1 Covenant with Hiram King of Tyre 5:1Ch5:15in Heb Then 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 5:1Lit all the day always been one who loved David.
2 And Solomon sentwordto Hiram, saying,
3 “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor 5:4Lit evil occurrence calamity.
5 So behold, I 5:5 Lit say intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’
6 So now, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7 Now it happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad and said, “Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”
8 So Hiram sentwordto Solomon, saying, “I have heardthe messagewhich you have sent me; I will do 5:8Lit all your pleasure what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.
9 My servants will bringthemdown from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into raftsto goby sea to the place where you 5:9Lit send direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carrythemaway. Then you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.”
10 So 5:10 Heb Hirom Hiram 5:10 Lit was giving gave Solomon 5:10 Lit all his desire as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber.
11 Solomon then gave Hiram 5:11Approx.130,000bu. or4,600metric tons20,000kors of wheat as food for his household, and 5:11Approx. 130 bu. or4,600l 20 kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year.
12 Now Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He 5:12 Lit spoke to promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.
13 And King Solomon raised up forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers 5:13 Lit was numbered30,000men.
14 And he sent them to Lebanon,10,000a month in 5:14Lit changes shifts; they were in Lebanon a monthandtwo months at home. And Adoniramwasover the forced laborers.
15 And Solomon had70,000 5:15Or burden bearers who carried loads, and80,000hewersof stonein the mountains,
16 besides Solomon’s3,300chief deputies whowereover the 5:16Lit work projectandwho ruled over the people who were doing the work.
17 Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, precious stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.
18 So Solomon’s builders and 5:18 Heb Hirom’s Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites 5:18 Or chiseled carved them out, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.