1 Kings 5

1 Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

2 And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:

3 “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.

4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.

5 So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’

6 Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”

7 When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”

8 Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.

9 My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”

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

11 and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.

12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

13 Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.

14 He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

15 Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,

16 not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.

17 And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

18 So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

1 ¶ And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, [so that there is] neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that [there is] not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: [and] I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

9 My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive [them]: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

10 ¶ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees [according to] all his desire.

11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat [for] food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, [and] two months at home: and Adoniram [was] over the levy.

15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which [were] over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew [them], and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon: for he had heard that they had anointed him king in his father's stead. For Hiram loved David all the days of his life.

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

3 Thou knowest that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God, because of the war that was about him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest round about, that there is no more adversary nor evil hindrance.

5 Behold, I have thought to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set in thy stead upon thy throne, shall build an house unto my name.

6 Now therefore command that cedars be hewn for me out of Lebanon, and that thy servants be with my servants. And the wages of thy servants will I give thee, all as thou sayest. You know that we have no one who knows how to cut wood like the Zidonians.

7 And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given David a wise son over this great people.

8 And Hiram sent unto Solomon, saying, I have heard that thou hast sent unto me. I will do according to all thy desire with cedars and with fir wood.

9 And my servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea; and I will lay them in rafts upon the sea unto the place which thou shalt tell me: and there I will bind them, and thou shalt fetch them. And thou shalt do my desire, and give meat unto my servants.

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar and fir wood according to all his desire.

11 And Solomon gave unto Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat to eat for his servants, and twenty measures of olive oil. And Solomon gave them to Hiram yearly.

12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had spoken unto him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they made both of them a covenant together.

13 And Solomon put a number upon all Israel; and the number was thirty thousand men.

14 And he sent them into Lebanon, ten thousand and one month; and they were in Lebanon one month, and at home two months. And Adoniram was over such a number.

15 And Solomon had seventy thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand that carpentered in the mount,

16 Without the chief officers of Solomon, which were set over the work, even three thousand and three hundred, which had the rule over the people that wrought in the work.

17 And the king commanded that they should break out great and precious stones, even hewn stones for the foundation of the house.

18 And the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram, and the builders of Giblim, cut out, and prepared wood and stones to build the house.