1Kings 5

Preparations for Building the Temple

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.H2438H4428H6865H7971H5650H8010H8085H4886H4428H1H2438H3117H157H17322Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram.H8010H7971H2438H5593"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.H3045H1732H1H3201H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H6440H4421H5437H3068H5414H3709H72724But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.H3068H430H5117H5439H7854H7451H62945So 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.'H559H1129H1004H8034H3068H430H3068H1696H1732H1H559H1121H5414H3678H1129H1004H80346"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!"H6680H3772H730H3844H5650H5650H5414H7939H5650H559H3045H376H3045H3772H6086H67227When 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."H2438H8085H1697H8010H8055H3966H559H1288H3068H3117H5414H1732H2450H1121H7227H59718Then he sent this reply to Solomon: "I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.H2438H7971H8010H559H8085H7971H6213H2656H6086H730H6086H12659My 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."H5650H3381H3844H3220H7760H3220H1702H4725H7971H5310H5375H6213H2656H5414H3899H100410So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.H2438H5414H8010H730H6086H1265H6086H265611In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels

of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil.H8010H5414H2438H6242H505H3734H2406H4361H1004H6242H3734H3795H8081H5414H8010H2438H8141H814112So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace.H3068H5414H8010H2451H1696H7965H2438H8010H8147H3772H1285H814713Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.H4428H8010H5927H4522H3478H4522H7970H505H37614He 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.H7971H3844H6235H505H2320H2487H2320H3844H8147H2320H1004H141H452215Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country,H8010H7657H505H5375H5449H8084H505H2672H202216and 3,600

foremen to supervise the work.H8269H8010H5324H4399H7969H505H7969H3967H7287H5971H6213H439917At the king's command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.H4428H6680H5265H1419H68H3368H68H1496H68H3245H100418Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon's and Hiram's builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.H8010H1129H2438H1129H6458H1382H3559H6086H68H1129H1004