1 Kings 5

Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple

1 Now *1 Kin. 5:10, 18; 2 Chr. 2:3Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, *2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Chr. 14:1for Hiram had always loved David. 2 Then *2 Chr. 2:3Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

3 *1 Chr. 28:2, 3You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God *1 Chr. 22:8; 28:3because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put hisfoes under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God has given me *1 Kin. 4:24; 1 Chr. 22:9rest on every side; thereis neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

5 *2 Chr. 2:4And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, *2 Sam. 7:12, 13; 1 Kin. 6:38; 1 Chr. 17:12; 22:10; 28:6; 2 Chr. 6:2as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name."

6 Now therefore, command that they cut down *2 Chr. 2:8, 10cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know thereis none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.

7 So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said,

Blessed be the Lord this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!

8 Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying:

I have considered themessage which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.

9 My servants shall bring them down *Ezra 3:7from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire *Ezek. 27:17; Acts 12:20by giving food for my household.

10 Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs accordingto all his desire. 11 *2 Chr. 2:10And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.

12 So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, *1 Kin. 3:12as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

13 Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; *1 Kin. 12:18Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. 15 *1 Kin. 9:20–22; 2 Chr. 2:17, 18Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, 16 besides three thousand three hundred from the *1 Kin. 9:23chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. 17 And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and*1 Kin. 6:7; 1 Chr. 22:2hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple. 18 So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.