Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 2

Introduction

PREPARATIONS FOR THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.

The account given in this chapter of Solomon’s negotiations with Hiram, and other arrangements preparatory to building the temple, is parallel with that of 1 Kings v, where see notes. The two narratives agree in all essential respects, but their differences are of such a nature as to show that these letters of Solomon and Hiram are not accurate and literal transcripts, but simply a free paraphrase or statement of the outline and substance of the original letters. In neither place, probably, have we all the contents of these royal letters, but one writer supplements the other.

Verse 1

1. A house for his kingdom That is, a royal palace.

Verse 3

3. Huram The original and more correct form of the name was Hiram. Comp. 2 Samuel 5:11.

Verse 7

7. Send me… a man cunning to work in gold A skilled artificer; a master workman. Here we have the specific request for such a workman, which is implied, but not explicitly stated, in Kings.

Verse 13

13. Of Huram my father’s The of ( ל in the Hebrew being here merely the sign of the accusative) should be omitted, and the word rendered my father taken as a part of Huram’s name. Thus: I have sent a cunning man… Huram-Abi. If, however, it be preferred to translate the word, Abi, my father, it is to be taken in the sense of my master; that is, my master-workman. Comp. 2 Chronicles 4:16, and Genesis 45:8. See note on 1 Kings 7:13-14.