5King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David's son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.H2438H4428H6865H7971H5650H8010H8085H4886H4428H1H2438H3117H157H1732 2Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram.H8010H7971H2438H559 3"You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the LORD gave him victory over all his enemies.H3045H1732H1H3201H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H6440H4421H5437H3068H5414H3709H7272 4But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.H3068H430H5117H5439H7854H7451H6294 5So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, 'Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.'H559H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H3068H1696H1732H1H559H1121H5414H3678H1129H1004H8034 6"Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!"H6680H3772H730H3844H5650H5650H5414H7939H5650H559H3045H376H3045H3772H6086H6722 7When Hiram received Solomon's message, he was very pleased and said, "Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel."H2438H8085H1697H8010H8055H3966H559H1288H3068H3117H5414H1732H2450H1121H7227H5971 8Then he sent this reply to Solomon: "I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.H2438H7971H8010H559H8085H7971H6213H2656H6086H730H6086H1265 9My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household."H5650H3381H3844H3220H7760H3220H1702H4725H7971H5310H5375H6213H2656H5414H3899H1004 10So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.H2438H5414H8010H730H6086H1265H6086H2656 11In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil.H8010H5414H2438H6242H505H3734H2406H4361H1004H6242H3734H3795H8081H5414H8010H2438H8141H8141 12So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace.H3068H5414H8010H2451H1696H7965H2438H8010H8147H3772H1285H8147 13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.H4428H8010H5927H4522H3478H4522H7970H505H376 14He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.H7971H3844H6235H505H2320H2487H2320H3844H8147H2320H1004H141H4522 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country,H8010H7657H505H5375H5449H8084H505H2672H2022 16and 3,600 foremen to supervise the work.H8269H8010H5324H4399H7969H505H7969H3967H7287H5971H6213H4399 17At the king's command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.H4428H6680H5265H1419H68H3368H68H1496H68H3245H1004 18Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon's and Hiram's builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.H8010H1129H2438H1129H6458H1382H3559H6086H68H1129H1004
6It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the LORD. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.H702H3967H8141H8084H8141H1121H3478H3318H776H4714H7243H8141H8010H4427H3478H2320H2099H8145H2320H1129H1004H3068 2The Temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.H1004H4428H8010H1129H3068H753H8346H520H7341H6242H6967H7970H520 3The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple. It projected outward 15 feet from the front of the Temple.H197H6440H1964H1004H6242H520H753H7341H1004H6235H520H7341H1004 4Solomon also made narrow recessed windows throughout the Temple.H1004H6213H2474H331H8261 5He built a complex of rooms against the outer walls of the Temple, all the way around the sides and rear of the building.H7023H1004H1129H3326H3326H5439H7023H1004H5439H1964H1687H6213H6763H5439 6The complex was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1/2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1/2 feet wide. The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.H8481H3326H3326H2568H520H7341H8484H8337H520H7341H7992H7651H520H7341H2351H1004H5414H4052H5439H270H7023H1004 7The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.H1004H1129H1129H68H8003H4551H4717H1631H3627H1270H8085H1004H1129 8The entrance to the bottom floor was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors.H6607H8484H6763H3233H3802H1004H5927H3883H8484H8484H7992 9After completing the Temple structure, Solomon put in a ceiling made of cedar beams and planks.H1129H1004H3615H5603H1004H1356H7713H730 10As already stated, he built a complex of rooms on three sides of the building, attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7 1/2 feet high.H1129H3326H3326H1004H2568H520H6967H270H1004H6086H730 11Then the LORD gave this message to Solomon.H1697H3068H8010H559 12"Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David.H1004H1129H3212H2708H6213H4941H8104H4687H3212H6965H1697H1696H1732H1 13I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel."H7931H8432H1121H3478H5800H5971H3478 14So Solomon finished building the Temple.H8010H1129H1004H3615 15The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors.H1129H7023H1004H1004H6763H730H7172H1004H7023H5604H6823H1004H6086H6823H7172H1004H6763H1265 