2 Chronicles 2

2 Chronicles 2:1-10

Here is, 1. Solomon’s refutation to build the temple and a royal palace, and his appointing of labourers to be employed herein, ver. 1, 2, 17, 18. 2. His request to Huram, to furnish him with articles and materials, ver. 3—10. 3. Huram’s ready compliance therewith, ver. 11—16.

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 therefore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourfores thousand to be in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to overlie 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 don’t not, 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 shew-break, 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 still 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, tin-trees, and algum-trees, out of Lebanon (for I know that the servants can still 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? who is derful great. 10. And behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand mealurs of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

Solomon being appointed to build God’s house, and by his wisdom to highly qualified for it, begins to set about the glorious structure, and afterwards resolves to raise a palace for himself. Now, Let God be always full and best served. For this purpose, he stands an emballage to Huram, or Huram, king of Tyre, 1 King v. 1, whose assistance he wanted in the work. He mentions the kindness of the Lord, as a reason for continuing his friendship to him his son; informs him of his design to build the house of God, of whose glory he speaks most highly. The God of Israel was above all gods, therefore a temple became him, such as no whole else could be found: not that the most pompous structure could be worthy the infinite God, or his immensity he circumscribed by the largest palace, since the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain him. He pretended only to build a place to worship, and sacrifice before him. The Syrians being most expert workmen, he begs him to send him a capital artist in engraving and embroidery, who might instruct them who were ingenious among his own people: and that he would cut down and convey to him from Lebanon, cedars and other timber; in which service he would send his own servants, with Huram’s, who were more skilled in the business. In consideration for which services, he offers to give as wages, and maintenance for Huram’s servants, twenty thousand mealurs of wheat and barley, and as many baths of wine and oil, commodities which Tyre wanted, and in which Canaan abounded. Now, (1.) We should desire to make our father’s friends our own. (2.) They who have the knowledge of the true God themselves, would gain have others acquainted with him also. (3.) Though when we have done our best, it is poor and unworthy of God; yet it speaks at least our humble gratitude.

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, + endowed 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 (endowed with understanding) of Huram + my fathers; 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 growing, and to find out every service 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 number of them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred. 18. And he set therefore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourfores thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overflowers to set the people a-work.

2 Chronicles 2:11-17

Huram was as ready to grant, as Solomon to ask, and that in the most friendly manner; congratulating Israel on so good a king, and blessing God for giving to gracious a son

In his friend. He sent him an ingenious artist, half an Israelite, and therefrom more likely to be beauty in the service; undertook to convey the timber to Joppa by sea, and accepted of the wages proposed. Note, (1.) The polite manner in which a frieze is conferred, doubles the obligation. (2.) The assistance of the gentiles in building the church, was a figure of their incorporation in the fulness of time with the Israel of God. Solomon immediately dispatched his servants to Lebanon, to meet Hiram’s. He employed no Israelites in ferrile work, but the throngers, which probably by becoming problems, were incorporated among them; whether of the remnant of the old inhabitants, or others. These, to the number of 12,000, David had registered before; and Solomon now set them to work for him, and no doubt well paid them for their labour.