And Solomon sent word to Hiram, (A)“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God (B)because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. (C)But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, (D)as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes (E)by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors[a] of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000[b] cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 5:11 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters
  2. 1 Kings 5:11 Septuagint; Hebrew twenty

Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

“You know that because of the wars(A) waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build(B) a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet.(C) But now the Lord my God has given me rest(D) on every side, and there is no adversary(E) or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple(F) 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.’(G)

“So give orders that cedars(H) 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(I) 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 juniper logs. My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea(J), and I will float them as 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(K) for my royal household.”

10 In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors[a] of wheat as food(L) for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths[b][c] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 5:11 That is, probably about 3,600 tons or about 3,250 metric tons
  2. 1 Kings 5:11 Septuagint (see also 2 Chron. 2:10); Hebrew twenty cors
  3. 1 Kings 5:11 That is, about 120,000 gallons or about 440,000 liters