2 Chronicles 2:3-13

3 And Solomon sent to Huram king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein [so do for me].
4 Behold, I build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God to dedicate [a] it to him, to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual arrangement [b] [of the shewbread], and for the morning and evening burnt-offerings [and] on the sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Jehovah our God. This is [an ordinance] for ever to Israel.
5 And the house that I will build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? And who am I that I should build him a house, except to burn sacrifice [c] before him?
7 And now send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple and crimson and blue, and experienced in carving, besides the skilful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
8 Send me also cedar-trees, cypress-trees, and sandal-wood trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants are experienced in cutting timber in Lebanon; and behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
9 even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house that I build shall be great and wonderful.
10 And behold, I will give to thy servants the hewers that fell timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures [d] of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
11 And Huram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because Jehovah loved his people, he made thee king over them.
12 And Huram said, Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, that made the heavens and the earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for Jehovah and a house for his kingdom.
13 And now, I send a skilful man, endued with understanding, Huram Abi,

2 Chronicles 2:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 2

Solomon intending to build a temple for God, and a palace for himself, sent to Hiram, king of Tyre, to furnish him with materials and workmen, 2Ch 2:1-10, to which Hiram returned an agreeable answer, 2Ch 2:11-16, and for this service Solomon numbered all the strangers in Israel, 2Ch 2:17,18.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Lit. 'sanctify.'
  • [b]. As Lev. 24.6.
  • [c]. Or 'incense.' Lit. 'to burn as incense' [i.e. all that is burnt on the altar].
  • [d]. Heb. Cors: see Note, ch. 27.5.
  • [e]. Perhaps 'wheat for food.'
  • [f]. Lit. 'said.'
  • [g]. Or 'of Huram my father;' and so ch. 4.16.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.