2Ch 2:2-5 | KD | STEP | (Hebrew_Bible_1:18). The account of these is introduced by 1:18: “Solomon thought to build.” אמר with an infinitive following does not signify here to command one to do anything, as e.g., in , but to purpose to do something, as e.g., in 1Ki 5:5. For יהוה לשׁם, see on 1Ki 5:17. למלכוּתו בּית, house for his kingdom, i.e., the royal palace. The building of this palace is indeed shortly spoken of in ; , and , but is not in the Chronicle described in detail as in 1Ki 7:1-12. With begins the account of the preparations which Solomon made for the erection of these buildings, especially of the temple building, accompanied by a statement that the king caused all the workmen of the necessary sort in his kingdom to be numbered. There follows thereafter an account of the negotiations with King Hiram of Tyre in regard to the sending of a skilful architect, and of the necessary materials, such as cedar wood and hewn stones, from Lebanon ( ); and, in conclusion, the statements as to the levying of the statute labourers of Israel ( ) are repeated and rendered more complete ( , ). If we compare the parallel account in 1Ki 5:5., we find that Solomon’s negotiation with Hiram about the proposed buildings is preceded (1Ki 5:5) by a notice, that Hiram, after he had heard of Solomon’s accession, had sent him an embassy to congratulate him. This notice is omitted in the Chronicle, because it was of no importance in the negotiations which succeeded. In the account of Solomon’s negotiation with Hiram, both narratives ( and 1Ki 5:16.) agree in the main, but differ in form so considerably, that it is manifest that they are free adaptations of one common original document, quite independent of each other, as has been already remarked on 1Ki 5:5. On see further on 1Ki 5:15.

‏ 2 Chronicles 2:2-5

2Ch 2:1-2 (Hebrew_Bible_1:18). The account of these is introduced by 1:18: “Solomon thought to build.” אמר with an infinitive following does not signify here to command one to do anything, as e.g., in 1Ch 21:17, but to purpose to do something, as e.g., in 1Ki 5:5. For יהוה לשׁם, see on 1Ki 5:17. למלכוּתו בּית, house for his kingdom, i.e., the royal palace. The building of this palace is indeed shortly spoken of in 2Ch 2:11; 2Ch 7:11, and 2Ch 8:1, but is not in the Chronicle described in detail as in 1Ki 7:1-12.

With 2Ch 2:1 begins the account of the preparations which Solomon made for the erection of these buildings, especially of the temple building, accompanied by a statement that the king caused all the workmen of the necessary sort in his kingdom to be numbered. There follows thereafter an account of the negotiations with King Hiram of Tyre in regard to the sending of a skilful architect, and of the necessary materials, such as cedar wood and hewn stones, from Lebanon (2Ch 2:2-15); and, in conclusion, the statements as to the levying of the statute labourers of Israel (2Ch 2:1) are repeated and rendered more complete (2Ch 2:16, 2Ch 2:17). If we compare the parallel account in 1Ki 5:5., we find that Solomon’s negotiation with Hiram about the proposed buildings is preceded (1Ki 5:5) by a notice, that Hiram, after he had heard of Solomon’s accession, had sent him an embassy to congratulate him. This notice is omitted in the Chronicle, because it was of no importance in the negotiations which succeeded. In the account of Solomon’s negotiation with Hiram, both narratives (2Ch 2:2-15 and 1Ki 5:16.) agree in the main, but differ in form so considerably, that it is manifest that they are free adaptations of one common original document, quite independent of each other, as has been already remarked on 1Ki 5:5. On 2Ch 2:2 see further on 1Ki 5:15. 2Ch 2:3-10 (Hebrew_Bible_2:2-9). Solomon, through his ambassadors, addressed himself to Huram king of Tyre, with the request that he would send him an architect and building wood for the temple. On the Tyrian king Huram or Hiram, the contemporary of David and Solomon, see the discussion on 2Sa 5:11. According to the account in 1 Kings 5, Solomon asked cedar wood from Lebanon from Hiram; according to our account, which is more exact, he desired an architect, and cedar, cypress, and other wood. In 1 Kings 5 the motive of Solomon’s request is given in the communication to Hiram, viz., that David could not carry out the building of the proposed temple on account of his wars, but that Jahve had given him (Solomon) rest and peace, so that he now, in accordance with the divine promise to David, desired to carry on the building (1Ki 5:3-5). In the 2Ch 2:2-5, on the contrary, Solomon reminds the Tyrian king of the friendliness with which he had supplied his father David with cedar wood for his palace, and then announces to him his purpose to build a temple to the Lord, at the same time stating that it was designed for the worship of God, whom the heavens and the earth cannot contain. It is clear, therefore, that both authors have expanded the fundamental thoughts of their authority in somewhat freer fashion. The apodosis of the clause beginning with כּאשׁר is wanting, and the sentence is an anacolouthon. The apodosis should be: “do so also for me, and send me cedars.” This latter clause follows in 2Ch 2:6, 2Ch 2:7, while the first can easily be supplied, as is done e.g., in the Vulg., by sic fac mecum.