2 Chronicles 34:11 kjv
Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
2 Chronicles 34:11 nkjv
They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to buy hewn stone and timber for beams, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
2 Chronicles 34:11 niv
They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.
2 Chronicles 34:11 esv
They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.
2 Chronicles 34:11 nlt
They hired carpenters and builders, who purchased finished stone for the walls and timber for the rafters and beams. They restored what earlier kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.
2 Chronicles 34 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 22:5-6 | "And let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord...to repair the house..." | Joash's temple repair |
| Exod 31:3-5 | "and I have filled him with the Spirit of God...to work in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze..." | Skill from God for craftsmanship |
| Exod 35:35 | "He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver..." | Divine enablement for skilled work |
| 1 Kgs 5:6 | "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me...my servants will be with your servants, to prepare timber..." | Solomon gathering timber for Temple building |
| 1 Kgs 5:17 | "And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones." | Quality materials for Solomon's Temple |
| 2 Chr 24:4-5 | "Joash resolved to restore the house of the Lord. And he gathered the priests and the Levites..." | Joash's initiative for temple repair |
| Hag 1:4 | "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" | Condemnation of neglecting God's house |
| Ps 26:8 | "O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells." | Devotion to God's dwelling place |
| Isa 64:10-11 | "Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned with fire, and all our pleasant places are in ruins." | Desolation due to sin and neglect |
| Ezra 1:3-4 | "Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem...and rebuild the house of the Lord..." | Return from exile to rebuild temple |
| Neh 2:17 | "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem..." | Rebuilding after ruin |
| Zech 4:9 | "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands will also complete it..." | Divine promise for completing building work |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old..." | Prophecy of future restoration |
| Matt 24:1-2 | "Then Jesus came out from the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple... 'There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.'" | Prophecy of Temple destruction |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' ...But he was speaking about the temple of his body." | Temple as Christ's body |
| 1 Cor 3:9-10 | "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation..." | Believers as God's spiritual building |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "So then you are no longer strangers...but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone..." | Spiritual temple built of believers |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | Believers as living stones in God's house |
| 2 Chr 34:1-2 | "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign...he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord..." | Josiah's righteous reign |
| 2 Chr 34:8 | "In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house..." | Timing of Josiah's Temple restoration |
| 2 Chr 34:12 | "The men did the work faithfully. Over them were Jahath and Obadiah...to direct the workmen..." | Integrity of workers and overseers |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house..." | Support for God's house |
2 Chronicles 34 verses
2 Chronicles 34 11 Meaning
2 Chronicles 34:11 describes King Josiah's practical administrative steps for the physical restoration of the Lord's house. It specifies that the collected funds were allocated to carpenters and builders to purchase high-quality hewn stones and timbers, specifically for structural elements like joints and rafters. This was to repair buildings, particularly the Temple itself, which previous Judean kings had allowed to fall into disrepair or had ruined through neglect and idolatry. It signifies Josiah's commitment to restoring not only the spiritual purity but also the physical integrity of divine worship.
2 Chronicles 34 11 Context
2 Chronicles chapter 34 details the righteous reign of King Josiah, one of Judah's last godly kings. Josiah began his reign at eight years old, and by his sixteenth year, he started to seek the Lord. By his twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry, destroying high places, Asherah poles, carved idols, and molten images throughout the land. This thorough spiritual cleansing, even extending to the territories of the Northern Kingdom, precedes the financial and material preparations for repairing the Temple. Verse 11 specifically outlines the practical implementation of his commitment to restore proper worship, describing the tangible steps taken to renovate the physical structure of the House of the Lord, which had suffered neglect and desecration under his idolatrous predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. This physical restoration symbolizes and accompanies Josiah's comprehensive spiritual reform across the land.
