2 Chronicles 2:3 kjv
And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
2 Chronicles 2:3 nkjv
Then Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre, saying: As you have dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.
2 Chronicles 2:3 niv
Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in.
2 Chronicles 2:3 esv
And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: "As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me.
2 Chronicles 2:3 nlt
Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.
2 Chronicles 2 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:1-17 | ...David said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains... But the Lord told you that he would build thee an house... | David's desire for God's house; God's promise of a dynasty. |
| 1 Chron 14:1 | Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him an house. | Huram's previous aid to David for his palace. |
| 1 Chron 17:1-15 | ...David abode in his house... "I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another." | Parallel account of David's house and God's dwelling. |
| 1 Chron 22:1-19 | Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God... and I will make ready for him... stones... iron... brass... timber and stone... And behold, I have given to Solomon thy son twelve thousand talents of gold... | David's preparations for the Temple building. |
| 1 Kings 5:1-18 | And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon... and Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God... | Parallel account in Kings; confirms David's intention. |
| 1 Kings 5:6 | Command therefore that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants... for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. | Solomon's request for cedars and skilled labor. |
| 1 Kings 6:7 | And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither... | God's Temple built with pre-prepared materials. |
| 1 Kings 9:11-13 | (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. | Fulfillment of Huram's provision for the Temple. |
| Isa 60:13 | The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. | Future nations providing materials for God's glory. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | ...the Man whose name is the BRANCH... He shall build the temple of the Lord... and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne... | Prophecy of Christ building the spiritual Temple. |
| Matt 21:13 | And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. | Jesus references God's Temple as "My house". |
| Mark 14:58 | We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. | Jesus speaking of His body as the true Temple. |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... he spake of the temple of his body. | Christ as the new Temple. |
| Acts 7:47-50 | But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool... | Stephen's sermon; physical temple limitations. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: | The Church as a spiritual Temple built on Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. | Believers as "living stones" forming a spiritual house. |
| Heb 3:3-6 | For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. | Christ as the builder and master of the spiritual house. |
| Rev 21:22 | And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. | The ultimate reality of God as the dwelling place. |
| 2 Chron 2:1 | And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. | Solomon's stated purpose for the 'house'. |
| Exod 25:8 | And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. | God's desire for a dwelling place among His people. |
2 Chronicles 2 verses
2 Chronicles 2 3 Meaning
2 Chronicles 2:3 details King Solomon's communication with Huram, the king of Tyre, seeking a continuation of the trade relationship and skilled labor that had existed between Huram and Solomon's father, King David. Solomon specifically reminds Huram how he had previously supplied David with cedars to build David's royal palace, and now requests the same favor to aid in the construction of the Temple, a far greater undertaking. This verse initiates a vital partnership essential for the sacred construction project.
2 Chronicles 2 3 Context
Chapter 2 of 2 Chronicles begins with Solomon's clear resolve to build a house for the name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself (2 Chron 2:1). Having inherited a consolidated kingdom and abundant resources prepared by David, Solomon immediately acts on this determination. Verse 3 specifically focuses on the initial practical step of securing high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship for this massive undertaking. It shows Solomon reaching out to a reliable, proven foreign ally, acknowledging an established, mutually beneficial relationship rather than attempting to gather all resources internally. This highlights the early phase of planning and securing resources for the Temple project, following Solomon's earlier declaration of intent. Historically, Tyre was a prominent Phoenician city-state known for its naval power, vast trade networks, and most importantly for this context, its skilled craftsmen in metallurgy and timber, especially the famed cedars of Lebanon.
2 Chronicles 2 3 Word analysis
- And Solomon sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח שְׁלֹמֹה - vayyišlaḥ šĕlōmōh): The Hebrew verb šālaḥ (to send) implies intentional, decisive action. Solomon initiates contact with Huram, asserting his royal authority and moving forward with his building plans, demonstrating leadership from the outset of his reign regarding the Temple.
