1 Kings 5

Preparations for the Temple

(2 Chronicles 2:1–10)

1Now when HiramH2438 kingH4428 of TyreH6865 heardH8085 thatH3588 Solomon had been anointedH4886 kingH4428 in his father’sH1 placeH8478, he sentH7971 envoysH5650 toH413 SolomonH8010; forH3588 HiramH2438 had alwaysH3605H3117 beenH1961 a friendH157 of DavidH1732.

2And SolomonH8010 relayedH7971 this messageH559 toH413 HiramH2438:

3“As youH859 are well awareH3045, due toH6440 the wars wagedH4421 on all sidesH5437 against my fatherH1 DavidH1732, he couldH3201 notH3808 buildH1129 a houseH1004 for the NameH8034 of the LORDH3068 his GodH430 untilH5704 the LORDH3068 had putH5414 his enemies underH8478 his feetH3709H7272. 4But nowH6258 the LORDH3068 my GodH430 has given me restH5117 on every sideH5439, and there is noH369 adversaryH7854H369 or crisisH6294H7451.

5So beholdH2005, I planH559 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for the NameH8034 of the LORDH3068 my GodH430, according to whatH834 the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 my fatherH1H559 DavidH1732: ‘I will putH5414 your sonH1121 onH5921 your throneH3678 in your placeH8478, and heH1931 will buildH1129 the houseH1004 for My NameH8034.’

6Now thereforeH6258, orderH6680 that cedarsH730 ofH4480 LebanonH3844 be cut downH3772 for me. My servantsH5650 will beH1961 withH5973 your servantsH5650, and I will payH5414 your servantsH5650 whatever wagesH7939H3605 you setH559, forH3588 youH859 knowH3045 thatH3588 there are noneH369 among us as skilledH3045 in loggingH3772H6086 as the SidoniansH6722.”

7

Hiram’s Reply to Solomon

(2 Chronicles 2:11–18)

When HiramH2438 receivedH8085 Solomon’sH8010 messageH1697, he rejoicedH8055 greatlyH3966 and saidH559, “BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068 this dayH3117! HeH834 has givenH5414 DavidH1732 a wiseH2450 sonH1121 overH5921 thisH2088 greatH7227 peopleH5971!” 8Then HiramH2438 sentH7971 a reply toH413 SolomonH8010, sayingH559:

“I have receivedH8085 your messageH834H7971H413; IH589 will doH6213 allH3605 you desireH2656 regarding the cedarH730H6086 and cypressH12651 timberH6086. 9My servantsH5650 will haul the logsH3381 fromH4480 LebanonH3844 to the SeaH3220,2 and IH589 will float themH7760 as raftsH1702 by seaH3220 toH5704 the placeH4725 you specifyH7971H413. ThereH8033 I will separateH5310 the logs, and youH859 can take them awayH5375. And in exchange, youH859 can meetH6213 my needsH2656 by providingH5414 my householdH1004 with foodH3899.”

10SoH1961 HiramH2438 providedH5414 SolomonH8010 with allH3605 the cedarH730H6086 and cypressH1265 timberH6086 he wantedH2656, 11and yearH8141 after yearH8141 SolomonH8010 would provideH5414 HiramH2438 with 20,000H6242H505 corsH3734 of wheatH24063 as foodH4361 for his householdH1004, as well as 20,000H6242 baths of pure olive oilH8081H3795.4

12And the LORDH3068 gaveH5414 SolomonH8010 wisdomH2451, asH834 He had promisedH1696 him. There wasH1961 peaceH7965 betweenH996 HiramH2438H996 and SolomonH8010, and the twoH8147 of them madeH3772 a treatyH1285.5

Solomon’s Labor Force

13Then KingH4428 SolomonH8010 conscriptedH5927 a labor forceH4522H1961 of 30,000H7970H505 menH376 from allH3605 IsraelH3478. 14He sent themH7971 to LebanonH3844 in monthlyH2320 shiftsH2487 of 10,000H6235H505 men, so that they would spendH1961 one monthH2320 in LebanonH3844 and twoH8147 monthsH2320 at homeH1004. And AdoniramH141 was in chargeH5921 of the forced laborH4522.

15SolomonH8010 hadH1961 70,000H7657H505 portersH5375H5449 and 80,000H8084H505 stonecuttersH2672 in the mountainsH2022, 16not includingH905 hisH8010 3,300H7969H505H39676 foremenH8269H5324H5921H4399 who supervisedH7287 the workersH5971H6213H4399.

17And the kingH4428 commanded themH6680 to quarryH5265 largeH1419, costlyH3368 stonesH68 to lay the foundationH3245 of the templeH1004H68 with dressedH1496 stonesH68. 18So Solomon’sH8010 and Hiram’sH2438 buildersH1129, along with the GebalitesH1382, quarried the stoneH6458 and preparedH3559 the timberH6086 and stoneH68 for the constructionH1129 of the templeH1004.