Old Testament

New Testament

2 Chronicles 8:1-10 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

1. Solomon built the Lord's temple and his own palace. It took him 20 years to build them. After that,

2. Solomon rebuilt the villages Hiram had given him. He settled Israelites in them.

3. Then Solomon went to Hamath Zobah. He captured it.

4. He also built up Tadmor in the desert. He built up all of the cities in Hamath where he could store things.

5. He rebuilt Lower Beth Horon and Upper Beth Horon. He put up high walls around them. He made their city gates secure with heavy metal bars.

6. He rebuilt Baalath and all of the cities where he could store things. He also rebuilt all of the cities for his chariots and horses. Solomon built anything he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon and all of the territory he ruled over.

7. There were still many people left in the land who weren't Israelites. They included Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

8. They were children of the people who had lived in the land before the Israelites came. The people of Israel hadn't destroyed them. Solomon had forced them to work very hard as his slaves. And they still work for Israel to this very day.

9. But Solomon didn't force the men of Israel to work as his slaves. Instead, some were his fighting men. Others were commanders of his captains, chariots and chariot drivers.

10. Still others were King Solomon's chief officials. There were 250 officials in charge of the other men.

Read complete chapter 2 Chronicles 8