1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for
he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for
Hiram was ever a lover of David.
2 And
Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3 Thou
knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the
LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD
put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But
now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither
adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 And,
behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the
LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy
throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
6 Now
therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my
servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy
servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not
among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
7 And
it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced
greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given
unto David a wise son over this great people.
8 And
Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest
to me for: and I
will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of
fir.
9 My
servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I
will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me,
and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving
food for my household.
10 So
Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
11 And
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food
to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram
year by year.
12 And
the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between
Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
13 And
king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand
men.
14 And
he sent 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.
15 And
Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore
thousand hewers in the mountains;
16 Beside
the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and
three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17 And
the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed
stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 And
Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber
and stones to build the house.
