2 Chronicles 2:3-13

3 ¹Then Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, "²As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so do for me.

4 "Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, ³to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out ⁴the showbread continually, and to offer ⁵burnt offerings morning and evening, ⁶on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel.

5 "The house which I am about to build will be great, for ⁷greater is our God than all the gods.

6 "But ⁸who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except * to burn incense before Him?

7 "Now ⁹send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men ¹⁰whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

8 "¹¹Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed ¹²my servants will work with your servants,

9 to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful.

10 "Now behold, ¹³I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, 20,000 * kors of crushed wheat and 20,000 * kors of barley, and 20,000 * baths of wine and 20,000 * baths of oil."

Huram to Assist

11 Then Huram, king of Tyre, answered in a letter sent to Solomon: "¹⁴Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them."

12 Then Huram continued, "Blessed be ¹⁵the LORD, the God of Israel, who has made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, ¹⁶who will build a house for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

13 "Now I am sending Huram-abi *, a skilled man, endowed with understanding,

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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 5:2-11
• 2. 1 Chronicles 14:1
• 3. Exodus 30:7
• 4. Exodus 25:30
• 5. Exodus 29:38-42
• 6. Numbers 28:9, 10
• 7. Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 16:25
• 8. 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18
• 9. Exodus 31:3-5; 2 Chronicles 2:13, 14
• 10. 1 Chronicles 22:15
• 11. 1 Kings 5:6
• 12. 2 Chronicles 9:10, 11
• 13. 1 Kings 5:11
• 14. 1 Kings 10:9; 2 Chronicles 9:8
• 15. Psalms 33:6; Psalms 102:25
• 16. 2 Chronicles 2:1

Footnotes

• [a] In 1 Kin 5:18, "Hiram"
• [b] Lit "offer up in smoke"
• [c] Lit "who are with me"
• [d] I.e. One kor equals approx 10 bu
• [e] I.e. One kor equals approx 10 bu
• [f] Lit "said...and he sent"
• [g] Lit "said"
• [h] Lit "knowing discretion"
• [i] Lit "house for his royalty"
• [j] Lit "knowing understanding"