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(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Chronicles 2:1–10, “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them. 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. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.”
Even though David had made many preparations for Solomon to build the Temple, Solomon had to decide, for himself, to build the Temple. After Solomon became king and established his power base in the kingdom, he decided to use his own influence and actually build the Temple. He appointed a work force from among his own people and then approached Huram, the king of Tyre, to help him in the work. Huram came from a part of the world where there was an abundance of high quality timber and experienced craftsmen to work with the timber. Huram also had skilful metal workers who could prepare the gold and silver fittings and instruments for the Temple. Solomon made a contract with Huram for him to supply materials and workers while Solomon would give food back to Huram.
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