CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Kings 5
Chapter 5 of 22
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Kings 5
Solomon prepares to build the temple that his father David had dreamed of. He makes a deal with King Hiram of Tyre for cedar and cypress wood from Lebanon and organizes a massive labor force.
Scripture
1 Kings 5
Solomon's Agreement with King Hiram
Study note
King Hiram of Tyre had been a friend of David. Solomon asked him for cedar and cypress wood from Lebanon's famous forests. In return, Solomon would supply wheat and olive oil. Hiram praised God for giving David such a wise son. The two kings made a treaty of peace.
1 King Hiram of Tyre sent his ambassadors to Solomon when he heard that Solomon had been crowned king in his father's place. Hiram had always been on good terms with David. 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 Solomon sent this message back to Hiram: And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3 "You know that my father David could not build a temple for the Lord his God. He was surrounded by enemies on every side. He had to wait until the Lord finally put them under his control." 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 has given me peace all around. I face no enemies and no threats." But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 "So I plan to build a temple for the Lord my God. The Lord told my father David, 'Your son will sit on your throne after you. He will build the temple for my name.'" 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 "Please order your workers to cut down cedar trees from Lebanon for me. My workers will help yours, and I will pay your workers whatever wages you set. As you know, none of us can match the skill of the Sidonians at cutting timber." 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 Hiram was thrilled when he heard Solomon's message. He said, "Praise the Lord today for giving David such a wise son to rule this great nation!" 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 Hiram sent Solomon this reply: "I got your message. I will give you all the cedar and cypress wood you need." 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 workers will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the coast. I will have them floated in rafts by sea to wherever you want. Then my men will break up the rafts, and you can haul the timber away. In exchange, you provide food for my royal household." 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 supplied Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
11 In return, Solomon gave Hiram 100,000 bushels of wheat and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil each year for his household. 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 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised. Hiram and Solomon maintained a peaceful relationship and signed a formal treaty. 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.
The Labor Force for the Temple
Study note
Solomon drafted thirty thousand workers from Israel who worked in monthly shifts. There were also seventy thousand laborers, eighty thousand stonecutters, and over three thousand supervisors. They quarried huge stones for the temple's foundation.
13 King Solomon drafted 30,000 workers from all across Israel as a labor force. And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
14 He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 per month. They spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram managed the labor crews. 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 Solomon also had 70,000 workers. He had 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country too. And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16 On top of that, 3,300 men in charge watched over the workers and kept the project going. 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 The king ordered his workers to cut large blocks of fine stone. These were for the temple's foundation. Each block was cut to fit exactly. And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 Solomon's builders, Hiram's builders, and workers from Gebal cut and shaped the wood and stone for building the temple. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Kings 5
Preparing to build something lasting for GodInternational cooperation for sacred purposesThe cost and sacrifice required to honor GodFulfilling the vision of previous generations
Apply This Today
Living 1 Kings 5
Solomon fulfilled his father David's dream of building a temple. Some visions take more than one generation to complete. We may plant seeds that others will harvest, or we may finish work that others began. Faithfulness in our part of the process is what God asks of us.
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