THE FIRST BOOK OF
THE KINGS,

1 Kings 5 ©

Hiram makes friendship with Solomon, v. 1, etc. Who requests of him materials for the building of the temple, 2, etc. Hiram, praising God for such a successor of David, sends them to him, together with order touching the conditions, 7. The number of laborers, and workmen employed about the temple, 13.

1

AND 1Hiram king of 2Tyre 3sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: fora Hiram was 4ever a 5lover of David.

2

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3

Thoub knowest how that David my father could not build an 6house unto the 7name of the LORD his God for the wars which were 8about him on every side, until the LORD put them 9under the soles of his feet.

4

But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor 10evil occurrent.c

5

And, behold, 11I purposed to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thye son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

6

Now therefore command thou that they hew me 12cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skillf to hew timber like unto the 13Sidonians.

7

¶And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, 14Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

8

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of 15fir.

9

My servants shall bring them down from 16Lebanon 17unto the sea: and I will 18convey them by sea in floatsg unto the place 19that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be 20discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving 21food for my household.

10

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand 22measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty 23measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

12

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promisedh him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

13

¶And king Solomon raised a 24levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month 25by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram 26was over the levy.

15

And Solomon had 27threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand 28hewers in the mountains;

16

Beside the chief of Solomon’s 29officers which were over the work, three thousand and 30three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, 31costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18

And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the 32stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.