2 Chronicles 2

Solomon appointeth workmen to build the temple, verse 1, etc. He requesteth also of Hiram the King of Tyre labourers, and timber, 3. Promising to furnish them with victuals, 10. Huram consenteth, and sendeth an eminent Artificer to him, 11. Solomon numbereth, and divideth his labourers, 17.

1. Now Solomon thought [Heb. Said, to wit, within himself, that is, determined, purposed, was minded, had concluded. See 1 Kings 5:5. and the annotate. Thereon] to build an house [that is a temple. Compare Gen.28.on verse 17, and 22.] for the name of the LORD; [that is, unto the LORD, see 1 Kings 5. On verse 3. Item Deut.28.on verse 58.] and a house for his kingdom [that is, a royal palace for him, and those that should succeed him in the kingdom, to dwell in, so below verse 12.]

2. And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear hurthens, and fourscore thousand men to hew [See 1 Kings 5.on v.15.] in the mountain; [namely of Lebanon. See 1 Kings 4.on verse 33.] together with three thousand and six hundred [see 1 kings 5.on verse 16.] oversees over them, [or commanders, or taskmasters, these were surveying officers, that had authority to overlook the laboring men, and to see that the work went on apace. See verse 18.]

3. And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, [See of mthis king also 1 kings 5. On verse 1. Where he is called Hiram] saying, according as thou hast dealt with David my father, and hast sent him cedars to build him an house, to dwell therein; (so deal likewise with me.)

4. Behold, I will build an house for the name of the LORD my God, to hallow him, [That is, dedicated to his glory, and for the salvation of men, and to the solemn duties of Gods holy worship. Compare Levit.8.on verse 10.] to burn incense of sweet smelling spices before his face, and for the preparing of the continual (bread,) [understand the twelve shew-bread (loaves,) called a continual bread, Num.4.7. because they ought always to lie upon the holy table, being for that purpose renewed every Sabbath-day, Exod.25.30. Levit.24.8.] 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: which is for ever, [Heb in eternity; that is, during the time of the law. See Gen.13.on verse 15.] in Israel.

5. And the house which I shall build, shall be great; for our God is greater then all Gods.

6. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heavens, yea the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? [see 1 Kings 8.on verse 27.] and who am I, that I should build an house for him, unless it were to burn incense before his face? [the meaning is, that he would not build that house, that God according to his essence, which is infinite, might be included in it, but that he might be worshipped there according to his revealed will.]

7. Send me now then a wise man to work [That is, a cunning workman: and so in the sequel] in gold, and in silver, and in copper, and in iron, and in purples, and in crimson, and skie- colour, and that hath skill to grave gravings, with the wise (men) that are with me in Juda, and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.

8. Send me also cedar, fir, and algummim-wood [See of this wood, 1 Kings 10. On verse 11. Where it is called almuggim-wood] out of Lebanon, for I know that thy servants have skill to cut the wood of Lebanon, and behold, my servants shall be with thy servants.

9. And that to prepare me wood in multitude: for the house which I shall build, shall be great, and wonderful.

10. And behold, I will give [Heb. I have given, that is, firmly determined to give] to thy servants the hewers measure, 1 Kings 4.on verse 22. and compare this place with 1 kings 5.11. and with the annotate. Thereon] of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand Cors of barley: besides, twenty thousand Baths, [see of this measure, 1 Kin.7.on verse 26.] of wine, and twenty thousand Baths of oil.

11. Now Huram the king of Tyre answered [Heb. Said] in writing, and sent (it) to Solomon, because the LORD loveth his people, he hath made thee king over them.

12. Moreover Huram said; Praised be the LORD the God of Israel, that made the heavens and the earth, for that he hath given to king David a wise son, able in prudence and understanding, [Knowing prudence and understanding: so in the sequel] who buildeth an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

13. Now then I send a wise man, endued with understanding, Huram Abi: [Oth. Huram my father, or, Huram my Fathers, or, who was my father Hurams: otherwise called Huram Abiu, below chap.4.16. that is, Huram his father, or, his fathers.]

14. The son of a woman [That was a widow, 1 Kings 7:14.] of the daughters of Dan, [that is, one of the women that were of the tribe of Dan. Some conceive that 1 Kings 7:14. she is said to have been of the tribe of Naphtali: but that King Hiram here to belong to the tribe of Dan, through ignorance, naming this tribe for the tribe of Nephtali, as sometimes in scripture some are brought in speaking, not according to truth, but according to their own opinion and meaning, whose words the holy Ghost indeed reciteth, but not therefore approveth, as Sam.4.8. Mark 16:1. Joh.1.45. &c. See yet another exposition of this place, on the fourteen verse of 1 Kings 7.] and whose father was a man of Tyre, that is skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in copper, in iron, in stones, and in wood, in purple, in skie-colour, and in fine linen, and in crimson, and to grave all manner of graving, and to all (or every) cunning device, [Heb. Invention; that is, all kind of artificial work, that a skilful and cunning artificer, putting all his skill and judgment together, were able to invent] which shall be propounded to him, [or, even as, or, according as shall be propounded to him] with thy wise (men) and the wise (men) of my Lord David thy father.

15. Now then let my Lord send to his servants the wheat and the barley, the wine, and the oil which he hath spoken (of.)

16. And we will hew wood out of Lebanon, according to all thy need, and will bring it to thee in floats over the sea, to Japho: [Otherwise called Joppe, Acts 10 32. a city lying in the border of the tribe of Dan, by the mid-land sea, see Jos.19 46. Ezra 3:7. Jona. 1.3.] and thou shalt cause it to be brought up to Jerusalem.

17. And Solomon numbered all the strange men that were in the land of Israel, [These strangers were Canaanites, that yet remained in the land, whose ancestors the Israelites had not destroyed, although God had commanded them to do it, see 2 Chron.8.7.] after the numbering, wherewith David hid father had numbered them: and there were found an hundred, and three and fifty thousand and six hundred.

18. And he made threescore and ten thousand of them (to be) bearers of hurthens [So is the Hebrew word taken, below chap.34.13. Nehem.4.10.] and fourscore thousand (to be) hewers in the mountain [to wit, of Lebanon] together with three thousand, and six hundred overseers, [see above on verse 2.] to cause the people to work.