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Solomon Asks Hiram
(2 Chronicles 2.1-16)
1King Hiram of Tyre had always been friends with Solomon's father David. When Hiram learned that Solomon was king, he sent some of his officials to meet with Solomon.
2Solomon sent a message back to Hiram:
3Remember how my father David wanted to build a temple where the Lord his God could be worshiped? But enemies kept attacking my father's kingdom, and he never had the chance. 4Now, thanks to the Lord God, there is peace in my kingdom and no trouble or threat of war anywhere.
5 The Lord God promised my father that when his son became king, he would build a temple for worshiping the Lord. So I've decided to do that.
6I'd like you to send your workers to cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me. I will pay them whatever you say and will even have my workers help them. We both know that your workers are more experienced than anyone else at cutting lumber.
7Hiram was so happy when he heard Solomon's request that he said, “I am grateful that the Lord gave David such a wise son to be king of that great nation!” 8Then he sent back his answer:
I received your message and will give you all the cedar and pine logs you need. 9My workers will carry them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea. They will tie the logs together and float them along the coast to wherever you want them. Then they will untie the logs, and your workers can take them from there.
To pay for the logs, you can provide the grain I need for my household.
10Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and pine logs he needed. 11In return, Solomon gave Hiram over 2,000 tons of wheat and almost 4,000 liters of pure olive oil each year.
12The Lord kept his promise and made Solomon wise. Hiram and Solomon signed a treaty and never went to war against each other.
Solomon's Workers
13Solomon ordered 30,000 people from all over Israel to cut logs for the temple, 14 and he put Adoniram in charge of these workers. Solomon divided them into three groups of 10,000. Each group worked one month in Lebanon and had two months off at home.
15He also had 80,000 workers to cut stone in the hill country of Israel, 70,000 workers to carry the stones, 16and over 3,000 assistants to keep track of the work and to supervise the workers. 17He ordered the workers to cut and shape large blocks of good stone for the foundation of the temple.
18Solomon's and Hiram's men worked with men from the city of Gebal, and together they got the stones and logs ready for the temple.
Reflect
In chapter 5 we read about the first steps in what became a seven year building project. Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre agree on a plan to provide both material and workers for the mammoth effort. The first task was hewing the rock for the massive foundation. Just reading about it is tiring!
The pivotal point in the narrative, however, is Solomon’s decision to build a house for God’s “Name.” This seems a bit strange for the contemporary reader, but for a Jewish person it makes sense. Why? Because “The Name” (Hebrew:” Ha Shem”) embodies the very presence of the Almighty. Solomon says later as he dedicates the temple that God cannot be confined to any one place, but it is fitting and proper to build a house for and in the “Name” of God.
Jerusalem is often referred to in the Bible as the city where God has placed his Name. Interestingly, religious Jews refer to the topography of the city to explain this claim. Jerusalem is built on hills scored by three north/south valleys – Hinnom on the west, Tyropolean (or “Cheesemakers”) in the middle, and Kidron on the east. As a former resident of Jerusalem, I’ve walked them many times. All three converge just south of Mount Zion. Together they form a rough approximation of the Hebrew letter “Shin,” which happens to be the letter used for the “Name.” But the Jews will be quick to add that “Ha Shem” can never be confined, even while he is present with His people. As an old gospel song says, “He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.”
Respond
Even as I believe you live within me, O Lord, I stand in awe of your limitless presence.
Jim Cantelon
Pastor, author, church-planter, Christian television and radio personality, Jim Cantelon is founder and President of WOW – Working for Orphans & Widows, a Federal Charity whose mission is to empower the local church in sub-Saharan Africa and southern India in the care of the sick and the dying. Currently Jim produces and hosts a national television show called “Jim Cantelon Today” which focuses on biblical exposition with a contemporary, ‘user friendly’ approach. In conjunction with JCT, he has written a newly published book entitled “Cantelon’s Casual Commentary – a 21st Century guide to the life of Jesus for the internet generation”.