Preparations for the Temple
2 Chronicles 2
Solomon conscripts laborers and writes to Chiram, king of Tyre, asking for a skilled craftsman and cedar timber to build a house for the name of the Lord. Chiram agrees to send a craftsman and timber in exchange for wheat, barley, wine, and oil, while Solomon numbers the foreigners in the land to serve as workers.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomsoncollected seventy thousand men to carry burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone on the mountains; and the overseers over them, were three thousand six hundred.
BrentonAnd Solomon gathered seventy thousand men that bore burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the mountain, and there were three thousand six hundred superintendents over them.
GreekΚαὶ συνήγαγε Σαλωμὼν ἑβδομήκοντα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν νωτοφόρων, καὶ ὀγδοήκοντα χιλιάδας λατόμων ἐν τῷ ὄρει, καὶ οἱ ἐπιστάται ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τρισχίλιοι ἑξακόσιοι.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd Solomon counted out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
2
ThomsonAnd Solomon sent to Chiram, king of Tyre, saying, As thou hast dealt with my father David and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in;
BrentonAnd Solomon sent to Chiram king of Tyre, saying, Whereas thou didst deal favourably with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build for himself a house to dwell in,
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλε Σαλωμὼν πρὸς Χιρὰμ βασιλέα Τύρου, λέγων, ὡς ἐποίησας μετὰ Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ ἀπέστειλας αὐτῷ κέδρους τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι ἑαυτῷ οἶκον κατοικῆσαι ἐν αὐτῷ,
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 a house to dwell therein [, even so deal with me].
3
Thomsonbehold I, his son, am going to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, to be dedicated to Him, that I may burn incense before Him, and set bread continually in His presence, and that I may offer whole burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, and on the sabbaths, and at the new moons and festivals of the Lord our God; this being an ordinance forever to Israel.
Brentonbehold, I also his son am building a house to the name of the Lord my God, to consecrate it to him, to burn incense before him, and to offer shewbread continually, and to offer up whole-burnt-offerings continually morning and evening, and on the sabbaths, and at the new moons, and at the feasts of the Lord our God: this is a perpetual statute for Israel.
Greekκαὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ οἰκοδομῶ οἶκον τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου Θεοῦ μου, ἁγιάσαι αὐτὸν αὐτῷ τοῦ θυμιᾷν ἀπέναντι αὐτοῦ θυμίαμα καὶ πρόθεσιν διαπαντὸς, καὶ τοῦ ἀναφέρειν ὁλοκαυτώματα διαπαντὸς τοπρωῒ καὶ τοδείλης, καὶ ἐν τοῖς σαββάτοις, καὶ ἐν ταῖς νουμηνίαις, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἑορταῖς τοῦ Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν· εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦτο ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVBehold, 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.
JPSBehold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, and to burn before Him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the appointed seasons of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
4
ThomsonAnd as the house which I am going to build is great; for great is the Lord our God above all gods, and who is able to build a house for Him?
BrentonAnd the house which I am building is to be great: for the Lord our God is great beyond all gods.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ οἶκος ὃν ἐγὼ οἰκοδομῶ, μέγας, ὅτι μέγας Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς.
KJVAnd the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
JPSAnd the house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
5
ThomsonFor the heaven and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain His glory; who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, save only to burn incense before Him?
BrentonAnd who will be able to build him a house? for the heaven and heaven of heavens do not bear his glory: and who am I, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
GreekΚαὶ τίς ἰσχύσει οἰκοδομῆσαι αὐτῷ οἶκον; ὅτι ὁ οὐρανὸς, καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οὐ φέρουσι τὴς δόξαν αὐτοῦ· καὶ τίς ἐγὼ οἰκοδομῶν αὐτῷ οἶκον; ὅτι ἀλλʼ ἢ τοῦ θυμιᾷν κατέναντι αὐτοῦ.
KJVBut 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?
JPSBut who is able to build Him a house, seeing the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him a house, save only to offer before Him?
6
ThomsonNow therefore send me a man wise and skilled in working up gold and silver, and brass and iron, and purple and scarlet and blue, and who can engrave skillfully with the skillful men who are with me in Jerusalem, those materials which my father hath provided.
