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 22:2KJVWhat 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.