2 Chronicles 34 11 Word analysis
- to the carpenters: (Hebrew: לַנַּגָּרִים, lan-naggārîm) Refers to skilled woodworkers or craftsmen, adept at shaping and joining wood. These were crucial tradesmen for any substantial building project, reflecting the necessity of their specific skills in temple restoration.
- and the builders: (Hebrew: וְלַבֹּנִים, wə-labbōnîm) Refers to general constructors, masons, or those involved in stone work. The combination with "carpenters" indicates a comprehensive scope of tradesmen required for the multifaceted repair work.
- to buy: (Hebrew: לִקְנוֹת, liqnōṯ) Signifies a commercial transaction, highlighting the organized and resourced nature of Josiah's repair project. Money collected for the temple was being put to immediate practical use to procure necessary materials.
- hewn stone: (Hebrew: אֶבֶן גָּזִית, ’even gāzīṯ) Literally "stone cut." This refers to dressed, finished, or finely shaped stone. It implies quality and precision in materials, suitable for a sacred edifice like the Temple, distinct from rough or field stones.
- and timber: (Hebrew: וְעֵצִים, wə-‘ēṣîm) General term for wood or trees. Along with hewn stone, these were the primary construction materials of the time, signifying the foundational components needed for structural integrity and aesthetics.
- for joints: (Hebrew: לַמְחַבְּרוֹת, lamḥabbəróṯ) Implies materials for connecting or joining parts of the structure. This points to the need for specific, possibly smaller, pieces of timber or fittings designed for precise connections within the framework of the building, ensuring structural soundness.
- and for the rafters: (Hebrew: וְלַקֹּרוֹת, wə-laqqōrōṯ) Refers to beams, joists, or large pieces of timber used for support, especially for roofs or ceilings. These are essential load-bearing elements, indicating the need for heavy, strong wood to reconstruct the building's skeletal structure.
- of the buildings: (Hebrew: הַבָּתִּים, habbātîm) Though literally "the houses," in context, this refers specifically to the various structures comprising the temple complex, most prominently the main Temple building itself.
- that the kings of Judah: Refers to previous monarchs of Judah, particularly Manasseh and Amon, who either neglected the Temple during their reigns, allowed it to fall into disrepair, or actively defiled it with idolatrous practices.
- had let go to ruin: (Hebrew: הִזִּירוּ, hizzîrû) A strong verb meaning to abandon, destroy, lay waste, or allow to be desolated. This phrase sharply contrasts Josiah's proactive restoration with the negligent and destructive actions of his predecessors, emphasizing the extent of decay the temple had suffered.
2 Chronicles 34 11 Bonus section
The procurement of "hewn stone" indicates not just general repair but a commitment to craftsmanship and durability for God's house, reminiscent of Solomon's original temple construction. The neglect ("had let go to ruin") mentioned here points to both passive decay from lack of maintenance and possibly active damage caused by the introduction of idols and pagan altars within the Temple precincts by Manasseh and Amon. Josiah's act is thus a double restoration: physically removing foreign elements and structurally repairing the neglect. This detailed instruction for materials and skilled labor highlights Josiah's administrative efficiency and integrity in managing the donated funds, ensuring accountability in the sacred work, a characteristic of his godly reign.
2 Chronicles 34 11 Commentary
2 Chronicles 34:11 marks a crucial juncture in Josiah's spiritual revival, demonstrating that true reform encompasses both spiritual cleansing and practical care for God's sacred spaces. The meticulous allocation of funds to specific tradesmen for high-quality materials – hewn stone and carefully cut timbers for precise structural needs like joints and rafters – underscores the importance Josiah placed on restoring the physical integrity and dignity of the Lord's Temple. This act was a tangible repudiation of the widespread neglect and active desecration perpetrated by previous Judean kings. It reflects a profound understanding that God's house deserved the best, embodying a renewed reverence for divine worship. The practical efforts of funding, materials acquisition, and skilled labor mirrored Josiah's inward devotion, illustrating that godly leadership leads to responsible stewardship and tangible expressions of faith.