2:1 (1:18) Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.
Solomon began the temple construction. Notice that he also ordered a palace to be built for himself.
2:2 (2:1) Solomon had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.
There were over 150,000 workers for the temple construction. Some were hired and some were drafted into labor camps.
2:3 Solomon sent a message to King Huram of Tyre: “Help me as you did my father David, when you sent him cedar logs for the construction of his palace.
King David had a very good working relationship with King Huram of Tyre. Solomon’s relationship was not as good.
2:4 Look, I am ready to build a temple to honor the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him in order to burn fragrant incense before him, to set out the bread that is regularly displayed, and to offer burnt sacrifices each morning and evening, and on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other times appointed by the Lord our God. This is something Israel must do on a permanent basis.
Israel was to offer sacrifices on a permanent basis. During the Mosaic Law, these sacrifices pointed forward to Christ. During the Millennial Kingdom, these sacrifices will point back to Christ.
2:5 I will build a great temple, for our God is greater than all gods.
Since Solomon worshiped other gods later in his life, this statement seems to point out the early idolatry belief system of Solomon. It seems as Solomon saw Jehovah as the most powerful of many gods. This syncretism attitude would later seep into the royal houses of both divided kingdoms.
2:6 Of course, who can really build a temple for him, since the sky and the highest heavens cannot contain him? Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be only a place to offer sacrifices before him.
Many skeptics claim that Israel placed God in a box. This statement by Solomon refutes this false teaching. God is omnipresent, meaning that He is everywhere at once. Yet, He also dwelt in the tabernacle and in the temple. The Shechinah Glory would leave the temple during the days of Ezekiel.
2:7 “Now send me a man who is skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as purple, crimson, and violet colored fabrics, and who knows how to engrave. He will work with my skilled craftsmen here in Jerusalem and Judah, whom my father David provided.
The Phoenicians were some of the most skilled artisans in history. Solomon asked Huram to send him a skilled craftsman to work on the temple designs.
2:8 Send me cedars, evergreens, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know your servants are adept at cutting down trees in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants 2:9 to supply me with large quantities of timber, for I am building a great, magnificent temple.
Tyre was a Phoenician seaport city on the Mediterranean Sea. Tyre possessed the greatest cedar trees and the greatest navy in the ancient world.
2:10 Look, I will pay your servants who cut the timber 20,000 kors of ground wheat, 20,000 kors of barley, 120,000 gallons of wine, and 120,000 gallons of olive oil.”
Tyre possessed a shortage of these food items. This was an excellent trade exchange for both nations. Since King Huram had such close associations with Solomon, then this knowledge of Israel’s kingdom was sent all over the world via the Phoenician ships. The glory of Solomon’s kingdoms would cause all nations of the earth to send ambassadors to Israel. Israel would reveal the witness of the true God to all of the ambassadors.
2:11 King Huram of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their king.”
This Phoenician King recognized the love which Jehovah possessed for Israel.
2:12 Huram also said, “Worthy of praise is the Lord God of Israel, who made the sky and the earth! He has given David a wise son who has discernment and insight and will build a temple for the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.
This Phoenician King recognized Jehovah as the Creator God of heaven and earth. He recognized that Jehovah had given Solomon supernatural political wisdom. David’s influence on Huram is demonstrated by Huram’s desire to help Israel build a temple to the one true God.
2:13 Now I am sending you Huram Abi, a skilled and capable man, 2:14 whose mother is a Danite and whose father is a Tyrian. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stones, and wood, as well as purple, violet, white, and crimson fabrics. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and understands any design given to him. He will work with your skilled craftsmen and the skilled craftsmen of my lord David your father.
The Danites were part of the Jewish tribe of Dan. This skilled craftsman was half Jewish and half Phoenician.
2:15 Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised;
Israel traded food product for timber.
2:16 we will get all the timber you need from Lebanon and bring it in raft-like bundles by sea to Joppa. You can then haul it on up to Jerusalem.”
The Phoenicians were expert seafarers. They would send the cedar logs to Jerusalem by an advanced rafting system.
2:17 Solomon took a census of all the male resident foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 in all.
This was the largest population of Israel up to this date.
2:18 He designated 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.
Solomon drafted Israelites into work crews. This draft would later make Israel rebel against his son, causing a division of Israel.