is a skilled worker in gold, silver, *bronze, iron, stone and wood. He knows how to work with purple, blue and red materials, and with good *linen. He can cut all kinds of patterns. He will make any design that you show to him. He will work with your skilled men. They are the skilled men of my *lord, your father David.

v15 Now my *lord, please send to us the wheat, *barley, oil and wine that you promised. v16 We will cut all the wood from Lebanon that you need. And we will float it by sea to Joppa. Then you can carry it to Jerusalem.’

v17 Solomon counted all the foreigners who were in *Israel. This was after the count that his father David had done. There were 153 600 of these foreigners. v18 Solomon chose 70 000 foreigners to carry loads. And he chose 80 000 to cut stone in the mountains. He chose 3600 to control the workers. They must make sure that the people worked.