The big picture
2 Chronicles 2 opens in verse 1 with “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be…”, and closes in verse 18 with “And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore…” Repeated or prominent terms include house, build, LORD, cunning, David. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 182 Chronicles 2:1-6
1–6: Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an…
2 Chronicles 2:1–6 opens with “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his…” and reaches “But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 2 develops its own movement around house, build, LORD, cunning, David, with particular weight carried by house, build, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his kingdom.” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Chronicles 2:1-6
King James Version1And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his kingdom.
2And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
4Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning 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.
5And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
6But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
2 Chronicles 2:7-12
7–12: Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and…
2 Chronicles 2:7–12 opens with “Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron…” and reaches “Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 2 develops its own movement around house, build, LORD, cunning, David, with particular weight carried by servants, twenty, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and…” Naming David and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
2 Chronicles 2:7-12
King James Version7Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
8Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
9Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
10And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut 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.
11Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
12Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD , and an house for his kingdom.
2 Chronicles 2:13-18
13–18: Now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my…
2 Chronicles 2:13–18 opens with “And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,” and reaches “And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 2 develops its own movement around house, build, LORD, cunning, David, with particular weight carried by cunning, father, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,” Naming Huram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include barley, lord, send. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Chronicles 2:13-18
King James Version13And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
14The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work 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 grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
15Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
16And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
17And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
18And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 2:1 begins with “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his kingdom.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 2:11 forms a natural hinge: “Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.”
The final note
2 Chronicles 2:18 leaves the reader with “And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words house, build, LORD, cunning, David, father help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which gifts come before the prohibition?
Life, the garden, food and meaningful work. The command occurs inside generosity.
How does chapter 2 deepen chapter 1?
It concentrates on dependence, partnership and responsibility within the shared human calling.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.