Preparations for the Temple (2 Chronicles 2:1–10)
1 CPDV Hiram, the king of Tyre, also sent his servants to Solomon. For he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father. Now Hiram had been a friend to David the entire time. BSB BSB: Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
2 CPDV Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: BSB BSB: And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:
3 CPDV “You know the will of my father David, and that he was not able to build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were imminent all around him, until the Lord set them under the steps of his feet. BSB BSB: “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.
4 CPDV But now the Lord my God has given rest to me on all sides. And there is no adversary, nor occurrence of evil. BSB BSB: But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
5 CPDV For this reason, I intend to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set in your place, upon your throne, he himself shall build a house to my name.’ BSB BSB: So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
6 CPDV Therefore, order that your servants may cut down for me cedars from Lebanon. And let my servants be with your servants. Then I will give to you, for the wages of your servants, whatever you will ask. For you know that there is not a man among my people who knows how to cut wood as well as the Sidonians.” BSB BSB: Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”
Hiram’s Reply to Solomon (2 Chronicles 2:11–18)
7 CPDV Therefore, when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and he said, “Blessed be the Lord God this day, who gave to David a very wise son over this numerous people!” BSB BSB: When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”
8 CPDV And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: “I have heard the things that you would entrust to me. And I will do your whole will concerning the cedar trees and spruce trees. BSB BSB: Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.
9 CPDV My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. And I will arrange them together as rafts on the sea, as far as the place that you will indicate to me. And I will land them there, and you will take them. And you shall offer to me what is necessary to give food to my house.” BSB BSB: My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”
10 CPDV And so, Hiram gave to Solomon cedar trees and spruce trees, in accord with his whole will. BSB BSB: So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,
11 CPDV Then Solomon offered to Hiram twenty thousand cor of wheat, as food for his house, and twenty cor of the purest oil. These things Solomon gave as a tribute to Hiram every year. BSB BSB: and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
12 CPDV And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he said to him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two struck a pact. BSB BSB: And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
Solomon’s Labor Force 13 CPDV And king Solomon chose workers from all of Israel, and the conscription was of thirty thousand men. BSB BSB: Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.
14 CPDV And he sent them into Lebanon, ten thousand each month, in turns, so that for two months they were in their own houses. And Adoniram was over this type of conscription. BSB BSB: He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
15 CPDV And Solomon had seventy thousand of those who were carrying burdens, and eighty thousand of those who cut stones from the mountain, BSB BSB: Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,
16 CPDV aside from the commanders who were over each work, in number three thousand and three hundred, who gave orders to the people and to those who were doing the work. BSB BSB: not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.
17 CPDV And the king ordered them to bring great stones, precious stones, for the foundation of the temple, and to square them. BSB BSB: And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.
18 CPDV And these were shaped by the stoneworkers of Solomon and the stoneworkers of Hiram. And the men of Gebal also prepared the wood and the stones in order to build the house. BSB BSB: So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.
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