BrentonAnd now send me a man wise and skilled to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and in scarlet, and in blue, and one that knows how to grave together with the craftsmen who are with me in Juda and in Jerusalem, which materials my father David prepared.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἀπόστειλόν μοι ἄνδρα σοφὸν καὶ εἰδότα τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἐν τῷ χρυσίῳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀργυρίῳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ χαλκῷ, καὶ ἐν τῷ σιδήρῳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ πορφύρᾳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ κοκκίνῳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ ὑακίνθῳ, καὶ ἐπιστάμενον γλύψαι γλυφὴν μετὰ τῶν σοφῶν τῶν μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἐν Ἰούδα καὶ ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἃ ἡτοίμασε Δαυὶδ ὁ πατήρ μου.
KJVSend 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.
JPSNow therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that hath skill to grave all manner of gravings, to be with the skilful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
7
ThomsonSend me also cedar and cypress and pine timber, from Lebanon.
BrentonAnd send me from Libanus cedar wood, and wood of juniper, and pine; for I know that thy servants are skilled in cutting timber in Libanus: and, behold, thy servants shall go with my servants,
GreekΚαὶ ἀπόστειλόν μοι ξύλα κέδρινα καὶ ἀρκεύθινα καὶ πεύκινα ἐκ τοῦ Λιβάνου, ὅτι ἐγὼ οἶδα ὡς οἱ δοῦλοί σου οἴδασι κόπτειν ξύλα ἐκ τοῦ Λιβάνου· καὶ ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδές σου μετὰ τῶν παίδων μου
KJVSend 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,
JPSSend me also cedar-trees, cypress-trees, and sandal-wood, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
8
ThomsonAs I know how expert thy servants are in cutting timber from Lebanon, let thy servants therefore go with my servants, to provide me timber in plenty: for the house which I am going to build, is to be great and glorious.
Brentonto prepare timber for me in abundance: for the house which I am building must be great and glorious.
Greekπορεύσονται ἑτοιμάσαι μοι ξύλα εἰς πλῆθος, ὅτι ὁ οἶκος ὃν ἐγὼ οἰκοδομῶ μέγας καὶ ἔνδοξος.
KJVEven to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
JPSeven to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
9
ThomsonNow behold, I have assigned provisions for the workmen who cut the timber, food for thy servants, twenty thousand cor-measures of wheat, and twenty thousand cors of barley, and twenty thousand measures of wine, and twenty thousand measures of oil.
BrentonAnd, behold, I have given freely to thy servants that work and cut the wood, corn for food, even twenty thousand measures of wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand measures of wine, and twenty thousand measures of oil.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ τοῖς ἐργαζομένοις τοῖς κόπτουσι ξύλα, εἰς βρώματα δέδωκα σῖτον εἰς δόματα τοῖς παισί σου κόρων πυροῦ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας, καὶ κριθῶν κόρων εἴκοσι χιλιάδας, καὶ οἴνου μέτρων εἴκοσι χιλιάδας, καὶ ἐλαίου μέτρων εἴκοσι χιλιάδας.
KJVAnd, 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.
JPSAnd, 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.’
10
ThomsonTo this Chiram king of Tyre replied in writing, and sent to Solomon, saying, Because the Lord loved His people, He hath made thee king over them.
BrentonAnd Chiram king of Tyre answered in writing, and sent to Solomon, saying, Because the Lord loved his people, he made thee king over them.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Χιρὰμ βασιλεὺς Τύρου ἐν γραφῇ, καὶ ἀνέστειλε πρὸς Σαλωμὼν, λέγων, ἐν τῷ ἀγαπῆσαι Κύριον τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, ἔδωκέ σε ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς βασιλέα.
KJVThen Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
JPSThen Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: ‘Because the LORD loveth His people, He hath made thee king over them.’
11
ThomsonMoreover Chiram said, Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, Who made the heaven and the earth, Who hath given king David, a wise son endued with knowledge and understanding, to build a house for the Lord and a house for His kingdom.
BrentonAnd Chiram said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to king David a wise son, and one endowed with knowledge and understanding, who shall build a house for the Lord, and a house for his kingdom.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Χιρὰμ, εὐλογητὸς Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, ὃς ἐποίησε τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, ὃς ἔδωκε τῷ Δαυὶδ τῷ βασιλεῖ υἱὸν σοφὸν, καὶ ἐπιστάμενον ἐπιστήμην καὶ σύνεσιν, ὃς οἰκοδομήσει οἶκον τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ οἶκον τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ.
