E h 1. Hiram and Solomon. Congratulations.
i k 2-6-. Timber required.
l -6. Payment.
i k 7-10. Timber required.
l 11. Payment.
h 12. Hiram and Solomon. Covenant.920-917 B.C.
1 Kings 5)
1 And Hiram (= noble. Born of a Jewish mother [7:14. 2 Chron. 2:14]) king of Tyre (= rock) sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever an ally of David (Hebrews always at amity with the Phoenicians. Never with Canaanites).
2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3 “You know (cp. 2 Sam. 5:11. 1 Chron. 14:1; 22:4) how that David my father could not build a house to 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 (there were 3 reasons altogether: (1) not the time [2 Sam.7]; (2) not the opportunity [here]; (3) not the man [1 Chron. 22:8; 23:3, &c.]).
4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, [so that there is] neither adversary (Heb. sâtân) nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house to the name of the Lord my God, according as the Lord spoke to David my father (cp. 2 Sam. 7:12,13. 1 Chron. 17:11,12), saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your room, he shall build an house to My name.’
6 Now therefore command you that they hew Me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants:
and to you will I give hire for your servants according to all that you shall appoint: for you know that [there is] not among us a man that can 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, which has given to David a wise son over this great People.”
8 And Hiram sent to Solomon (i.e. wrote. Cp. 2 Chron. 2:11. See Ex. 17:14), saying, “I have considered the things which you sent to me for: [and] I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir (or cyprus).
9 My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon to the sea (note the illustration in the conversion of sinners. Cut down from nature's standing; down through the waters of death [Rom.6:11]. before finding their place in the Temple of God [Eph. 2:20-22]. Same with stones. See v.17): and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and you shall receive [them]: and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.”
10 So Hiram continued to give Solomon cedar trees and fir trees [according to] all his desire (cp. Ps. 45:12).
11 And Solomon gave Hiram (not the same as 2 Chron. 2:10. That was for Hiram's workmen in Lebanon. This was for his royal household at Tyre) twenty thousand measures of wheat (about 160,000 bushels) [for] food to his household, and twenty measures (about 160 bushels) of pure oil (= bruised [as in mortar], not crushed in a press): thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, according as He promised him (cp. 3:12): and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a covenant together (for breaking which Tyre was judged later. See Amos 1:9).
13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel (= tribute of men for free labor, not the bond-service of 9:21,22. Cp. 4:6. 2 Sam. 20:24. Foretold in 1 Sam. 8:16. David employed forced service of resident aliens [1 Chron. 22:2; and 2 Sam. 12:31]); 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 that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16 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 And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones (these stones illustrate the work of conversion in the sinner. Hewed out of Nature's dark quarry [Isa. 51:1,2], cut and carved for a place in the temple of glory [Eph.2:20-22]), costly stones, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew [them], and the stone-squarers (= men of Gebal, or Giblites, as Ezek. 27:9, now Jubeil, 40 miles north of Sidon. Cp. Ps. 83:7. Phoenician mason's marks still visible on them): and they prepared timber and stones to build the house.