And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

1 CHRONICLES 22:2KJV
Know the Bible

1 Chronicles 22:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 22:2 mean?

1 Chronicles 22:2 describes King David ordering that the foreigners living in Israel be gathered and assigned to work as stonecutters, preparing shaped stones for building the temple of God. This verse shows David organizing the workforce and resources needed for the temple’s construction, even though he himself would not build it.

David is the speaker here, acting as king over Israel and preparing for the future temple that his son Solomon will build. The verse highlights how David involved “strangers” or non-Israelites in the labor, specifically as masons to cut and shape the stones. This practical step marks the beginning of the preparations for a major religious and national project in Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 22:2

  • גֵּרִים (gerim, “strangers”): This word refers to foreigners or resident aliens living among the Israelites. Their involvement as laborers shows that the temple project drew on all available people in the land, not just native Israelites.
  • חָצַב (chatsav, “hew”): This verb means to cut or carve, especially stone. It emphasizes the skilled, physical work required to prepare the materials for the temple, not just gathering stones but shaping them for a specific purpose.
  • אֶבֶן (even, “stones”): The focus on “wrought stones” (carefully prepared stones) underlines the quality and care going into the temple’s construction, not just any stones but those specially worked for this sacred building.

Why 1 Chronicles 22:2 matters

  • This verse clarifies that David took active steps to prepare for the temple, even though he was not the one to actually build it, showing his commitment to the project.
  • The mention of “strangers” as workers highlights the social reality of ancient Israel, where non-Israelites could play significant roles in national projects.
  • By focusing on the gathering and preparation of materials, the verse sets the stage for the chapters that follow, which detail the planning and resources that would make the temple possible.

Where else these words appear

“together” Hebrew H3664 · used in 11 verses

  • Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
  • Psalms 147:2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
  • Ecclesiastes 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

“wrought” Hebrew H1496 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
  • 1 Kings 7:9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
  • Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

“masons” Hebrew H2672 · used in 22 verses

  • Deuteronomy 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
  • 2 Chronicles 24:12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.
  • Isaiah 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

“strangers” Hebrew H1616 · used in 83 verses

  • Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
  • Leviticus 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
  • Deuteronomy 26:13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: