2 Chronicles 2:1-6

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.

6 But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?

2 Chronicles 2:1-6 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

• [a]. Verse 2:1 is numbered 1:18 in Hebrew text.
• [b]. Verses 2:2-18 are numbered 2:1-17 in Hebrew text.
• [c]. Hebrew Huram, a variant spelling of Hiram; also in 2:11 .