And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
Solomon gathered material for building the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in league with Hiram, having seventy thousand to bear burdens and eighty thousand to hew stone in the mountains. That labor force worked under three thousand three hundred chief officers. Alongside them was a levy of thirty thousand sent to Lebanon in monthly courses of ten thousand under Adoniram. Together they prepared timber and hewn foundation stones for the house.
The workforce for God's temple was vast in size and ordered in arrangement, with tens of thousands of burden-bearers and mountain hewers acting in harmony under acknowledged heads. Master workmen directed particular parts of the work. Although those directing leaders were not of Israel's nation or religion, all the workers consented to obey them with no strikes, no rebellion, and no dissatisfaction. The work therefore went forward peacefully and harmoniously under God's control.
When the prepared parts were brought together they fitted with exactness. This was not by a special miracle but by accurate and skillful labor from workmen who sensed the greatness of the work. Every stone was shaped to match its intended place. That united, wholehearted effort sets the pattern for building a house for God now, with every man and woman joining to arise and build. God's house is to be valued above personal convenience, with gifts and deep heart interest brought to the work.
Solomon's going to other nations for workmen to build the temple was a departure from the right ways in which God had promised blessing. That idolatrous connection with the world greatly displeased God. As Solomon was blessed while he kept separate from the world, so blessing comes as His people remain separate and distinct from the world.
Solomon gathered material for building the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in league with Hiram, having seventy thousand to bear burdens and eighty thousand to hew stone in the mountains. That labor force worked under three thousand three hundred chief officers. Alongside them was a levy of thirty thousand sent to Lebanon in monthly courses of ten thousand under Adoniram. Together they prepared timber and hewn foundation stones for the house.
The workforce for God's temple was vast in size and ordered in arrangement, with tens of thousands of burden-bearers and mountain hewers acting in harmony under acknowledged heads. Master workmen directed particular parts of the work. Although those directing leaders were not of Israel's nation or religion, all the workers consented to obey them with no strikes, no rebellion, and no dissatisfaction. The work therefore went forward peacefully and harmoniously under God's control.
When the prepared parts were brought together they fitted with exactness. This was not by a special miracle but by accurate and skillful labor from workmen who sensed the greatness of the work. Every stone was shaped to match its intended place. That united, wholehearted effort sets the pattern for building a house for God now, with every man and woman joining to arise and build. God's house is to be valued above personal convenience, with gifts and deep heart interest brought to the work.
Solomon's going to other nations for workmen to build the temple was a departure from the right ways in which God had promised blessing. That idolatrous connection with the world greatly displeased God. As Solomon was blessed while he kept separate from the world, so blessing comes as His people remain separate and distinct from the world.