预备建圣殿
1所罗门决定为耶和华的名建造殿宇，也为自己兴建王宫。
2他征用七万名搬运工、八万名在山上凿石的匠人、三千六百名监工， 3并派人去见泰尔王希兰，说：“你曾运香柏木给我父亲建造王宫，请你也照样帮助我。 4现在，我要为我的上帝耶和华的名建一座殿，我要把殿献给祂，在祂面前烧芬芳的香，经常献上供饼，在每天早晚、安息日、朔日2:4 “朔日”即每月初一。及我们的上帝耶和华所定的节期献上燔祭。这是以色列人应当永远遵守的定例。 5我要建造的殿宇极其宏伟，因为我们的上帝超越一切神明。 6诸天尚且容纳不下祂，谁能为祂建造殿宇呢？我是谁，怎能为祂建造殿宇？我不过是建个向祂烧香的地方。 7现在，请你派一位巧匠来，他要懂得雕刻，会用金银铜铁铸造物品，会编织紫色、朱红色和蓝色的布，好与我父大卫在犹大和耶路撒冷所预备的巧匠一起工作。 8也请你从黎巴嫩运些香柏木、松木和檀香木来，因为我知道你的仆人擅长砍伐黎巴嫩的树木。我会派人与你的仆人一起工作。 9我要建的殿宇非常宏伟，所以需要的木料非常多。 10我会供给你的伐木工人四百四十万升小麦、四百四十万升大麦、四十四万升酒和四十四万升油。”
11泰尔王希兰写信给所罗门说：“耶和华爱祂的子民，所以立你做他们的王。 12创造天地的以色列的上帝耶和华当受称颂！祂赐给大卫王一个有智慧、谋略和悟性的儿子来为耶和华建殿，也为他自己建造王宫。 13现在，我派聪明能干的巧匠户兰去你那里。 14他的母亲是但支派的人，父亲是泰尔人。他精于雕刻和设计，善用金银铜铁和木石制造物品，又会编织紫色、蓝色、朱红色的布和细麻布。你可以让他与你的工匠和你父亲大卫的工匠一起工作。 15现在，请我主把许诺的小麦、大麦、油和酒运给仆人。 16我们会在黎巴嫩砍伐你需要的木材，扎成木筏，经海道运到约帕，你可以从那里将木材转运到耶路撒冷。”
17所罗门依照他父亲大卫的方法，统计所有寄居在以色列的外族人，共有十五万三千六百人。 18他指派其中的七万人做搬运工，八万人在山上采凿石头，三千六百人做监工。
1And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. 2And 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.
3¶ 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.2.3 Huram: or, Hiram 4Behold, 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.2.4 sweet…: Heb. incense of spices 5And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. 6But 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?2.6 is able: Heb. hath retained, or, obtained strength 7Send 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.2.7 to grave: Heb. to grave gravings 8Send 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,2.8 algum: also called, almuggim 9Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.2.9 wonderful…: Heb. great and wonderful 10And, 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.
11¶ Then 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. 12Huram 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.2.12 endued…: Heb. knowing prudence and understanding 13And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s, 14The 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. 15Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants: 16And 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.2.16 as much…: Heb according to all thy need2.16 Joppa: Heb. Japho
17¶ And 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.2.17 the strangers: Heb. the men the strangers 18And 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.
