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Preparations for Building the Temple
When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David.
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Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
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When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”
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So Hiram sent word to Solomon: “I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs.
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In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted,
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and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.
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The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
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The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.
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King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and juniper and gold he wanted.
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But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them.
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Now Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.
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And Hiram sent his men—sailors who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men.
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(Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones.
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The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.
