Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Chronicles 22:2. It’s a really significant passage about the construction of the Tabernacle – essentially, the first temple used by God with Moses. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, David was instructing his people to bring together people who were not originally Israelites into Israel. Let’s unpack that: “David commanded…” : This tells us this is a direct instruction from David himself – the king of Israel. “…to gather together the strangers…” : “Strangers” means people from other countries, like Moabites and Ammonites, who weren't part of the original Israelite population. "...that [were] in the land of Israel..." : This specifies where these strangers were being brought – within the borders of Israel. It was a strategic move to show God’s favor and establish a place for worship. “…and he set masons to hew wrought stones…” : “Masons” were skilled stonemasons who built the Tabernacle. “Wrought stones” means they worked with stone – specifically, they were building the foundation of the temple. So, what’s the big picture? This verse describes a crucial moment in God's plan. David was essentially saying, "Let’s bring people from other nations into Israel to build a special place for worship and to show God's favor." It’s a significant step towards establishing a permanent temple, which would eventually become the central place of worship for the Israelites. In short, it’s about establishing a temporary sanctuary – a place where God could interact with his people - through the construction of a magnificent building. --- Do you have any specific questions about this verse that you'd like me to answer? For example: Are you curious about its historical context? Would you like me to explain the significance of the word "strangers"?