And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men Of whom, and the difference of the last number in this text from ( 1 Kings 5:151 Kings 5:16 ) , see the notes there. (See Gill on 1 Kings 5:15). (See Gill on 1 Kings 5:16).
1
Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD, and also a royal palace for himself.
2
He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.
3
Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.
4
I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the LORD our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.
5
“This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods.
Footnotes 1
[a].
Verses 2:2-18 are numbered 2:1-17 in Hebrew text.