16He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling.H1129H6242H520H3411H1004H4480H7172H7023H6763H730H1129H1004H1687H6944H6944 17The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long.H1004H1964H3942H705H520 18Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.H730H1004H6441H4734H6497H6362H6731H730H68H7200 19He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the LORD's Covenant would be placed.H1687H3559H8432H1004H6441H5414H727H1285H3068 20This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.H1687H6440H6242H520H753H6242H520H7341H6242H520H6967H6823H5462H2091H6823H4196H730 21Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple's interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance to the Most Holy Place.H8010H6823H1004H6441H5462H2091H5674H7572H7572H2091H6440H1687H6823H2091 22So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.H1004H6823H2091H8552H1004H4196H1687H6823H2091 23He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary.H1687H6213H8147H3742H8081H6086H6235H520H6967 24The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 7 1/2 feet long.H2568H520H259H3671H3742H2568H520H8145H3671H3742H7098H3671H7098H3671H6235H520 25The two cherubim were identical in shape and size;H8145H3742H6235H520H8147H3742H259H4060H259H7095 26each was 15 feet tall.H6967H259H3742H6235H520H8145H3742 27He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.H5414H3742H8432H6442H1004H6566H3671H3742H3671H259H5060H7023H3671H8145H3742H5060H8145H7023H3671H5060H3671H3671H8432H1004 28He overlaid the two cherubim with gold.H6823H3742H2091 29He decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.H7049H7023H1004H4524H6603H4734H3742H8561H6362H6731H6441H2435 30He overlaid the floor in both rooms with gold.H7172H1004H6823H2091H6441H2435 31For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made double doors of wild olive wood with five-sided doorposts.H6607H1687H6213H1817H8081H6086H352H4201H2549 32These double doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. The doors, including the decorations of cherubim and palm trees, were overlaid with gold.H8147H1817H8081H6086H7049H4734H3742H8561H6362H6731H6823H2091H7286H2091H3742H8561 33Then he made four-sided doorposts of wild olive wood for the entrance to the Temple.H6213H6607H1964H4201H8081H6086H7243 34There were two folding doors of cypress wood, and each door was hinged to fold back upon itself.H8147H1817H1265H6086H8147H6763H259H1817H1550H8147H7050H8145H1817H1550 35These doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers—all overlaid evenly with gold.H7049H3742H8561H6362H6731H6823H2091H3474H2707 36The walls of the inner courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone.H1129H6442H2691H7969H2905H1496H2905H730H3773 37The foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign.H7243H8141H3245H1004H3068H3245H3391H2099 38The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul, during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.H259H6240H8141H3391H945H8066H2320H1004H3615H1697H4941H7651H8141H1129
2Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD, and also a royal palace for himself.H8010H559H1129H1004H8034H3068H1004H4438 2He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.H8010H5608H7657H505H376H5449H8084H505H376H2672H2022H7969H505H8337H3967H5329 3Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: "Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.H8010H7971H2361H4428H6865H559H6213H1732H1H7971H730H1129H1004H3427 4I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him, to display the special sacrificial bread, and to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, at new moon celebrations, and at the other appointed festivals of the LORD our God. He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H6942H6999H6440H5561H7004H8548H4635H5930H1242H6153H7676H2320H4150H3068H430H5769H3478 5"This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods.H1004H1129H1419H1419H430H430 6But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?H6113H3581H1129H1004H8064H8064H8064H3557H1129H1004H518H6999H6440 7"So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David.H7971H376H2450H6213H2091H3701H5178H1270H710H3758H8504H3045H6605H6603H2450H3063H3389H1732H1H3559 8"Also send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are without equal at cutting timber in Lebanon. I will send my men to help them.H7971H730H6086H1265H418H3844H3045H5650H3045H3772H6086H3844H5650H5650 9An immense amount of timber will be needed, for the Temple I am going to build will be very large and magnificent.H3559H6086H7230H1004H1129H6381H1419 10In payment for your woodcutters, I will send 