2 Chronicles 2

All 18 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Solomon made up his mind to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and also a royal palace for himself.
2. 2He assigned 70,000 men to carry loads, 80,000 to cut stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to supervise them.
3. 3Solomon sent a message to King Huram of Tyre: "You supplied my father David with cedar to build his palace. I'm asking you to do the same for me.
4. 4I'm about to build a temple for the name of the LORD my God, dedicated entirely to him — for burning fragrant incense before him, for displaying the bread that is always set out, and for the burnt offerings made every morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon festivals, and during the appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is a permanent obligation for Israel.
5. 5The temple I'm building will be magnificent, because our God is greater than all gods.
6. 6But who is able to build him a house, since the heaven and the highest heavens cannot contain him? So who am I to build him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before him?
7. 7So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and who is skilled with purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, and who knows how to do engraving. He'll work alongside the skilled craftsmen here in Judah and Jerusalem that my father David assembled.
8. 8Also send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon. I know your workers are experts at cutting timber there, and my men will work alongside yours
9. 9to prepare a large supply of lumber, because the temple I'm building will be wonderfully great.
10. 10As payment for your workers who cut the timber, I'll provide 20,000 measures of crushed wheat, 20,000 measures of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of olive oil."
11. 11King Huram of Tyre sent a written reply to Solomon: "Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you their king."
12. 12Huram also wrote, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, one who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
13. 13Now I have sent a skilled man with understanding, of Huram my father's.
14. 14His mother is from the tribe of Dan, and his father is from Tyre. He's an expert in working with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, as well as purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen. He can do any kind of engraving and carry out any design given to him. He'll work alongside your skilled craftsmen and those of my lord David, your father.
15. 15Now then, send the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine that my lord has promised to your servants.
16. 16We'll cut as much timber from Lebanon as you need and float it down to you in rafts by sea to Joppa. From there, you can transport it up to Jerusalem."
17. 17Solomon took a census of all the foreigners living in Israel, following the census his father David had conducted, and the total came to 153,600.
18. 18He assigned 70,000 of them to carry loads, 80,000 to cut stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to serve as overseers keeping the workers on task.