3 Then Solomon sent word to Huram the king of Tyre , saying , " As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in, so do for me. 4 "Behold , I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God , dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually , and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening , on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the Lord our God , this being required forever in Israel . 5 "The house which I am about to build will be great , for greater is our God than all the gods . 6 "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except e to burn incense before Him? 7 "Now send me a skilled man to work in gold , silver , brass and iron , and in purple , crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings , to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem , whom David my father provided . 8 " Send me also cedar , cypress and algum timber from Lebanon , for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon ; and indeed my servants will work with your servants , 9 to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful . 10 "Now behold , I will give to your servants , the woodsmen who cut the timber , 20,000 e kors of crushed wheat and 20,000 e kors of barley , and 20,000 e baths of wine and 20,000 e baths of oil ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 2:3-10
Chapter Contents
Solomon's message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty with Huram.
Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and pious king is an evidence of the Lord's special love for his people. How great then was God's love to his believing people, in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their Saviour.