Preparations for the Temple
Solomon resolves to build a house for the LORD’s Name and a palace for himself, then organizes a vast labor force for the work. The chapter begins with both intention and administrative scale.
N1ow Solomon purposed to build a house for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself. 2So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.
Solomon asks Hiram to help as he once helped David, and he explains the temple’s purpose in Israel’s regular worship. He calls the house great because the LORD is great, yet admits that heaven itself cannot contain Him.
3Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre: 4“Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in. Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever. 5The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?
Solomon asks for a craftsman skilled in precious materials and for timber from Lebanon, with Israelite and Tyrian workers laboring together. He promises generous provisions in return because the temple must be built in abundance.
7Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided. 8Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours 9to prepare for me timber in abundance, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful. 10I will pay your servants, the woodcutters, 20,000 cors of ground wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of olive oil. ”