2 Chronicles 2

Solomon's Letter to Hiram

1 Solomon decided to build a temple for the name of Yahweh and a royal palace for himself,

2 so he assigned 70,000 men as porters, 80,000 men as stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 as supervisors over them.

3 Then Solomon sent [word] to King Hiram of Tyre:
[Do for me] what you did for my father David. You sent him cedars to build him a house to live in. 4 Now I am building a temple for the name of Yahweh my God in order to dedicate it to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for [displaying] the rows [of the bread of the Presence] continuously, and for [sacrificing] burnt offerings for the morning and the evening, the Sabbaths and the New Moons, and the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is [ordained] for Israel forever. 5 The temple that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than any of the gods. 6 But who is able to build a temple for Him, since even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Him? Who am I then that I should build a temple for Him except as a place to burn incense before Him? 7 Therefore, send me a craftsman who is skilled in engraving to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. [He will work] with the craftsmen who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, appointed by my father David. 8 Also, send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut the trees of Lebanon. Note that my servants will be with your servants 9 to prepare logs for me in abundance because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful.

10 I will give your servants, the woodcutters who cut the trees, 100,000 bushels of wheat flour, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of oil.

Hiram's Reply

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre wrote a letter and sent [it] to Solomon:
Because the Lord loves His people, He set you over them as king.

12 Hiram also said:
May the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth, be praised! He gave King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 13 I have now sent Huram-abi, a skillful man who has understanding. 14 He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan. His father is a man of Tyre. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, with purple, blue, crimson yarn, and fine linen. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and to execute any design that may be given him. I have sent him to be with your craftsmen and the craftsmen of my lord, your father David. 15 Now, let my lord send the wheat, barley, oil, and wine to his servants as promised.

16 We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and bring them to you as rafts by sea to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.

Solomon's Work Force

17 Solomon took a census of all the foreign men in the land of Israel, after the census that his father David had conducted, and the total was 153,600.

18 Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors to make the people work.

2 Chronicles 2

Solomon Gathers Building Materials for the Temple

1 s Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.t

2 Solomon hadt 70,000 common laborerst and 80,000 stonecutterst in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.st
3 Solomon sent a message to King Huramt of Tyre:s “Help met as you did my father David, when you sent him cedar logst for the construction of his palace.t4 Look, I am ready to build a temple to honort the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him in order to burn fragrant incense before him, to set out the bread that is regularly displayed,t and to offer burnt sacrifices each morning and evening, and on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other times appointed by the Lord our God. This is something Israel must do on a permanent basis.t5 I will build a great temple, for our God is greater than all gods.

6 Of course, who can really build a temple for him, since the skyt and the highest heavens cannot contain him? Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be only a place to offer sacrifices before him.t
7 “Now send me a man who is skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as purple, crimson, and violet colored fabrics, and who knows how to engrave. He will work with my skilled craftsmen here in Jerusalems and Judah, whom my father David provided.8 Send me cedars, evergreens, and algumt trees from Lebanon, for I know your servants are adeptt at cutting down trees in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants9 to supply me with large quantities of timber, for I am building a great, magnificent temple.

10 Look, I will pay your servants who cut the timber 20,000 korss of ground wheat, 20,000 kors of barley, 120,000 gallonst of wine, and 120,000 gallons of olive oil.”
11 King Huramt of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”12 Huram also said, “Worthy of praise is the Lord God of Israel, who made the sky and the earth! He has given David a wise son who has discernment and insight and will build a temple for the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.t13 Now I am sending you Huram Abi,s a skilled and capable man,14 whose mother is a Danite and whose father is a Tyrian.t He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stones, and wood, as well as purple, violet, white, and crimson fabrics. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and understands any design given to him. He will work with your skilled craftsmen and the skilled craftsmen of my lord David your father.15 Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised;

16 we will get all the timber you need from Lebanont and bring itt in raft-like bundlest by sea to Joppa. You can then haul it on up to Jerusalem.”
17 Solomon took a censust of all the male resident foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 in all.

18 He designatedt 70,000 as common laborers,t 80,000 as stonecutterst in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.t