1 Kings 5:6-18

6Now then, issue orders that they cut 1cedars 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 2to the place where you 3direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you will carry them away. Then 4you shall do what I wish, by giving food to my household.” 10So 5Hiram 6gave Solomon all that he wished of the cedar and juniper timber. 117Solomon then gave 8Hiram 9twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and 10twenty kors of pure oil; this is what Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 12And 11the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He 12promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

13Now 13King Solomon 14conscripted 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 15Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers. 15Now 16Solomon had seventy thousand porters, and eighty thousand stonemasons in the mountains, 1617besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the 18project and ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17Then 19the 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 20Hiram’s builders and 21the Gebalites 22cut the stones, and they prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.