¹⁷ At the king’s command they removed from the quarry^(A) large blocks of high-grade stone^(B) to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. ¹⁸ The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram^(C) and workers from Byblos^(D) cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

Rebuilding the Temple

⁷ Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters,^(A) and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs^(B) by sea from Lebanon^(C) to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus^(D) king of Persia.