1 Kings 5:1-18 - Solomon's Wisdom: Architecture

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. And thereto Hiram was ever a lover of David's.

² And Solomon sent again to Hiram, saying, ³ "Thou knowest of David my father, how he could not build a house unto the name of the LORD his God for war which he had on every side, until the LORD had put them under his foot. ⁴ But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor any evil plague. ⁵ And therefore I am disposed to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God, as he promised David my father, saying, 'Thy son which I will put upon thy seat for thee, he shall build a house unto my name.'

⁶ Now then, command that they hew me Cedar trees in Lebanon. And let my servants be with thine, and I will give the hire of thy servants in all such things as thou shalt appoint, for thou knowest that there are not among us that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians."

⁷ When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day which hath set David a wise son over this mighty people." ⁸ And Hiram sent again to Solomon, saying, "I have accepted the request which thou sentest to me for, and will satisfy all thy lust, concerning timber of Cedar trees and fir. ⁹ My servants shall bring them from Lebanon to the sea. And I will convey them by ship unto the place that thou shalt send me word, and will cause them to be discharged there, that thou mayest receive them. And thou shalt do me this pleasure again, to minister food for mine house."

¹⁰ And so Hiram gave Solomon Cedar trees and fir trees, as much as he desired. ¹¹ And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand quarters of wheat to feed his household withal, and twenty butts of pure oil. And so much 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 were confedered together.

¹³ And king Solomon raised a tribute throughout all Israel. And the tribute was thirty thousand men, ¹⁴ which he sent to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by course, so that they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was over the tribute. ¹⁵ And Solomon had three score and ten thousand that bare burdens, and three score and ten thousand that hewed in the mountains ¹⁶ besides the lords he had to oversee the work, in number three thousand and three hundred, which ruled the people that wrought in the work. ¹⁷ And at the commandment of the king, they brought great stones, and that free stones, and hewed thereto, to lay in the foundation of the house. ¹⁸ And Solomon's masons and the masons of Hiram did hew them, with them of the borders. And so they prepared both in timber and stone to build the house.