2 Chronicles 2:11 kjv
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.
2 Chronicles 2:11 nkjv
Then Hiram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.
2 Chronicles 2:11 niv
Hiram king of Tyre replied by letter to Solomon: "Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you their king."
2 Chronicles 2:11 esv
Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, "Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you king over them."
2 Chronicles 2:11 nlt
King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: "It is because the LORD loves his people that he has made you their king!
2 Chronicles 2 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 5:7 | "Blessed be the LORD today, who has given David a wise son..." | Huram's earlier praise for God concerning Solomon. |
| 1 Ki 10:9 | "...because the LORD loved Israel forever, He made you king..." | Queen of Sheba echoes Huram's statement about God's love for Israel and Solomon's reign. |
| 1 Chr 29:1 | "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen..." | Solomon's kingship is by divine election. |
| 1 Chr 28:5 | "of all my sons... He has chosen my son Solomon..." | God's specific choice of Solomon. |
| 2 Chr 1:8 | "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king..." | Solomon acknowledges God's role in his reign. |
| Deut 4:37 | "And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants..." | God's love as the basis for election of Israel. |
| Deut 7:6-8 | "...the LORD has chosen you...because the LORD loves you..." | Emphasizes God's love as the reason for choosing Israel. |
| Deut 10:15 | "...the LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them..." | Reinforces the origin of God's love for Israel. |
| Neh 9:15 | "...You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water..." | Demonstrates God's providential care and love for Israel. |
| Jer 31:3 | "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love..." | God's eternal, enduring love for His people. |
| Hos 11:1 | "When Israel was a child, I loved him..." | God's covenantal love for Israel from its youth. |
| 2 Sam 7:12 | "...I will raise up your offspring after you..." | God's covenant with David concerning his lineage. |
| 1 Ki 3:10 | "...because you have asked this thing..." | God grants Solomon wisdom because of his humble request. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "...exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west...but God is the Judge." | God is the ultimate authority who brings down and sets up. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | All authority, including kingship, is ordained by God. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings." | God's absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus..." | God uses even foreign kings for His purposes. |
| Ezr 1:1 | "...the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia..." | Example of God working through foreign kings. |
| Isa 43:4 | "Since you were precious in My sight...I have loved you..." | Affirmation of Israel's preciousness to God. |
| Ps 44:3 | "For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword...but by Your right hand..." | God's power and love give His people their inheritance. |
| Gal 3:8 | "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith..." | Foreshadows God's love extending beyond Israel to all nations through faith. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love..." | God's love as the source of salvation and grace for all. |
2 Chronicles 2 verses
2 Chronicles 2 11 Meaning
In 2 Chronicles 2:11, King Huram of Tyre, a non-Israelite ruler, communicates his response to King Solomon's request for aid in building the Temple. His letter begins by attributing Solomon's kingship directly to Yahweh, the God of Israel, stating that it is "because the LORD loves His people" (Israel) that He has established Solomon as their king. This acknowledges God's sovereign hand in establishing rulers and His deep, abiding love for the nation of Israel, setting a divine context for the grand Temple project.
2 Chronicles 2 11 Context
Chapter 2 of 2 Chronicles opens with Solomon's preparations to build the Temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. He enlists laborers and requests specialized materials from Huram, King of Tyre, specifically cedar and cypress timber, and skilled craftsmen. This verse, 2 Chronicles 2:11, is Huram's initial response to Solomon's communication. It comes as a statement of recognition of Yahweh's sovereignty and His benevolent actions toward Israel, providing a theological underpinning for Huram's subsequent cooperation. Historically, the alliance between Israel (under David and Solomon) and Tyre was economically and strategically significant, with Tyre providing maritime expertise and resources, and Israel offering agricultural products. This exchange highlights the regional political dynamics while also underscoring the Chronicler's emphasis on God's divine arrangement even through international relations. The account also stands as a counterpart to the version found in 1 Kings 5.
2 Chronicles 2 11 Word analysis
- Then Huram king of Tyre answered in writing: Huram (חִירָם, Chiram) was a Phoenician king, known for his skill in metallurgy and cedar wood. Tyre (צֹר, Tsor) was a powerful city-state, known for its commercial prowess and natural resources like timber. The communication "in writing" indicates official, diplomatic exchange, highlighting the importance and formality of this alliance and agreement. The Chronicler emphasizes this formal acknowledgement of Solomon's kingship by a foreign monarch.
