2 Chronicles 2

1 Now Solomon [the king of peace] purposed [determined, had in mind] to build [construct, establish] a house [temple, sacred dwelling] for the Name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and a royal [kingly, majestic] palace [official residence, throne room] for himself [as king, his own royal dwelling]. word study 2 So he conscripted [recruited, assembled] 70,000 porters [to bear burdens, laborers], 80,000 stonecutters [hewers, quarry workers] in the mountains [hills, rugged terrain], and 3,600 supervisors [overseers, leaders]. word study 3 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king [ruler, sovereign] of Tyre: “Do for me as you did [treated, dealt with] for my father David [the beloved king, ancestor] when you sent him cedars [trees, timber] to build [construct, establish] himself a house [dwelling place, palace] to live [reside, dwell] in [within, inside]. word study 4 Behold, I am about to build [construct, establish] a house [temple, dwelling place] for the Name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] my God [Elohim, the supreme God] to dedicate [set apart, consecrate] to Him for burning [offering, sacrificing] fragrant incense [sweet spices, aromas] before Him, for displaying [showing, presenting] the showbread [continual bread, sacred bread] continuously, and for making [offering, sacrificing] burnt offerings [sacrifices, atonements] every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths [rest days, days of worship], New Moons [lunar cycles, renewal], and appointed [ordained, designated] feasts [celebrations, gatherings] of the LORD our God. This is ordained [established, commanded] for Israel forever. word study 5 The house [Temple, dwelling place] that I am building [constructing, establishing] will be great [impressive, magnificent], for our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] is greater [exalted, superior] than all gods [idols, false deities]. word study 6 But who is able [has the strength or power] to build a house [a temple, a place of worship] for Him, since the heavens [the sky, the celestial realm], even the highest heavens [the highest celestial abode], cannot contain [hold or encompass] Him? Who then am I [a mere man, a humble servant], that I should build a house [a dwelling place, a sanctuary] for Him, except as a place [a location, a site] to burn sacrifices [offerings, incense] before Him? word study 7 Send me, therefore, a craftsman [a master artisan] skilled in engraving to work with gold [and precious metals] and silver, with bronze [and other metals] and iron, and with purple [and royal fabrics], crimson, and blue yarn [fine linens]. He will work with my craftsmen [expert workmen, skilled laborers] in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David [the king, my ancestor] provided. word study 8 Send me also cedar [cedar trees, fir trees], cypress [cypress trees, pine logs], and algum [algum trees, juniper logs] logs from Lebanon, for I know [am aware, have understood] that your servants have skill [are expert, know how] to cut [hew, cut down] timber there. And indeed [behold, lo], my servants will work [be with, help] with yours word study 9 to prepare for me timber [in great abundance, a large quantity] in abundance, because the temple [house, place of worship] I am building [constructing, establishing] will be [truly, exceedingly] great [wonderful, magnificent] and wonderful [a wonder, impressive]. word study 10 I will pay your servants [workers, laborers], the woodcutters [hewers that cut timber], 20,000 cors [measures] of ground wheat [beaten wheat], 20,000 cors [measures] of barley, 20,000 baths [volumes] of wine [fermented drink], and 20,000 baths [volumes] of olive oil [anointing oil]. ” word study 11 Then Hiram [Huram, the king of Tyre] king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon: “Because the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] loves [has affection for, is devoted to] His people, He has set [appointed, established] you over them as king [ruler, leader].” word study 12 And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD [maker of heaven and earth], the God of Israel, who made the heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm] and the earth [the land, the material world]! He has given King David a wise [endued with prudence and understanding, having discretion] son with insight [knowing wisdom] and understanding [discernment, wisdom], who will build a temple [a house] for the LORD and a royal palace [a house for his kingdom] for himself. word study 13 So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a [skilful, cunning] skillful man [endued with understanding, wise] endowed with [divine, creative] creativity [and intelligence, having God’s nature]. word study 14 He is the son of a woman [from the tribe of Dan] from the daughters of Dan, and his father [a Tyrian craftsman] is a man of Tyre. He is skilled [expert, proficient] in work with gold [precious metal] and silver [valuable resource], bronze [copper alloy] and iron [strong metal], stone [rock, mineral] and wood [timber, lumber], purple [royal color], blue [heavenly hue], and crimson [deep red] yarn, and fine linen [luxurious fabric]. He is experienced [skilled, trained] in every kind of engraving [carving, etching] and can execute [carry out, fulfill] any design [plan, pattern] that is given him. He will work [labor, cooperate] with your craftsmen [skilled workers] and with those of my lord [master, sovereign], your father David. word study 15 Now let my lord [the king, ruler] send to his servants [those who serve, attendants] the wheat [grain, food], barley [cereal, provision], olive oil [anointing oil, blessing], and wine [fruit of the vine, joy] he promised [spoken of, agreed to]. word study 16 We will cut logs [timber, trees] from Lebanon, as many as you need [require, desire], and we will float them to you as rafts [in floats, on flat boats] by sea [the Mediterranean] down to Joppa [the port city]. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem [the holy city, Zion].” word study 17 Solomon numbered [conducted a census of, took account of] all the foreign men [strangers, sojourners, non-Israelites] in the land of Israel [the nation, the people of God] following the census [numbering, count] his father David had conducted [made, overseen], and there were found to be 153,600 [a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred] in all [altogether, as a total]. word study 18 Solomon made 70,000 of them porters [bearers of burdens, laborers], 80,000 stonecutters [hewers, cutters] in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors [overseers, foremen]. word study