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Covenant with Hiram King of Tyre

[a](A)Then Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for (B)Hiram had [b]always been one who loved David. And (C)Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, “You know that (D)David my father was unable to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet. But now (E)Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor [c]calamity. So behold, (F)I [d]intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ So now, command that they cut for me (G)cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

Now it happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad and said, “Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do [e]what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber. My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea (H)to the place where you [f]direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then (I)you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.” 10 So [g]Hiram [h]gave Solomon [i]as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber. 11 (J)Solomon then gave Hiram [j]20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and [k]20 kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 12 (K)Now Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He [l]promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.

13 And (L)King Solomon raised up forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers [m]numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in [n]shifts; they were in Lebanon a month and two months at home. And (M)Adoniram was over the forced laborers. 15 And (N)Solomon had 70,000 [o]who carried loads, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains, 16 (O)besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the [p]project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17 Then (P)the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, precious stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and [q]Hiram’s builders and (Q)the Gebalites [r]carved them out, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 5:1 Ch 5:15 in Heb
  2. 1 Kings 5:1 Lit all the day
  3. 1 Kings 5:4 Lit evil occurrence
  4. 1 Kings 5:5 Lit say
  5. 1 Kings 5:8 Lit all your pleasure
  6. 1 Kings 5:9 Lit send
  7. 1 Kings 5:10 Heb Hirom
  8. 1 Kings 5:10 Lit was giving
  9. 1 Kings 5:10 Lit all his desire
  10. 1 Kings 5:11 Approx. 130,000 bu. or 4,600 metric tons
  11. 1 Kings 5:11 Approx. 130 bu. or 4,600 l
  12. 1 Kings 5:12 Lit spoke to
  13. 1 Kings 5:13 Lit was
  14. 1 Kings 5:14 Lit changes
  15. 1 Kings 5:15 Or burden bearers
  16. 1 Kings 5:16 Lit work
  17. 1 Kings 5:18 Heb Hirom’s
  18. 1 Kings 5:18 Or chiseled

Hiram’s Building Materials

[a]Hiram king of Tyre(A) sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place,(B) for Hiram had always been friends with David.(C)

Solomon sent this message to Hiram: “You know my father David was not able to build a temple for the name of Yahweh his God. This was because of the warfare all around him until the Lord put his enemies under his feet.(D) The Lord my God has now given me rest all around; there is no enemy or crisis.(E) So I plan to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God,(F) according to what the Lord promised my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the temple for My name.’(G)

“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.”(H)

When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he greatly rejoiced and said, “May the Lord be praised today!(I) He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!” 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. 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.”(J)

10 So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, 11 and Solomon provided Hiram with 100,000 bushels[b] of wheat as food for his household and 110,000 gallons[c] of oil from crushed olives.(K) Solomon did this for Hiram year after year.

12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him.(L) There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.(M)

Solomon’s Work Force

13 Then King Solomon drafted forced laborers from all Israel;(N) the labor force numbered 30,000 men. 14 He sent 10,000 to Lebanon each month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon, two months they were at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,(O) 16 not including his 3,300[d] deputies(P) in charge of the work. They ruled over the people doing the work. 17 The king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.(Q) 18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders,(R) along with the Gebalites,(S) quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the temple’s construction.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 5:1 1Kg 5:15 in Hb
  2. 1 Kings 5:11 Lit 20,000 cors
  3. 1 Kings 5:11 LXX reads 20,000 baths; MT reads 20 cors
  4. 1 Kings 5:16 Some LXX mss read 3,600; 2Ch 2:2,18