1 Chronicles 2
2 Chronicles 2 records the process in which Solomon prepared for the construction of the temple. This chapter shows that he wanted to build the temple not only with the help of Israel, but also with support from Gentiles. In particular, it specifically mentions that Solomon sent a letter to the king of Tyre, Hiram, requesting timber and craftsmen, along with details about the mustering and organization of manpower for the temple-building work.
1verseThese are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
2verseDan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
3verseThe sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; and he killed him.
4verseTamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
5verseThe sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
6verseThe sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five of them in all.
7verseThe son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.
8verseThe son of Ethan: Azariah.
9verseThe sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
10verseRam became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
11verseand Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
12verseand Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
13verseand Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
14verseNethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15verseOzem the sixth, and David the seventh;
16verseand their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.
17verseAbigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
18verseCaleb the son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
19verseAzubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
20verseHur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
21verseAfterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
22verseSegub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
23verseGeshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
24verseAfter Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron’s wife, bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
25verseThe sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
26verseJerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.
27verseThe sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28verseThe sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.
29verseThe name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
30verseThe sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; but Seled died without children.
31verseThe son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.
32verseThe sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.
33verseThe sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
34verseNow Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
35verseSheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai.
36verseAttai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,
37verseand Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,
38verseand Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,
39verseand Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
40verseand Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,
41verseand Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
42verseThe sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
43verseThe sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
44verseShema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai.
45verseThe son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
46verseEphah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez.
47verseThe sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jothan, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
48verseMaacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
49verseShe bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
50verseThese were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
51verseSalma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
52verseShobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
53verseThe families of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
54verseThe sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
55verseThe families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Structure and Flow of the Text
- Verses 1-2:Solomon prepares for building the temple and his palace
- Verses 3-10:He sends a letter to King Hiram of Tyre requesting help with timber and craftsmen
- Verses 11-16:Hiram responds positively and decides to send the needed materials and craftsmen
- Verses 17-18:Solomon surveys the foreigners in the land of Israel and puts them to work as laborers
Meaning of the Text
This chapter shows how Solomon, a wise king of Israel, prepared for national affairs with careful thoroughness, and how passionately and faithfully he committed himself to the work of building a temple to be offered to God. It is not just that he used resources within Israel; by also maintaining friendly relations with neighboring nations and obtaining professional help, this becomes a symbolic scene in which all the people come together to prepare the house to be offered to God.
Meditation Point
- We can reflect on the fact that God’s work requires community, wisdom, and a humble attitude, as seen in how Solomon thoroughly prepared from the very start of the temple construction and drew on the resources and cooperation of foreigners.
- Through the reasons and purpose of building the temple (verse 9: to bring glory to God), we are led to consider where the center of all our service and mission should be.
Applying it to Myself
- Check whether you are making sufficient preparations and plans in what you do, and whether wise cooperation is taking place.
- Consider in detail and put into practice how you can use your time, talents, and relationships in your life for the glory of God.
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