דברי הימים א, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ב׳

The practical preparations for the construction of the Temple begin with assembling the workforce required for the heavy physical labor. King David deliberately selects a specific population to bear this burden. His clear intention is to avoid subjecting the Israelites to hard labor, a precedent that his son Solomon would later follow ([רש״י]).

There are different perspectives regarding the exact identity of these drafted workers. One approach suggests they are converts to the faith ([רש״י]), while another views them more broadly as foreigners residing within the land ([ביאור שטיינזלץ]). A more specific historical identification points to the Gibeonites ([מצודת דוד], [רלב״ג]). King Saul had previously attempted to destroy and expel the Gibeonites from the borders of Israel, but David now brings them back, designating them specifically for the construction of the Temple ([רלב״ג]).

To carry out the project, David appoints laborers to quarry stones from the earth ([מצודת ציון]). Their responsibilities extend beyond just stone, as they are also tasked with mining iron and copper ([מלבי״ם]). These workers are required to prepare high-quality hewn stones, carefully cutting and chiseling them into perfectly straight blocks ([מצודת ציון], [ביאור שטיינזלץ]) that will ultimately form the structure of the House of God.