Wealth and Wisdom

5 Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines up to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. ² Solomon’s provision for one day was 30 measures of fine flour, 60 measures of meal, ³ 10 fat oxen, 20 pasture-fed oxen, 100 sheep, beside deer, gazelles, roebucks and fatted geese. ^{[a] 4} For he had dominion over the entire region west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had shalom on all sides around him. ⁵ So Judah and Israel lived securely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

⁶ Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. ⁷ So those officers provided food for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month. They let nothing be lacking. ⁸ They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.

⁹ God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment in great measure, and a breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. ¹⁰ Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ¹¹ For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol and Darda, sons of Mahol—and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ¹² He also composed 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005. ¹³ He also spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall, and he spoke about beasts, birds, creeping things and fish. ¹⁴ People came from everywhere to hear the wisdom of Solomon—from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

Hiram Offers Materials

¹⁵ Then King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram was always a friend of David. ¹⁶ So Solomon sent word to Hiram saying: ¹⁷ “You know how my father David could not build a House for the Name of Adonai his God because of the wars around him on every side, until Adonai put them under the soles of my feet. ¹⁸ But now Adonai my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor bad incident. ¹⁹ So behold, I intend to build a House for the Name of Adonai my God, as Adonai spoke to my father David saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your place, he will build the House for My Name.’

²⁰ “So now, command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will give you wages for your servants according to whatever you say; for as you know, there is none among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

²¹ When Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he rejoiced greatly and said: “Blessed be Adonai today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” ²² So Hiram sent word to Solomon saying: “I have heard the message that you sent to me. I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber. ²³ My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you indicate to me. There I will break them up and you will carry them away. Then you will accomplish my desire by giving food for my household.”

²⁴ So Hiram kept providing Solomon with cedar and cypress timber, as much as he desired, ²⁵ and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat for food for his household and 20 measures of beaten oil. Thus Solomon would give to Hiram year by year. ²⁶ Adonai gave Solomon wisdom as He promised him, so there was shalom between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.

²⁷ King Solomon also imposed forced laborers from all Israel—the levy was 30,000 men. ²⁸ He sent them to Lebanon, in shifts of 10,000 a month: they would stay a month in Lebanon, then two months at home. Adoniram was over the forced labor. ²⁹ Solomon had 70,000 porters, and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, ³⁰ besides Solomon’s chief officers that were over the work—3,300 who supervised the people who were doing the work. ³¹ Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the House with cut stones. ³² So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders along with the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the House.