Thematic Bible
1 Kings 5:1 (show verse)
King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.)
1 Kings 5:2 (show verse)
Solomon then sent this message to Hiram:
1 Kings 5:3 (show verse)
"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the Lord his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the Lord subdued his enemies.
1 Kings 5:4 (show verse)
But now the Lord my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat.
1 Kings 5:5 (show verse)
So I have decided to build a temple to honor the Lord my God, as the Lord instructed my father David, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.'
1 Kings 5:6 (show verse)
So now order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say is appropriate, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut down trees like the Sidonians."
1 Kings 5:7 (show verse)
When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very happy. He said, "The Lord is worthy of praise today because he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation."
1 Kings 5:8 (show verse)
Hiram then sent this message to Solomon: "I received the message you sent to me. I will give you all the cedars and evergreens you need.
1 Kings 5:9 (show verse)
My servants will bring the timber down from Lebanon to the sea. I will send it by sea in raft-like bundles to the place you designate. There I will separate the logs and you can carry them away. In exchange you will supply the food I need for my royal court."
1 Kings 5:10 (show verse)
So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed,
1 Kings 5:11 (show verse)
and Solomon supplied Hiram annually with 20,000 cors of wheat as provision for his royal court, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
1 Kings 5:12 (show verse)
So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty.
1 Kings 5:13 (show verse)
King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all.
1 Kings 5:14 (show verse)
He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 men per month. They worked in Lebanon for one month, and then spent two months at home. Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews.
1 Kings 5:15 (show verse)
Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills,
1 Kings 5:16 (show verse)
besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers.
1 Kings 5:17 (show verse)
By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone.
1 Kings 5:18 (show verse)
Solomon's and Hiram's construction workers, along with men from Byblos, did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple.