1 Kings
5
- When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon
had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to
Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David.
- Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
- "You know that because of the wars
waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple
for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his
feet.
- But now the LORD my God has given me rest
on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.
- I intend, therefore, to build a temple for
the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said,
'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple
for my Name.'
- "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon
be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men
whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling
timber as the Sidonians."
- When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was
greatly pleased and said, "Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given
David a wise son to rule over this great nation."
- So Hiram sent word to Solomon: "I have
received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the
cedar and pine logs.
- My men will haul them down from Lebanon
to the sea, and I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you specify.
There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant
my wish by providing food for my royal household."
- In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied
with all the cedar and pine logs he wanted,
- and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors
of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of
pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.
- The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he
had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon,
and the two of them made a treaty.
- King Solomon conscripted laborers from all
Israel -- thirty thousand men.
- He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of
ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months
at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
- Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and
eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills,
- as well as thirty-three hundred foremen
who supervised the project and directed the workmen.
- At the king's command they removed from
the quarry large blocks of quality stone to provide a foundation of dressed
stone for the temple.
- The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and the
men of Gebal cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the
temple.
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