1 Kings 5:3-18

3“You know that 1David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4But now 2the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor 3misfortune. 5Behold, 4I 5intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ 6Now therefore, command that they cut for me 6cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

7When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” 8So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do 7what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber. 9My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea 8to the place where you 9direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then 10you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.” 10So 11Hiram 12gave Solomon 13as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber. 1114Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 15kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty 16kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 1217The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He 18promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

13Now 19King Solomon 20levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers 21numbered 30,000 men. 14He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in relays; they were in Lebanon a month and two months at home. And 22Adoniram was over the forced laborers. 15Now 23Solomon had 70,000 24transporters, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains, 1625besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the 26project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17Then 27the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18So Solomon’s builders and 28Hiram’s builders and 29the Gebalites 30cut them, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.