2 Chronicles 2:3
Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre: "Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in.
Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre:

Solomon renewed the alliance Hiram had maintained with David. Tyre supplied Lebanon’s renowned cedar and skilled workers, resources Israel needed for the great work Solomon was preparing to undertake.

1Ki 5:1-2 Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been…
1Ki 5:8-9 “I have received your message; I will do all you desire”…

“Do for me as you did for my father David

Solomon appealed to Hiram’s established friendship with David and sought to continue it faithfully. His request honored his father’s legacy while recognizing that God’s purposes for Israel would involve the cooperation of neighboring nations.

2Sa 5:11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David…
1Ch 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David…
1Ki 5:7 When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced…

when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in.

Hiram had supplied cedar for David’s royal house, demonstrating the prosperity and stability God had given Israel. Solomon would now seek similar materials for the temple, not merely a palace for a king, but a house dedicated to the name of the Lord.

2Sa 7:2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am”…
1Ch 17:1 After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan…
1Ch 22:4 and more cedar logs than could be counted;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon is known for his wisdom and for building the First Temple in Jerusalem. He is the central figure in this passage, seeking resources to construct the temple.

2. Hiram, King of Tyre
A contemporary of both David and Solomon, Hiram was the king of Tyre, a city known for its skilled craftsmen and abundant resources, particularly cedar wood.

3. David
Solomon's father, the second king of Israel, who had a close relationship with Hiram. David laid the groundwork for the temple by gathering materials and making plans, though he was not permitted by God to build it himself.

4. Tyre
An ancient Phoenician city known for its wealth and trade, particularly in timber and skilled labor, which were crucial for Solomon's temple project.

5. The Temple
The First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, was a significant religious and cultural project for Israel, symbolizing God's presence among His people.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly Alliances
Solomon's alliance with Hiram demonstrates the value of forming partnerships that honor God and further His purposes. Believers should seek relationships that support their spiritual goals.

Building on a Legacy
Solomon's request to Hiram builds on the foundation laid by David. We are called to honor the spiritual legacies of those who came before us and continue their work in faithfulness.

Preparation and Provision
Just as Solomon prepared meticulously for the temple, we should prepare our hearts and lives for God's work, trusting that He will provide the necessary resources.

The Role of Wisdom in Leadership
Solomon's wise approach to securing materials and labor reflects the importance of wisdom in leadership. We should seek God's wisdom in our decisions and actions.

God's Presence Among His People
The temple was a physical representation of God's presence. Today, believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to live in a way that reflects His presence in us.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Solomon's relationship with Hiram reflect the importance of forming strategic partnerships in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we build on the spiritual legacies of those who have come before us, as Solomon did with David's plans for the temple?

3. What steps can we take to prepare ourselves for the work God has called us to, and how can we trust Him to provide what we need?

4. How can we apply Solomon's wisdom in leadership to our own roles and responsibilities, whether in the church, family, or workplace?

5. Considering that believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, how should this truth impact the way we live and interact with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 5
This chapter provides a parallel account of Solomon's preparations for building the temple, including his correspondence with Hiram and the arrangements for materials and labor.

2 Samuel 7
This passage recounts God's covenant with David, where God promises that David's son will build a house for His name, establishing the divine mandate for Solomon's temple project.

Exodus 25-31
These chapters describe the construction of the Tabernacle, the precursor to the temple, highlighting the continuity of God's dwelling place among His people.
A Great Project: the Building of a TempleT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 2:1-10
Solomon's Predestined WorkJ. Parker, D.D.2 Chronicles 2:1-16
Human LabourW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 2:2, 3, 7-10
People
Abi, Dan, David, Hiram, Huram, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem, Joppa, Lebanon, Tyre
Topics
Build, Building, Cedar, Cedars, Cedar-trees, David, Deal, Dealt, Dwell, Hast, Hiram, Huram, Logs, Message, Palace, Saying, Sending, Solomon, Therein, Tyre
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 2:3

     5240   building

2 Chronicles 2:3-16

     4424   cedar

Library
Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. The Temple of Solomon was the crown of art in the old world. There were temples on a larger scale, and of more massive construction, but the enormous masses of masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with the artistic grace, the luxurious adornments, and the harmonious proportions of this glorious House of God. David had laid up money and material for the great work, but he was not permitted to carry it out. He was a man of war, and blood-stained hands were
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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