CHAPTER 5
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
friends
with David.
“As you
are aware,
because
of 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.
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.'
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."
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!”
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.
My servants
will haul the logs
from
Lebanon
to the sea,
and I
will float them
in 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."
and year
after year
Solomon
would provide
Hiram
with twenty
thousand
cors
of wheat
as food
for his household,
as well as twenty thousand
baths
of pure olive oil.
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.
He sent them
to Lebanon
in monthly
shifts
of ten
thousand,
so that they would spend
one month
in Lebanon
and two
months
at home.
And Adoniram was
in charge
of the labor force.
And the king
commanded them
to quarry
large,
costly
stones
to lay the foundation
of the temple
with dressed
stones.
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.