2 Chronicles 2 17

2 Chronicles 2:17 kjv

And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.

2 Chronicles 2:17 nkjv

Then Solomon numbered all the aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census in which David his father had numbered them; and there were found to be one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred.

2 Chronicles 2:17 niv

Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600.

2 Chronicles 2:17 esv

Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600.

2 Chronicles 2:17 nlt

Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600.

2 Chronicles 2 verses

2 Chronicles 2 17 Meaning

2 Chronicles 2:17 details King Solomon's administrative action of conducting a census of all the foreign residents (sojourners) in the land of Israel. This numbering was undertaken following an earlier enumeration by his father, King David. The precise total count of these sojourners was found to be 153,600. This action was a critical step in organizing the vast labor force required for the ambitious project of building the Temple for the Lord, ensuring an ample supply of workers for various tasks.

2 Chronicles 2 17 Context

Chapter 2 of 2 Chronicles details the preparatory steps taken by King Solomon for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Having sent a message to Hiram, King of Tyre, to request skilled workers and materials (vv. 3-10), and receiving a favorable response (vv. 11-16), Solomon then turns his attention to organizing the vast labor force needed. Verse 17 directly follows this, highlighting his meticulous administration. The act of counting the foreigners specifically (rather than Israelites, who were generally not to be enslaved for labor, see Lev 25:39-46) underscores a practical solution to obtain the massive manpower required for such a monumental undertaking, while respecting the status of the native Israelites. Historically, forced labor, often from conquered or resident foreign populations, was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern empires for large public works. Solomon, inheriting a land with various non-Israelite groups who had resided there since the conquest, utilized this pre-existing demographic for his massive building projects, aligning with the earlier preparations and directives initiated by his father David. This verse positions Solomon's reign as a period of grand construction, marked by organization, abundant resources, and extensive use of labor.

2 Chronicles 2 17 Word analysis

• And Solomon numbered (וַיִּסְפֹּ֤ר - wa-yispor): This Hebrew verb saphar (סָפַר) means "to count," "to recount," or "to number." It implies an organized administrative action of census-taking or tallying. In this context, it signifies a deliberate and systematic enumeration, not a casual estimation, highlighting Solomon's methodical approach to the Temple project. It’s distinct from a census for military purposes.
• all the strangers (כָּל־הַגֵּרִ֤ים - kol ha-gerim):
  • all (כָּל־ - kol): Indicates completeness; not merely a selection, but every individual in this category.
  • strangers / sojourners (הַגֵּרִים - ha-gerim, from ger גֵּר): This term specifically refers to "resident aliens" or "foreigners" who resided among the Israelites. They were not native-born (עֶזְרָח - ezrach) but had settled in the land. While the Mosaic Law generally advocated for their just treatment and protection (Lev 19:33-34, Deut 10:19), their distinct legal and social status permitted their use for certain kinds of labor, unlike Israelites who were not to be made bondservants for public works (Lev 25:39-46). These would be the remnants of pre-Israelite inhabitants and other foreign immigrants.
• that were in the land of Israel: This phrase delimits the scope of the census to the geographical boundaries under Solomon's direct rule, where these sojourners resided and could be mobilized for labor. It distinguishes them from people living in other nations or regions.
• after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them: This is a crucial phrase. It means Solomon's action was not an arbitrary or new count but was based on, or a re-confirmation of, a previous census initiated by King David. This legitimizes Solomon's current action and ties it to David's vision and preparations for the Temple. 1 Chronicles 22:2 explicitly states that David commanded the gathering of foreigners in Israel to prepare stone for the Temple, providing the context for this earlier census.
• and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred (מֵאָה֩ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֨ים אֶ֜לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֗ים וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵא֛וֹת - me’ah wa-chamishim elef u-shloshet alafim w'shesh-me'ot): This gives the precise total of 153,600. The detailed enumeration, spelling out hundreds of thousands, thousands, and hundreds, emphasizes the meticulous nature of the count and the sheer scale of manpower available. The large, precise number underscores the vastness of the undertaking for building the Temple and demonstrates Solomon's efficient administrative capacity.

2 Chronicles 2 17 Bonus section

The chronicler often presents a more positive view of David and Solomon compared to the Books of Samuel and Kings. In this verse, Solomon's numbering of "strangers" (foreigners) is portrayed positively as part of the Temple building effort, tracing back to David's preparatory actions. This stands in contrast to David's infamous sinful census in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, which brought divine judgment because it was done out of pride and reliance on human strength, likely for military purposes or taxation, rather than for God's purposes. Here, the census is for a legitimate and divinely ordained project—building the house for the Lord—and is specifically of a population (foreigners) whose labor was considered permissible to harness for such grand undertakings. This differentiation underlines the purpose and legitimacy of a census in the eyes of the inspired biblical writer. The division of the labor force as specified in the subsequent verse (70,000 burden-bearers, 80,000 quarrymen, and 3,600 overseers) also precisely adds up to the total 153,600 identified here, showing detailed administrative organization.

2 Chronicles 2 17 Commentary

2 Chronicles 2:17 encapsulates King Solomon's meticulous planning and the massive scale of the Temple construction project. Following his father David's visionary preparations, Solomon effectively mobilized a vast workforce by identifying and enumerating the non-Israelite residents, or sojourners. This census was not simply a count, but an administrative act of preparation for conscripted labor, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms for massive building efforts. The 153,600 foreigners served as the backbone of the workforce, carrying burdens and quarrying stone, thus sparing native Israelites from such onerous servitude as per divine law (Lev 25:39-46). This verse highlights Solomon’s sagacious use of resources—not just materials from Hiram, but also the readily available human capital—to accomplish God’s will, ensuring that the Temple, a testament to God's dwelling among His people, was built on an unprecedented scale, reflecting the wealth and administrative acumen of the united kingdom under his rule. It illustrates the practical wisdom required to execute divine mandates on a grand scale.