1 Kings 5
1 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
2 Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:
3 "You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.
4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence.
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
5 Look, I purpose 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 shall build the house for my name.'
So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
6 Now therefore command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon. My servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you shall say. For you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."
Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”
7 It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed is the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."
When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”
8 Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will satisfy all your desire concerning cedar wood and concerning the wood of evergreens.
Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.
9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them. You shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household."
My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”
10 So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.
So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,
11 Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household, and twenty thousand baths of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
12 The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a covenant.
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.
14 He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
15 Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains;
Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,
16 besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and six hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.
17 The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.
18 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.
