1 Kings 5
5
Wealth and Wisdom
1Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines up to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
2Solomon’s provision for one day was 30 measures of fine flour, 60 measures of meal,
3 10 fat oxen, 20 pasture-fed oxen, 100 sheep, beside deer, gazelles, roebucks and fatted geese.
4For he had dominion over the entire region west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had shalom on all sides around him.
5So Judah and Israel lived securely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
6Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.
7So those officers provided food for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
8They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.
9God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment in great measure, and a breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore.
10Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
11For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol and Darda, sons of Mahol—and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.
12He also composed 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005.
13He also spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall, and he spoke about beasts, birds, creeping things and fish.
14People came from everywhere to hear the wisdom of Solomon—from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
Hiram Offers Materials
15Then King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram was always a friend of David.
16So Solomon sent word to Hiram saying:
17“You know how my father David could not build a House for the Name of Adonai his God because of the wars around him on every side, until Adonai put them under the soles of my feet.
18But now Adonai my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor bad incident.
19So behold, I intend to build a House for the Name of Adonai my God, as Adonai spoke to my father David saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your place, he will build the House for My Name.’
20“So now, command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will give you wages for your servants according to whatever you say; for as you know, there is none among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
21When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he rejoiced greatly and said: “Blessed be Adonai today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”
22So Hiram sent word to Solomon saying: “I have heard the message that you sent to me. I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.
23My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you indicate to me. There I will break them up and you will carry them away. Then you will accomplish my desire by giving food for my household.”
24So Hiram kept providing Solomon with cedar and cypress timber, as much as he desired,
25and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat for food for his household and 20 measures of beaten oil. Thus Solomon would give to Hiram year by year.
26Adonai gave Solomon wisdom as He promised him, so there was shalom between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.
27King Solomon also imposed forced laborers from all Israel—the levy was 30,000 men.
28He sent them to Lebanon, in shifts of 10,000 a month: they would stay a month in Lebanon, then two months at home. Adoniram was over the forced labor.
29Solomon had 70,000 porters, and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,
30besides Solomon’s chief officers that were over the work—3,300 who supervised the people who were doing the work.
31Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the House with cut stones.
32So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders along with the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the House.
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1 Kings 5: TLV
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