Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple
1 NowHiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father,for Hiram had always loved David.
2 ThenSolomon sent to Hiram, saying:
3 You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of theLordhis Godbecause of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until theLordputhisfoesunder the soles of his feet.
4 But now theLordmy God has given merest on every side;thereisneither adversary nor evil occurrence.
5 And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of theLordmy God,as theLordspoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”
6 Now therefore, command that they cut downcedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you knowthereisnone among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.
7 So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said,
BlessedbetheLordthis day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!
8 Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying:
I have consideredthemessagewhich you sent me,andI will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.
9 My servants shall bringthemdownfrom Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can takethemaway. And you shall fulfill my desireby giving food for my household.
10 Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logsaccordingtoall his desire.
11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheatasfood for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.
12 So theLordgave Solomon wisdom,as He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
13 Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanonandtwo months at home;Adoniramwasin charge of the labor force.
15 Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarriedstonein the mountains,
16 besides three thousand three hundred from thechiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work.
17 And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones,andhewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
18 So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarriedthem;and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.