King Hiram Sent a Letter to Solomn

II Chronicles 2:11–18
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Solomon sends the blueprint for the temple to Hiram, the king of Tyre. Huram readily received Solomon’s request and “answered in  writing” (v. 1). The terms and conditions Solomon set were acceptable to Hiram in every way. This country recognized and accepted the new leadership of Solomon as King over Israel. Huram wrote “Because the Lord has loved his people, he has made you king over them.”

The man who Hiram chose to send to Solomon as the chief craftsman was Huram-Abi, a half-Israelite, whose mother was from the tribe of Dan. According to I Kings 7:14, his “mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali.” This difference may be explained by understanding Dan to be her tribe by birth and Naphtal, her residence, or vice versa.

The terms and conditions Solomon set were acceptable to Hiram in every way. He would immediately cut and ship the timber by sea to the Israel part of Joppa from where it would be transported overland to Jerusalem. With the arrangements now complete, Solomon gathers his work gangs drawing them from Israelites and from resident  aliens (v.17, and I Chronicles 22:2). This presupposes class structures in which non-Israelites were sometimes forced into public service projects such as this project of temple building.       

Application

It was said to Solomon (in v. 1) “Because the Lord has loved his people, he has made you King over them.” What leader could you say this about today? A teacher, employer, pastor, government official . . . Concerning those you lead, could this be said of you?