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 secured me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor 3misfortune. 5So behold, 4I 5intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ 6Now then, issue orders that they cut 6cedars from Lebanon for me, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants in accordance with all that you say, for you yourself 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 greatly rejoiced; and he 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 sent me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and juniper timber. 9My servants will bring the timbers down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea 7to the place where you 8direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you will carry them away. Then 9you shall do what I wish, by giving food to my household.” 10So 10Hiram 11gave Solomon all that he wished of the cedar and juniper timber. 1112Solomon then gave 13Hiram 14twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and 15twenty kors of pure oil; this is what Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 12And 16the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He 17promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

13Now 18King Solomon 19conscripted forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men. 14Then he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they were in Lebanon for a month, and two months at home. And 20Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers. 15Now 21Solomon had seventy thousand porters, and eighty thousand stonemasons in the mountains, 1622besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the 23project and ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17Then 24the king issued orders, and they quarried large stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18So Solomon’s builders and 25Hiram’s builders and 26the Gebalites 27cut the stones, and they prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.