1 aNow Hiram king
of Tyre
sent
his servants
to Solomon
, when
he heard
that they had anointed
him king
in place
of his father
, for bHiram
had
2always
been
a friend
of David
.
Then aSolomon sent
word to Hiram
, saying
,
"You know that aDavid
my father
was unable
to build
a house
for the name
of the LORD
his God
because
of the wars
which
surrounded
him, until
the LORD
put
them under
the soles
of his feet
.
"But now athe LORD
my God
has given
me rest
on every
side
; there
is neither
adversary
nor
1misfortune
.
"Behold, aI 1intend
to build
a house
for the name
of the LORD
my God
, as the LORD
spoke
to David
my father
, saying
, `Your son
, whom
I will set
on your throne
in your place
, he will build
the house
for My name
.'
"Now therefore, command
that they cut
for me acedars
from Lebanon
, and my servants
will be with your servants
; and I will give
you wages
for your servants
according to all
that you say
, for you know
that there
is no
one
among us who knows
how to cut
timber
like the Sidonians
."
When Hiram heard
the words
of Solomon
, he rejoiced
greatly
and said
, "Blessed
be the LORD
today
, who
has given
to David
a wise
son
over
this
great
people
."
So Hiram sent
word to Solomon
, saying
, "I have heard
the message which
you have sent
me; I will do
1what
you desire
concerning the cedar
and cypress
timber
.
"My servants will bring
them down
from Lebanon
to the sea
; and I will make
them into rafts
to go by sea
ato the place
where
you 1direct
me, and I will have them broken
up there
, and you shall carry
them away. Then byou shall accomplish
my desire
by giving
food
to my household
."
So 1Hiram 2gave
Solomon
3as much
as he desired
of the cedar
and cypress
timber
.
aSolomon then gave
Hiram
20,000
1kors
of wheat
as food
for his household
, and twenty
1kors
of beaten
oil
; thus
Solomon
would give
Hiram
year
by year
.
aThe LORD gave
wisdom
to Solomon
, just
as He 1promised
him; and there was peace
between
Hiram
and Solomon
, and the two
of them made
a covenant
.
Now aKing Solomon
1levied
forced
laborers
from all
Israel
; and the forced
laborers
2numbered
30,000
men
.
He sent them to Lebanon
, 10,000
a month
in relays
; they were in Lebanon
a month
and two
months
at home
. And aAdoniram
was over
the forced
laborers
.
Now aSolomon had
70,000
1transporters
, and 80,000
hewers
of stone in the mountains
,
abesides Solomon's
3,300
chief
deputies
who
were over
the 1project
and who ruled
over the people
who were doing
the work
.
Then athe king commanded
, and they quarried
great
stones
, costly
stones
, to lay
the foundation
of the house
with cut
stones
.
So Solomon's builders
and 1Hiram's
builders
and athe Gebalites
2cut
them, and prepared
the timbers
and the stones
to build
the house
.