2 Chronicles 2:17 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 2:17 mean?

2 Chronicles 2:17 describes how King Solomon counted all the foreigners living in Israel, following a similar census that his father David had done before him. The total number of these foreigners was found to be 153,600.

Solomon is preparing for the massive building project of the temple, and he needs to know how many non-Israelite workers are available for labor. The verse shows Solomon’s careful organization and his continuation of David’s administrative practices. The focus is on the practical step of numbering people for a specific purpose, not on their status or worth.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 2:17

• The word for “strangers” is גֵּרִים (gerim), from גֵּר (ger, H1616), which often means foreigners or resident aliens—people living in Israel but not native Israelites. This highlights that Solomon is counting a specific group, not the whole population.
• The verb “numbered” is סָפַר (safar, H5608), which means to count or take a census. This is a deliberate, organized act, not just an estimate, showing the administrative care taken.
• The phrase “after the numbering” uses פְּקֻדָּה (pekuddah, H5610), which refers to an official registration or census, connecting Solomon’s action directly to David’s previous census.

Why 2 Chronicles 2:17 matters

• This verse clarifies that Solomon relied on the work and records of his father David, showing continuity in leadership and planning between the two kings.
• The focus on foreigners (gerim) reveals that much of the labor for the temple would come from non-Israelites, which is important for understanding the social and workforce structure of ancient Israel.
• By showing the exact number of people counted, the verse emphasizes the scale of Solomon’s building project and the administrative effort involved.