Chapter 5

And Hiram king of Tyre sent⁴ his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard¹ that they had anointed¹ him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever ³¹¹⁷ a lover⁶ of David.

And Solomon sent⁴ to Hiram, saying,²

Thou knowest¹ how that David my father could¹ not build² an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side,¹ until the LORD put² them under the soles of his feet.

But now the LORD my God hath given me rest⁵² on every side, [so that there is] neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

And, behold, I purpose⁶ to build² an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake¹⁴ unto David my father, saying,² Thy son, whom I will set⁴ upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build⁴ an house unto my name.

Now therefore command¹⁶ thou that they hew⁴ me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give⁴ hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint:⁴ for thou knowest¹ that [there is] not among us any that can skill⁶ to hew² timber like unto the Sidonians.

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard² the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced⁴ greatly, and said,⁴ Blessed⁷ [be] the LORD this day, which hath given¹ unto David a wise son over this great people.

And Hiram sent⁴ to Solomon, saying,² I have considered¹ the things which thou sentest¹ to me for: [and] I will do⁴ all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

My servants shall bring [them] down⁵⁵ from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey⁴ them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint⁴ me, and will cause them to be discharged¹⁴ there, and thou shalt receive⁴ [them]: and thou shalt accomplish⁴ my desire, in giving² food for my household.

So Hiram gave⁶ Solomon cedar trees and fir trees [according to] all his desire.

And Solomon gave¹ Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat [for] food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave⁴ Solomon to Hiram year by year.

And the LORD gave¹ Solomon wisdom, as he promised¹⁴ him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made⁴ a league together.

And king Solomon raised⁵⁵ a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

And he sent⁴ them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, [and] two months at home: and Adoniram [was] over the levy.

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare⁶ burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers⁶ in the mountains;

Beside the chief of Solomon's officers¹² which [were] over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled⁶ over the people that wrought⁶ in the work.

And the king commanded,¹⁷ and they brought⁵⁵ great stones, costly stones, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation¹⁵ of the house.

And Solomon's builders⁶ and Hiram's builders⁶ did hew⁴ [them], and the stonesquarers: so they prepared⁵⁵ timber and stones to build² the house.