Of Huram my father's - A wrong translation. Huram here is the workman sent by the king of Tyre and not the king of Tyre's father (see 1 Kings 5:1 note). The words in the original are Huram Abi, and the latter word is now commonly thought to be either a proper name or an epithet of honor, e. g., my master-workman.

I have sent a cunning man - His name appears to have been Hiram, or Hiram Abi: see the notes on 1 Kings 7:13, 1 Kings 7:14.

And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding,.... In such things as Solomon required he should, 2 Chronicles 2:7.

of Huram my father's; a workman of his, whom he employed, and so might be depended upon as a good artificer; though rather Huram is the artificer's name:

and Abi, we render "my father", his surname, that is, "Huram Abi"; and this is the opinion of several learned men (g), and is very probable; for certain it is, that his name was Huram or Hiram, 1 Kings 7:13, and so he is called "Huram his father, or Huram Abif", 2 Chronicles 4:16.

(g) Luther. Emanuel Sa, Piscator, Schmidt, Beckius in Targum in loc.

And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,

13, 14. I have sent a cunning man-(See on [411]1Ki 7:13-51).

2:1-18 Solomon's message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty with Huram. - Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and pious king is an evidence of the Lord's special love for his people. How great then was God's love to his believing people, in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their Saviour.