1 Alliance with King Hiram Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
2 Then Solomon sentwordto Hiram, saying,
3 “You know that David my father could not build a house (temple) for the Name (Presence) of the Lhis God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lput his enemies under his feet.
4 But now that the Lmy God has given me rest [from war] on every side, there is neither adversary nor misfortune [confronting me].
5 Behold, I intend to build a house (temple) to the Name of the Lmy God, just as the Lsaid to my father David: ‘Your son whom I will put on your throne in your place shall build the house for My NameandPresence.’
6 So now, command that they cut cedar trees from Lebanon for me, and my servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the men of Sidon.”
7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lthis day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people.”
8 So Hiram sentwordto Solomon, saying, “I have heardthe messagewhich you sent to me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and cypress timber.
9 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the [Mediterranean] sea, and I will have them made into raftsto goby sea to the place (port) that you direct me; then I will have them broken up there, and you shall carrythemaway. Then you shallLit fulfill my desire.return the favor by providing food for my household.”
10 So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired,
11 and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000See note 4:22.kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of pure [olive] oil. Solomon gave all these to Hiram each year.
12 The Lgave Solomon wisdom, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 Conscription of Laborers King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.
14 He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers.
15 Solomon had 70,000 burden bearers (transporters) and 80,000 stonemasons in the hill country [of Judah],
16 besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work.
17 The king gave orders, and they quarried greatThese great foundation stones still exist. One of them is almost thirty-nine feet long; it is the chief cornerstone of the Dome of the Rock’s massive wall, placed in its present position 3,000 years ago. Markings on the stones represent the culture of Phoenicia, the region around Tyre from which Solomon received building materials for the temple.stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones.
18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men ofA city in Lebanon, ancient Byblos.Gebal cutandchiseledthe stones,and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house (temple).