2:17 Solomon took a census 4 of all the male resident foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 in all. 2:18 He designated 5 70,000 as common laborers, 6 80,000 as stonecutters 7 in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work. 8
1 tn Heb “and we will cut down trees from Lebanon according to all your need.”
2 tn Heb “to you,” but this phrase has not been translated for stylistic reasons – it is somewhat redundant.
3 tn Or “on rafts.” See the note at 1 Kgs 5:9.
4 tn Heb “counted.”
5 tn Heb “made.”
6 tn Heb “carriers of loads.”
7 tn Or “quarry workers”; Heb “cutters” (probably referring to stonecutters).
8 tn Heb “and thirty-six hundred [as] supervisors to compel the people to work.”