Kings III 5
1 And Chiram king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in the room of David his father, because Chiram always loved David.
Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram had always loved David.
2 And Solomon sent to Chiram, saying,
Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
3 You knew my father David, that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord my God because of the wars that compassed him about, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars that surrounded him, for during his lifetime Yahweh was putting his enemies under the soles of his feet.
4 And now the Lord my God has given me rest round about; there is no one plotting against [me], and there is no evil trespass [against me].
But now, Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor disaster.
5 And, behold, I intend to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord God spoke to my father David, saying, Your son whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build a house to my name.
So I intend to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, will build the temple for my name.'
6 And now command, and let [men] cut wood for me out of Libanus: and, behold, my servants [shall be] with your servants, and I will give you the wages of your service, according to all that you shall say, because you know that we have no one skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians.
Now therefore command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants so that you are paid fairly for everything you agreed to do. For you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 And it came to pass, as soon as Chiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed [be] God today, who has given to David a wise son over this numerous people.
When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “May Yahweh be blessed today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”
8 And he sent to Solomon, saying, I have listened concerning all that you have sent to me for: I will do all your will: [as for] timber of cedar and fir,
Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I will provide all the wood of cedar and cypress that you desire.
9 my servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: I will form them [into] rafts, [and bring them] to the place which you shall send to me [about]; and I will land them there, and you shall take [them] up: and you shall do my will, in giving bread to my household.
My servants will bring the trees down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you direct me. I will have them broken up there, and you will take them away. You will do what I desire by giving food for my household.”
10 So Chiram gave to Solomon cedars, and fir trees, and all his desire.
So Hiram gave Solomon all the timber of cedar and fir that he desired.
11 And Solomon gave to Chiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food for his house, and twenty thousand baths of beaten oil thus Solomon gave to Chiram yearly.
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household and twenty measures of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon as he promised him; and there was peace between Chiram and Solomon, and they made a covenant between them.
Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.
13 And the king raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.
King Solomon conscripted labor out of all Israel. The forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand taking turn every month: they were a month in Libanus and two months at home: and Adoniram [was] over the levy.
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts. One month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.
15 And Solomon had seventy thousand bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the mountain;
Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens and eighty thousand who were stonecutters in the mountains,
16 besides the rulers that were appointed over the works of Solomon, [there were] three thousand six hundred masters who wrought in the works.
besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work and who supervised the workers.
17 [And the king commanded and they ] [brought great stones, precious stones for the foundation of the house, and unhewn stones. ]
At the king's command they quarried large stones of high quality with which to lay the foundation of the temple.
18 And they prepared the stones and the timber [during] three years.
So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stones to build the temple.
