Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Chronicles 2

The temple is the first priority among Solomon’s building projects, even though construction began in the fourth year of his reign (2 Chronicles 3:2). Solomon spent the earlier years negotiating with King Hiram (2 Chronicles 2:3) for materials and skilled workers.

The house...will be great: The temple's greatness and God's greatness are different. Even the highest heavens cannot contain God.

• The cedar, known as Cedrus libani or "cedar of Lebanon," is famous for its beauty, height (up to 100 feet), and fragrant wood. Kings from Egypt, Phoenicia, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece used cedar wood from Lebanon to build temples and palaces.

• Algum logs was used to make supports for the Temple, possibly pillars or railings, as well as musical instruments (see 1 Kings 10:11). Although often mentioned in ancient texts, the exact type of this hard, reddish-brown wood is unknown.

The temple needed the skill and knowledge of Huram-abi, a master craftsman. Huram-abi was an expert in metals like gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as stone, wood, and textiles such as purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. Similarly, God chose Bezalel as the master craftsman of the tabernacle and gave him wisdom to complete the work (Exodus 31:1–5).

The book of Kings states that people from the seven nations were forced into labor. No Israelites were forced to work; instead, they supervised the laborers (1 Kings 9:20–23).