- which he sent to Solomon: Establishes the recipient and target of this significant declaration, solidifying the diplomatic relationship between the two kings.
- "Because the LORD loves His people...": This phrase reveals the core theological declaration of the verse.
- Because (בְּאַהֲבַת, bəʾa·ha·vaṯ): Meaning "because of the love of." The Hebrew preposition bet plus the noun ahava (love) indicates the direct cause or motivation. It points to divine love as the sole reason.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): Refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, uniquely worshipped by Israel. It is highly significant that a non-Israelite king not only acknowledges, but names and attributes divine actions to, the God of Israel. This contrasts with the typical pagan understanding where rulers attributed their power to their own gods or fate, thus affirming Yahweh's supremacy even over foreign potentates, and functioning as an indirect polemic against contemporary polytheistic claims about royal authority.
- loves (אָהֵב, ʾa·hev): The verb "to love" here emphasizes God's personal, affectionate, and steadfast relationship with Israel, consistent with the covenant theology. It denotes an active, benevolent divine will.
- His people (עַמּוֹ, ʿam·mōw): Specifically refers to Israel, the nation chosen by Yahweh. This reiterates the special, unique relationship between God and Israel, underscoring their status as God's elect.
- He has made you king over them":
- He has made (נְתָנְךָ֙, nə·ṯā·nə·ḵā): Literally, "He has given you" or "appointed you." This Hebrew verb natan clearly states divine installation and authority. Solomon's kingship is not due to human cunning or conquest but by divine bestowal.
- you king: "You" refers to Solomon. This highlights Solomon's divine mandate, reinforcing the Chronicler's agenda that the Davidic monarchy holds legitimate and God-ordained authority.
- over them: Referring to Israel, "His people." This reinforces that Solomon's reign is part of God's overarching plan for His chosen nation.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Huram... answered in writing...": Formal diplomatic recognition. It establishes a significant relationship and authenticates the words that follow.
- "Because the LORD loves His people...": This forms the foundational theological statement. It sets God's unwavering love for Israel as the primary motivation for divine action in the world. This specific divine attribute of love (אֱלֹהִים אֹהֵב) for His chosen people is central to understanding Israel's history and destiny, echoing themes throughout Deuteronomy. It is also an assertion of Yahweh's character as sovereign and benevolent, even when perceived by a foreign ruler.
- "...He has made you king over them.": This demonstrates God's sovereignty over kingship and nations. It directly attributes Solomon's ascension to Yahweh, removing any human-centric claims and grounding royal authority in divine will. This phrase establishes Solomon as a divinely appointed ruler, legitimizing his position for the massive undertaking of building the Temple.
2 Chronicles 2 11 Bonus section
The Chronicler often emphasizes the Davidic line's legitimacy and divine appointment more explicitly than the account in Kings. Huram's statement in 2 Chronicles 2:11, though paralleled in 1 Kings 5:7, receives added weight and prominence due to the Chronicler's overarching theological narrative focusing on the centrality of God's covenant with David and the legitimacy of his successors. The acknowledgment from a foreign potentate provides external validation for Yahweh's universal sovereignty, showcasing that even those outside the covenant community recognized God's hand in Israel's affairs. This theme, where Gentile leaders recognize the LORD's supremacy, resurfaces throughout scripture (e.g., Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, Cyrus in Ezra).
2 Chronicles 2 11 Commentary
2 Chronicles 2:11 serves as a profound theological statement through the mouth of a foreign king, Huram of Tyre. His acknowledgment that Solomon's kingship is a direct result of Yahweh's love for His people is highly significant. It validates Solomon's authority as divinely ordained, which is crucial for the grand Temple project that follows. This statement affirms God's providential care for Israel and His active involvement in their leadership. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, it was a powerful reminder of God's unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people, regardless of their circumstances. It underscores that all earthly authority is ultimately established by God's sovereign will and, in Israel's case, by His profound covenantal love. The verse provides a basis for understanding the sanctity of Solomon's rule and, by extension, the sanctity of the Temple built under his reign.