I Kings 5:1-18
“And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.” (I Kings 5:1)
Hiram, king of Tyre was a friend to David. The Phoenicians were a sea going people, trading all around the Mediterranean and along the Eastern coast of both Europe and Africa. To build sea going ships required extremely good engineering and construction technologies, and the Phoenicians were known for their skills. According to II Samuel 5:11 Hiram had provided both materials and overseers for David’s palace. He contacted Solomon with best wishes as well.
“And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto 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. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
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 can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.” (I Kings 5:2-6)
Hiram had been a friend to David, and David had shared his desire to build a temple, but had been unable to do so because of the need to defend the country. God had promised that his son would build that temple, and Solomon asked Hiram to supply the lumber and skilled carpenters to build it because they were considered the best in the world at the time.
“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 hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.” (I Kings 5:7)
Hiram was thrilled that Solomon had a similar attitude to his father and wanted to worship God. He praised God for putting Solomon in that position. It was due to the friendship between David and Hiram that while Israel controlled part of present day Lebanon, the Phoenicians controlled the rest.
“And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 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.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 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.
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. ” (I Kings 5:8-12)
Hiram agreed to supply overseers and materials for the temple in exchange for grain and olive oil. Both sides would benefit from the arrangement, and it would later lead to greater cooperation between the two kingdoms.
“And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 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.” (I Kings 5:13-14)
Solomon drafted his people to work on the temple. Thirty thousand were designated to go to Lebanon to do the logging and transport the lumber. They were divided into groups of ten thousand working thirty days straight before being off for sixty days. It gave them two months each time to take care of their own business. The number seems extreme until you realize that every operation from cutting down the tree to squaring it up and transporting it had to be done by hand. Any one who has cut a large tree with an axe or a crosscut saw has a vague idea of the work involved. Prior to the development of water powered sawmills, it was considered normal for two men to produce one or two boards a day.
“And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 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.
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.” (I Kings 5:15-18)
Besides those who went to Lebanon, Solomon had seventy thousand men just to transport materials from place to place, and eighty thousand were sent into the mountains to quarry the stone for the temple. A lack of modern machinery did not prevent them from producing whatever they wanted, but it did ensure full employment.
“And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.” (I Kings 5:1)
Hiram, king of Tyre was a friend to David. The Phoenicians were a sea going people, trading all around the Mediterranean and along the Eastern coast of both Europe and Africa. To build sea going ships required extremely good engineering and construction technologies, and the Phoenicians were known for their skills. According to II Samuel 5:11 Hiram had provided both materials and overseers for David’s palace. He contacted Solomon with best wishes as well.
“And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto 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. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
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 can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.” (I Kings 5:2-6)
Hiram had been a friend to David, and David had shared his desire to build a temple, but had been unable to do so because of the need to defend the country. God had promised that his son would build that temple, and Solomon asked Hiram to supply the lumber and skilled carpenters to build it because they were considered the best in the world at the time.
“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 hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.” (I Kings 5:7)
Hiram was thrilled that Solomon had a similar attitude to his father and wanted to worship God. He praised God for putting Solomon in that position. It was due to the friendship between David and Hiram that while Israel controlled part of present day Lebanon, the Phoenicians controlled the rest.
“And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 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.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 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.
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. ” (I Kings 5:8-12)
Hiram agreed to supply overseers and materials for the temple in exchange for grain and olive oil. Both sides would benefit from the arrangement, and it would later lead to greater cooperation between the two kingdoms.
“And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 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.” (I Kings 5:13-14)
Solomon drafted his people to work on the temple. Thirty thousand were designated to go to Lebanon to do the logging and transport the lumber. They were divided into groups of ten thousand working thirty days straight before being off for sixty days. It gave them two months each time to take care of their own business. The number seems extreme until you realize that every operation from cutting down the tree to squaring it up and transporting it had to be done by hand. Any one who has cut a large tree with an axe or a crosscut saw has a vague idea of the work involved. Prior to the development of water powered sawmills, it was considered normal for two men to produce one or two boards a day.
“And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 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.
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.” (I Kings 5:15-18)
Besides those who went to Lebanon, Solomon had seventy thousand men just to transport materials from place to place, and eighty thousand were sent into the mountains to quarry the stone for the temple. A lack of modern machinery did not prevent them from producing whatever they wanted, but it did ensure full employment.
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