Preparations to Build the Temple

(2 Chronicles 2:1-18)

1a King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he learned that Solomonb had been anointed king to replace his father, because Hiram had been David’s lifelong friend.c 2Solomon sent this message to Hiram:

3“You know that my father David was unable to build a temple dedicated tod the LORD his God because he was busy fighting wars all around him until the LORD defeated his enemies. 4But now the LORD has given me rest all around, since I have neither foreign adversaries nor domestic crises. 5So now I’m planning to build a temple dedicated toe the LORD my God, just as the LORD told my father when he said, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne to replace you, will build the Temple dedicated to me.’f 6Now therefore please order that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, because you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians do.”

7As soon as Hiram received the message from Solomon, he became so ecstatic that he exclaimed, “Blessed be the LORD today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people!” Then he sent this message to Solomon:

8“I have read the letter that you sent me. I’ll do what you’ve asked about the cedar and cypress timber. 9My servants will transport them from Lebanon to the sea, where we’ll make them into rafts and float them by sea to the port that you tell me to send them. We’ll have them prepared for transport there and then you can carry them from there. You can meet my needs by providing provisions for my household.”

10That’s how Hiram came to provide Solomon as much cedar and cypress timber as he needed. 11In return, Solomon paid Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of beaten oil. Solomon provided this amount every year during the construction.g

12The LORD continued giving Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised, and Hiram and Solomon entered into a peace treaty between themselves.

Conscripted Labor for the Building Program

13King Solomon conscripted laborers from throughout Israel. The work force numbered 30,000 men. 14He sent 10,000 men to Lebanon in shifts lasting one month. They worked one month in Lebanon for every two months they worked at home. Adoniram was placed in charge of the conscripted labor. 15Solomon also employed 70,000 heavy-lift workers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country. 16Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction. 17The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones. 18As a result, Solomon’s builders worked with Hiram’s builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and otherh stone for the Temple’s construction.