Chapter 2

And Solomon determined⁴ to build² an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

And Solomon told out⁴ threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand ³⁷⁶ to hew⁶ in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee¹⁸ them.

And Solomon sent⁴ to Huram the king of Tyre, saying,² As thou didst deal¹ with David my father, and didst send⁴ him cedars to build² him an house to dwell² therein, [even so deal with me].

Behold, I build⁶ an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate⁵³ [it] to him, [and] to burn⁵³ before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning ¹²⁴² and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This [is an ordinance] for ever to Israel.

And the house which I build⁶ [is] great: for great [is] our God above all gods.

But who is⁴ able to build² him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain⁴⁶ him? who [am] I then, that I should build⁴ him an house, save only to burn sacrifice⁵³ before him?

Send³ me now therefore a man cunning to work² in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill⁶ to grave^{15 6603} with the cunning men that [are] with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.⁵²

Send³ me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know¹ that thy servants can skill⁶ to cut² timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants [shall be] with thy servants,

Even to prepare⁵³ me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build⁶ [shall be] wonderful⁵³ great.

And, behold, I will give¹ to thy servants, the hewers⁶ that cut⁶ timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

Then Huram the king of Tyre answered⁴ in writing, which he sent⁴ to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made¹ thee king over them.

Huram said⁴ moreover, Blessed⁷ [be] the LORD God of Israel, that made¹ heaven and earth, who hath given¹ to David the king a wise son, endued⁶ with prudence and understanding, that might build⁴ an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

And now I have sent¹ a cunning man, endued⁶ with understanding, of Huram my father's,

The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skilful⁶ to work² in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave¹⁵ any manner of graving, and to find out² every device which shall be put¹¹ to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken¹ of, let him send⁴ unto his servants:

And we will cut⁴ wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring⁵⁵ it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up⁵⁵ to Jerusalem.

And Solomon numbered⁴ all the strangers ¹⁶¹⁶ that [were] in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered¹ them; and they were found¹¹ an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.

And he set⁴ threescore and ten thousand of them [to be] bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand [to be] hewers⁶ in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers¹⁸ to set the people a work.⁵³