- to Huram king of Tyre, (אֶל־חוּרָם מֶלֶךְ־צוֹר - ’el-ḥûrām meleḵ-ṣôr): This identifies the recipient of Solomon's message. Huram (also called Hiram in 1 Kings and some other passages) was a powerful foreign ruler whose domain, Tyre (a prominent Phoenician city on the coast of Lebanon, Ṣōr in Hebrew), was known for its valuable cedar forests and exceptional craftsmen. This alliance signifies God's sovereign hand using Gentile nations and resources for His redemptive purposes, and showcases the kingdom's expanded influence during Solomon's reign.
- saying, (לֵאמֹר - lē’mōr): A standard introductory term for direct speech, indicating the precise words of the message.
- As thou didst deal with David my father, (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִם־דָּוִיד אָבִי - ka’ăšer ‘āśîṯā ‘im-dāwiḏ ’āḇî): Solomon grounds his request in precedent, appealing to the established, positive relationship between Huram and David. The verb ‘āśâ (to do, to deal with) implies carrying out actions, a covenant of sorts, emphasizing a history of cooperation and loyalty. This appeals to mutual respect and enduring partnership, highlighting continuity in Israel's foreign policy under the new king.
- and didst send him cedars (וַתִּשְׁלַח־לוֹ אֲרָזִים - wattišlaḥ-lô ’ărāzîm): A specific and significant detail of Huram's past help. "Cedars" (’ărāzîm), referring to the cedars of Lebanon, were highly prized, durable timber, essential for large-scale building projects and symbols of strength and beauty. They were a cornerstone of Phoenician commerce. This gift of cedars was crucial for David's palace, and would be even more so for the Temple.
- to build him an house to dwell therein, (לִבְנוֹת לוֹ בַיִת לָשֶׁבֶת בּוֹ - liḇnôt lô bayit lāšeḇeṯ bō): This clearly references the construction of David's personal palace, detailed in 1 Chronicles 14:1. The word "house" (bayit) primarily refers to a physical structure. This established the historical precedent of Huram's material aid for Israelite royal construction. While the immediate comparison is to David's personal dwelling, the very next phrase (below) reorients the "house" for Solomon to the Temple.
- even so deal with me. (כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה עִמָּדִי - kēn ta‘aśeh ‘immādî): This is the direct plea. "Even so" (lit. "thus") means "in the same manner." Solomon asks Huram to extend the same courtesy, resources, and cooperation that he gave David for his house, now for Solomon's (and more importantly, God's) grand project. While the specific object of Huram's aid for David was his personal palace, Solomon's request in this context is for help in building God's Temple, setting the stage for the rest of the chapter's discussion of the Temple's grandeur. The phrasing leverages a known good relationship to ensure the success of the new, more significant divine architectural undertaking.
2 Chronicles 2 3 Bonus section
- The reliance on Phoenician materials and craftsmanship demonstrates the economic prosperity and international standing of Israel during Solomon's reign, a fulfillment of God's blessings.
- The choice of "cedars of Lebanon" for the Temple building, as they were also used for David's palace, elevates the sacred structure to a standard of the highest earthly quality, reflecting the honor and glory due to God.
- This cooperative venture with Huram stands in contrast to times when God commanded Israel to be distinct from other nations. Here, the alliance is pragmatic and instrumental in God's service, showcasing different facets of divine instruction for His people in varying contexts.
- The meticulous records of who supplied what for the Temple building project emphasize that every contribution, great or small, foreign or domestic, was integral to God's ultimate plan, just as every member of the spiritual body of Christ contributes to its building (Eph 4:16).
2 Chronicles 2 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 2:3 captures the crucial moment of Solomon's initiation of the Temple construction by leveraging existing relationships. Solomon, with strategic foresight, does not demand but requests, appealing to Huram's previous generosity and partnership with David. This diplomatic approach underscores wisdom in leadership, recognizing the value of alliances and external expertise. The explicit mention of Huram sending "cedars to build him an house to dwell therein" serves as a contractual precedent for the new request. It establishes Huram as a trusted and capable provider. While David’s 'house' was his personal palace, the overarching context of 2 Chronicles 2 is Solomon's preparation for building God's Temple. Therefore, Solomon's "even so deal with me" subtly but clearly implies continuing the aid for the divine dwelling, on a scale far grander than David's palace. This verse not only highlights the practicalities of the Temple construction but also the theological truth that God often uses varied human resources and international cooperation to accomplish His divine purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty over all nations and their resources.