KJVHuram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
JPSHuram said moreover: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for the LORD, and a house for his kingdom.
12
ThomsonNow therefore I have sent thee a man of wisdom and understanding, named after my father Chiram.
BrentonAnd now I have sent thee a wise and understanding man who belonged to Chiram my father
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἀπέστειλά σοι ἄνδρα σοφὸν καὶ εἰδότα σύνεσιν Χιρὰμ τὸν πατέρα μου,
KJVAnd now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
JPSAnd now I have sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, even Huram my master craftsman,
13
ThomsonHis mother was one of the daughters of Dan, but his father was a Tyrian. He is skilled in working up gold and silver, and brass and iron, and stones and wood; and in weaving purple and blue yarn, and cotton, and with scarlet; and engraving and executing every device to which thou shalt put him with thy artists, and the artists of my lord David, thy father.
Brenton(his mother was of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a Tyrian), skilled to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in stones and wood; and to weave with purple, and blue, and fine linen, and scarlet; and to engrave, and to understand every device, whatsoever thou shalt give him to do with thy craftsmen, and the craftsmen of my lord David thy father.
Greekἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ θυγατέρων Δὰν, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἀνὴρ Τύριος, εἰδότα ποιῆσαι ἐν χρυσίῳ, καὶ ἐν ἀργυρίῳ, καὶ ἐν χαλκῷ, καὶ ἐν σιδήρῳ, καὶ ἐν λίθοις καὶ ξύλοις, καὶ ὑφαίνειν ἐν τῇ πορφύρᾳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ ὑακίνθῳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ βύσσῳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ κοκκίνῳ, καὶ γλύψαι γλυφὰς, καὶ διανοεῖσθαι πᾶσαν διανόησιν, ὅσα ἂν δῷς αὐτῷ μετὰ τῶν σοφῶν σου, καὶ σοφῶν Δαυὶδ κυρίου μου πατρός σου.
KJVThe son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.
JPSthe son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to devise any device; to do whatever may be set before him, with thy skilful men, and with the skilful men of my lord David thy father.
14
ThomsonAnd with regard to the wheat and the barley and the oil and the wine, which my lord hath mentioned, let him send them to his servants,
BrentonAnd now, the wheat, and the barley, and the oil, and the wine which my lord mentioned, let him send to his servants.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὴν κριθὴν, καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον, καὶ τὸν οἶνον ἃ εἶπεν ὁ κύριός μου, ἀποστειλάτω τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ.
KJVNow therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
JPSNow therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants;
15
Thomsonand we will cut timber from Lebanon, as much as thou shalt want, and send it in floats by water to Joppa, that thou mayst convey it to Jerusalem.
BrentonAnd we will cut timber out of Libanus according to all thy need, and we will bring it on rafts to the sea of Joppa, and thou shalt bring it to Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ ἡμεῖς κόψομεν ξύλα ἐκ τοῦ Λιβάνου κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν χρείαν σου, καὶ ἄξομεν αὐτὰ σχεδίαις ἐπὶ θάλασσαν Ἰόππης, καὶ σὺ ἄξεις αὐτὰ εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVAnd we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
JPSand we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.’
16
ThomsonWhen Solomon assembled all the strangers who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering which his father David had made of them, they were found to amount to a hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred.
BrentonAnd Solomon gathered all the foreigners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father numbered them; and there were found a hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred.
GreekΚαὶ συνήγαγε Σαλωμὼν πάντας τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς προσηλύτους τοὺς ἐν γῇ Ἰσραὴλ μετὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν ὃν ἠρίθμησεν αὐτοὺς Δαυὶδ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὑρέθησαν ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα χιλιάδες καὶ τρισχίλιοι ἑξακόσιοι.
KJVAnd Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
JPSAnd Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
17
ThomsonSo of these he appointed seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones, and three thousand six hundred to be overseers, to keep the people to work.
BrentonAnd he made of them seventy thousand burden-bearers, and eighty thousand hewers of stone, and three thousand six hundred taskmasters over the people.
GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησεν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα χιλιάδας νωτοφόρων, καὶ ὀγδοήκοντα χιλιάδας λατόμων, καὶ τρισχιλίους ἑξακοσίους ἐργοδιώκτας ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν.
KJVAnd he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
JPSAnd he set threescore and ten thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people at work.