the building of the temple. To indicate this, all the costly materials which were to be employed for the temple and its vessels are enumerated. ארגּון, the later form of ארגּמן, deep-red purple, see on Exo 25:4. כּרמיל, occurring only here, 2Ch 2:6, 2Ch 2:13, and in 2Ch 3:14, in the signification of the Heb. שׁני תּולעת, crimson or scarlet purple, see on Exo 25:4. It is not originally a Hebrew word, but is probably derived from the Old-Persian, and has been imported, along with the thing itself, from Persia by the Hebrews. תּכלת, deep-blue purple, hyacinth purple, see on Exo 25:4. פּתּוּהים פּתּח, to make engraved work, and Exo 28:9, Exo 28:11, Exo 28:36, and Exo 39:6, of engraving precious stones, but used here, as כּל־פּתּוּח, 2Ch 2:13, shows, in the general signification of engraved work in metal or carved work in wood; cf. 1Ki 6:29. עם־החכמים depends upon לעשׂות: to work in gold ..., together with the wise (skilful) men which are with me in Judah. הכין אשׁר, quos comparavit, cf. 1Ch 28:21; 1Ch 22:15.
Verse 7
The materials Hiram was to send were cedar, cypress, and algummim wood from Lebanon. אלגוּמים, 2Ch 2:7 and 2Ch 9:10, instead of אלמגּים, 1Ki 10:11, probably means sandal wood, which was employed in the temple, according to 1Ki 10:12, for stairs and musical instruments, and is therefore mentioned here, although it did not grow in Lebanon, but, according to 1Ki 9:10 and 1Ki 10:11, was procured at Ophir. Here, in our enumeration, it is inexactly grouped along with the cedars and cypresses brought from Lebanon.
Verses 8-9
The infinitive וּלהכין cannot be regarded as the continuation of לכרות, nor is it a continuation of the imperat. לי שׁלח (2Ch 2:7), with the signification, “and let there be prepared for me” (Berth.). It is subordinated to the preceding clauses: send me cedars, which thy people who are skilful in the matter hew, and in that my servants will assist, in order, viz., to prepare me building timber in plenty (the ו is explic). On 2Ch 2:8 cf. 2Ch 2:4. The infin. abs. הפלא is used adverbially: “wonderfully” (Ew. §280, c). In return, Solomon promises to supply the Tyrian workmen with grain, wine, and oil for their maintenance - a circumstance which is omitted in 1Ki 5:10; see on 2Ch 2:14. להטבים is more closely defined by העצים לכרתי, and ל is the introductory ל: “and behold, as to the hewers, the fellers of trees.” חטב, to hew (wood), and to dress it (Deu 29:10; Jos 9:21, Jos 9:23), would seem to have been supplanted by חצב, which in 2Ch 2:2, 2Ch 2:18 is used for it, and it is therefore explained by העצים כּרת. “I will give wheat מכּות to thy servants” (the