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil."H5414H5650H2404H3772H6086H6242H505H3734H4347H2406H6242H505H3734H8184H6242H505H1324H3196H6242H505H1324H8081 11King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: "It is because the LORD loves his people that he has made you their king!H2361H4428H6865H559H3791H7971H8010H3068H160H5971H5414H4428 12Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.H2361H559H1288H3068H430H3478H6213H8064H776H5414H1732H4428H2450H1121H3045H7922H998H1129H1004H3068H1004H4438 13"I am sending you a master craftsman named Huram-abi, who is extremely talented.H7971H2450H376H3045H998H2361H1 14His mother is from the tribe of Dan in Israel, and his father is from Tyre. He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.H1121H802H1323H1835H1H376H6876H3045H6213H2091H3701H5178H1270H68H6086H713H8504H948H3758H6605H6603H2803H4284H5414H2450H2450H113H1732H1 15"Send along the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine that my lord has mentioned.H2406H8184H8081H3196H113H559H7971H5650 16We will cut whatever timber you need from the Lebanon mountains and will float the logs in rafts down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa. From there you can transport the logs up to Jerusalem."H3772H6086H3844H6878H935H7513H3220H3305H5927H3389 17Solomon took a census of all foreigners in the land of Israel, like the census his father had taken, and he counted 153,600.H8010H5608H582H1616H776H3478H310H5610H1732H1H5608H4672H3967H2572H505H7969H505H8337H3967 18He assigned 70,000 of them as common laborers, 80,000 as quarry workers in the hill country, and 3,600 as foremen.H6213H7657H505H5449H8084H505H2672H2022H7969H505H8337H3967H5329H5647H5971H5647
3So Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.H8010H2490H1129H1004H3068H3389H2022H4179H7200H1732H1H4725H1732H3559H1637H771H2983 2The construction began in midspring, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign.H2490H1129H8145H8145H2320H702H8141H4438 3These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.H8010H3245H1129H1004H430H753H520H7223H4060H8346H520H7341H6242H520 4The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.H197H6440H753H7341H1004H6242H520H1363H3967H6242H6823H6441H2889H2091 5He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains.H1419H1004H2645H1265H6086H2645H2896H2091H5927H8561H8333 6He decorated the walls of the Temple with beautiful jewels and with gold from the land of Parvaim.H6823H1004H3368H68H8597H2091H2091H6516 7He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls.H2645H1004H6982H5592H7023H1817H2091H6605H3742H7023 8He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons of fine gold.H6213H6944H6944H1004H753H6440H7341H1004H6242H520H7341H6242H520H2645H2896H2091H8337H3967H3603 9The gold nails that were used weighed 20 ounces each. He also overlaid the walls of the upper rooms with gold.H4948H4548H2572H8255H2091H2645H5944H2091 10He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place.H6944H6944H1004H6213H8147H3742H6816H4639H6823H2091 11The total wingspan of the two cherubim standing side by side was 30 feet. One wing of the first figure was 7 1/2 feet long, and it touched the Temple wall. The other wing, also 7 1/2 feet long, touched one of the wings of the second figure.H3671H3742H6242H520H753H259H3671H2568H520H5060H7023H1004H312H3671H2568H520H5060H3671H312H3742 12In the same way, the second figure had one wing 7 1/2 feet long that touched the opposite wall. The other wing, also 7 1/2 feet long, touched the wing of the first figure.H3671H259H3742H2568H520H5060H7023H1004H312H3671H2568H520H1695H3671H312H3742 13So the wingspan of the two cherubim side by side was 30 feet. They stood on their feet and faced out toward the main room of the Temple.H3671H3742H6566H6242H520H5975H7272H6440H1004 14Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim.H6213H6532H8504H713H3758H948H5927H3742 15For the front of the Temple, he made two pillars that were 27 feet tall, each topped by a capital extending upward another 7 1/2 feet.H6213H6440H1004H8147H5982H7970H2568H520H753H6858H7218H2568H520 16He made a network of interwoven chains and used them to decorate the tops of the pillars. He also made 100 decorative pomegranates and attached them to the chains.H6213H8333H1687H5414H7218H5982H6213H3967H7416H5414H8333 17Then he set up the two pillars at the entrance of the Temple, one to the south of the entrance and the other to the north. He named the one on the south Jakin, and the one on the north Boaz.H6965H5982H6440H1964H259H3225H259H8040H7121H8034H3233H3227H3199H8034H8042H1162
Dublin, OH
King Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David's son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.H2438
