⁶ “Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants’ wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”^(A)

⁷ When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he greatly rejoiced and said, “May the Lord be praised today!^(B) He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!” ⁸ Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying, “I have heard your message; I will do everything you want regarding the cedar and cypress timber. ⁹ My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you indicate. I will break them apart there, and you can take them away. You then can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”^(C)

¹⁰ So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,

¹⁵ he paneled the interior temple walls with cedar boards; from the temple floor to the surface of the ceiling he overlaid the interior with wood. He also overlaid the floor with cypress boards.^{(A) 16} Then he lined 30 feet^[a] of the rear of the temple with cedar boards from the floor to the surface of the ceiling,^[b] and he built the interior as an inner sanctuary, the most holy place.^{(B) 17} The temple, that is, the sanctuary in front of the most holy place,^[c] was 60 feet^[d] long. ¹⁸ The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds^(C) and flower blossoms. Everything was cedar;^(D) not a stone could be seen.