1 Kings 5
5
Solomon Asks Hiram To Help Build the Temple
(2 Chronicles 2.1-16)
1King Hiram of Tyre#5.1 Tyre: The most important city in Phoenicia. It was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel, in what is today southern Lebanon. had always been friends with Solomon's father David. When Hiram learned that Solomon was king, he sent some of his officials to meet with Solomon.
2Solomon sent a message back to Hiram:
3Remember how my father David wanted to build a temple where the Lord his God could be worshiped? But enemies kept attacking my father's kingdom, and he never had the chance. 4Now, thanks to the Lord God, there is peace in my kingdom and no trouble or threat of war anywhere.
5 #
2 S 7.12,13; 1 Ch 17.11,12. The Lord God promised my father that when his son became king, he would build a temple for worshiping the Lord. So I've decided to do that.
6I'd like you to send your workers to cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me. I will pay them whatever you say and will even have my workers help them. We both know that your workers are more experienced than anyone else at cutting lumber.
7Hiram was so happy when he heard Solomon's request that he said, “I am grateful that the Lord gave David such a wise son to be king of that great nation!” 8Then he sent back his answer:
I received your message and will give you all the cedar and pine logs you need. 9My workers will carry them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea. They will tie the logs together and float them along the coast to wherever you want them. Then they will untie the logs, and your workers can take them from there.
To pay for the logs, you can provide the grain I need for my household.
10Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and pine logs he needed. 11In return, Solomon gave Hiram over 2,000 tons of wheat and almost 4,000 liters of pure olive oil each year.
12The Lord kept his promise and made Solomon wise. Hiram and Solomon signed a treaty and never went to war against each other.
Solomon's Workers
13Solomon ordered 30,000 people from all over Israel to cut logs for the temple, 14#1 K 12.15-19. and he put Adoniram in charge of these workers. Solomon divided them into three groups of 10,000. Each group worked one month in Lebanon and had two months off at home.
15He also had 80,000 workers to cut stone in the hill country of Israel, 70,000 workers to carry the stones, 16and over 3,000 assistants to keep track of the work and to supervise the workers. 17He ordered the workers to cut and shape large blocks of good stone for the foundation of the temple.
18Solomon's and Hiram's men worked with men from the city of Gebal,#5.18 Gebal: Later known as Byblos. and together they got the stones and logs ready for the temple.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
1 Kings 5
5
Plans to Build the Temple
2Ch 2:1–18
1#2Sa 5:11; 1Ch 14:1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David. 2#2Ch 2:3And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
3#1Ch 28:3; 22:8“You know how David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars all around him, until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4#1Ki 4:24; 1Ch 22:9But now the Lord my God has given me peace on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5#1Ch 17:12; 22:10So know that I plan to build a house to honor the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne after you, shall build a house to honor My name.’
6#2Ch 2:8“Now therefore command that cedar trees from Lebanon be cut down for me, and my servants shall be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever you command, for you know that there are none among my people who can cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given David a wise son over this great people.”
8Hiram sent to Solomon, saying,
“I have considered the things which you contacted me about, and I will do all you asked concerning timber of cedar and fir. 9#Ezr 3:7; Eze 27:17My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will send them by sea in floats to the place that you shall name and will cause them to be discharged into your care there, and in return you will meet my wishes by giving food for my household.”
10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees as he desired. 11#2Ch 2:10Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors#Likely about 3,600 tons, or 3,250 metric tons. of wheat for his household and twenty baths#About 120,000 gallons, or 440,000 liters. of pure oil. This is what Solomon gave to Hiram each year. 12#1Ki 3:12; Am 1:9The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon as they made a treaty together.
13#1Ki 9:15; 4:6King Solomon drafted men from all Israel, totaling thirty thousand men. 14He sent them to Lebanon in turns, ten thousand a month, with each spending a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram administered the labor force. 15#1Ki 9:20–22; 2Ch 2:17–18Solomon had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains, 16#1Ki 9:23; 2Ch 2:2not counting the chief of Solomon’s officers who were over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people who did the work. 17#1Ki 6:7; 1Ch 22:2At the king’s command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18#Jos 13:5; Eze 27:9Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders, along with the stonemasons, cut them and prepared timber and stones to build the house.
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