2 Chronicles 8 - Easy To Read Version

¹ The time it took Solomon to build the Lord’s temple {\cf2\super [132]} and his own house was 20 years.

² Then Solomon built again the towns that Hiram gave him. And Solomon allowed some of the people of Israel to live in those towns.

³ After this Solomon went to Hamath of Zobah and captured it.

⁴ Solomon also built the town of Tadmor in the desert. He built all the towns in Hamath to store things in.

⁵ Solomon built again the towns of Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon. He made those towns into strong forts. Those towns had strong walls, gates, and bars in the gates.

^6-8 Solomon also built again the town of Baalath and all the other towns where he stored things. He built all the cities where the chariots {\cf2\super [133]} were kept and all the cities where the horse riders lived. Solomon built all he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and in all the country where he was king.

⁹ Solomon did not force any of the people of Israel to be slave workers. The people of Israel were Solomon’s fighting men. They were the commanders of Solomon’s army officers. They were commanders of Solomon’s chariots {\cf2\super [135]} and commanders of Solomon’s chariot drivers.

¹⁰ And some of the men of Israel were leaders of Solomon’s important officials. There were 250 of those leaders to supervise the people.

¹¹ Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the house he built for her. Solomon said, “My wife must not live in King David’s house because the places where the Box of the Agreement {\cf2\super [136]} has been are holy places.”

¹² Then Solomon offered burnt offerings {\cf2\super [137]} to the Lord on the Lord’s altar. {\cf2\super [138]} Solomon built that altar in front of the temple {\cf2\super [139]} porch.

¹³ Solomon offered sacrifices {\cf2\super [140]} every day the way Moses commanded. Sacrifices were to be offered on Sabbath days, {\cf2\super [141]} on the New Moon {\cf2\super [142]} celebrations, and on the three yearly holidays. The three yearly holidays were the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.

¹⁴ Solomon followed his father David’s instructions. Solomon chose the groups of priests for their service. Solomon also chose the Levites for their duties. The Levites were to lead the praise and help the priests from day to day to do the things that needed to be done in the temple service. And Solomon chose the gatekeepers by their groups to serve at each gate. This is the way David, the man of God, instructed.

¹⁵ The people of Israel did not change or disobey any of Solomon’s instructions to the priests and Levites. They did not change any of the instructions, even in the way they should keep the valuable things.

¹⁶ All Solomon’s work was done. It was well planned from the day the Lord’s temple {\cf2\super [143]} was begun until the day it was finished. So the Lord’s temple was finished.

¹⁷ Then Solomon went to the towns of Ezion Geber and Elath. Those towns were near the Red Sea in the country of Edom.

¹⁸ Hiram sent ships to Solomon. Hiram’s own men sailed the ships. Hiram’s men were skilled at sailing on the sea. Hiram’s men went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir {\cf2\super [144]} and brought back 17 tons of gold {\cf2\super [145]} to King Solomon.