1 Kings 5

Revised Geneva Translation

5 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon (for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father) because Hiram had always loved David.

² And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

³ “You know that David, my father, could not build a House to the Name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD had put them under the soles of his feet.

⁴ “But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor evil to resist.

⁵ “And behold, I intend to build a House to the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set upon your throne for you, he shall build a House to My Name.’

⁶ “Now, therefore, command that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon. And my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give you the wages for your servants, according to all that you shall appoint. For you know that there are none among us who can cut timber like the Sidonians!”

⁷ And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, Who has given David a wise son over this mighty people!”

⁸ And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have considered the things for which you sent to me, and will accomplish all your desire concerning the cedar trees and fir trees.

⁹ “My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. And I will transport them by sea in rafts to the place that you shall tell me and will have them discharged there. And you shall receive them. And you shall do me the pleasure of ministering food for my family.”

¹⁰ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees, his full desire.

¹¹ And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil. Thus, Solomon gave much to Hiram year after year.

¹² And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon. And those two made a covenant.

¹³ And King Solomon raised a sum from all Israel. And the sum was thirty thousand men,

¹⁴ whom he sent to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, changing regularly. They were a month in Lebanon, and two months at home. And Adoniram was over the sum.

¹⁵ And Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand masons on the mountain

¹⁶ (besides the princes whom Solomon appointed over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled the people who fashioned the work).

¹⁷ And the king commanded them, and they brought great stones and costly stones to make the foundations of the House: hewn stones.

¹⁸ And Solomon’s workmen and the workmen of Hiram and the masons cut and prepared timber and stones for the building of the House.