1 Kings 5

1. And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father; for Hiram ever loved David.

2. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3. “Thou knowest how David my father could not build a house unto the name of the Lord his God because of 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 occurrence.

5. And behold, I purpose to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke unto David my father, saying, ‘Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy stead, he shall build a 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 has 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, who hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.”

8. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have considered the things for which thou sentest to me, 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 tribute of men 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 who bore burdens and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains,

16. besides the chief of Solomon’s officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who ruled over the people who wrought in the work.

17. And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18. And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the stone squarers hewed them. So they prepared timber and stones to build the house.