2 Chronicles 2:5-15

5 For the house which I covet to build is great; forsooth the Lord our God is great over all gods.
6 Who therefore may have might to build a worthy house to him? For if heaven and heavens of heavens may not take, or hold, him, how great am I, that I may build an house to him, but to this thing only, that incense be burnt there before him? (And so who is able to build a House worthy of him? For if heaven and the heavens of heavens cannot hold him, who am I, that I build him a House, but only for this, so that incense can be burned there before him?)
7 Therefore send thou to me a learned man, that can work in gold, and in silver, in brass, and iron, in purple, and in red silk, and in jacinth; and that can grave graving with these craftsmen, which I have with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, the which men David, my father, before made ready. (And so send thou to me a learned man, who knoweth how to work with gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and purple, and red silk, and jacinth; one who knoweth how to engrave engravings with these craftsmen who I have with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, which men my father David provided.)
8 But also send thou to me cedar trees, and pine trees, and thyine trees of the Lebanon; for I know, that thy servants can cut trees of the Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants, (And also send thou to me cedar, and pine, and algum timber from Lebanon; for I know, that thy servants know how to cut down the trees of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants,)
9 that full many trees be made ready to me (so that a great deal of timber can be prepared for me); for the house which I covet to build is full great and noble.
10 Furthermore to thy servants, workmen that shall cut trees, I shall give into meats twenty thousand cors of wheat, and so many cors of barley, and twenty thousand measures of oil, that be called baths. (And for thy servants, the workmen who shall cut down the trees, I shall give for food twenty thousand cors of wheat, and as many cors of barley, and twenty thousand measures of oil, that be called baths.)
11 And Hiram, king of Tyre, said by letters which he sent to Solomon, For the Lord [hath] loved his people, therefore he hath made thee to reign upon it (and so he hath made thee to reign upon them).
12 And Hiram added to (that), saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, which hath given to king David a wise son, and learned, and witting, and prudent, that he should build an house to the Lord, and a palace to himself. (And Hiram added to that, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, and who hath given to King David a wise and learned son, knowledgeable and prudent, who shall build a House for the Lord, and a palace for himself.)
13 Therefore I have sent to thee a prudent man and most knowing, Hiram , my father, (And so I am sending to thee a prudent and most knowledgeable man, Hiram, my master craftsman,)
14 the son of a woman of the lineage of Dan, whose father was a man of Tyre; the which Hiram can work in gold, and silver, in brass, and in iron, and in marble, and in trees, also in purple, and jacinth, and bis, and in red silk; and the which Hiram can grave in all graving, and can find prudently, whatever thing is needful in work with thy craftsmen, and with the craftsmen of my lord David, thy father. (the son of a woman of the tribe of Dan, whose father was a man of Tyre; this Hiram knoweth how to work with gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and marble, and wood, and purple, and jacinth, and fine linen, and red silk; and this Hiram knoweth how to engrave in all manner of engraving, and knoweth how to prudently do whatever is needed to work with thy craftsmen, and with the craftsmen of thy father, my lord David.)
15 Therefore, my lord, send thou to (us) thy servants the wheat, and barley, and oil, and wine, which thou hast promised.

2 Chronicles 2:5-15 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.