1 Kings 5:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI gave Shlomo wisdom, as he had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Shlomo - the two of them formed an alliance together.

Berean Standard Bible:

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} gave^{H5414} Solomon^{H8010} wisdom^{H2451}, as he promised^{H1696} him: and there was peace^{H7965} between Hiram^{H2438} and Solomon^{H8010}; and they two^{H8147} made^{H3772} a league^{H1285} together^{H8147}.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 5:12

1 Kings 5:12 is a verse that captures a significant moment in the history of ancient Israel, specifically during the reign of King Solomon. The verse highlights two key themes: the fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon and the establishment of a political and commercial alliance.

The historical context of this verse is set during the peak of Solomon's reign, a period marked by unprecedented prosperity and international renown. Solomon had ascended to the throne after his father, King David, and early in his reign, he demonstrated his devotion to God by asking for wisdom rather than wealth or long life. In response, God granted Solomon extraordinary wisdom, which included not only insight and understanding but also wealth and honor.

The verse specifically mentions that Solomon's wisdom was a gift from the Lord, as promised. This wisdom was not just intellectual prowess but also the ability to govern effectively, which is exemplified by his peaceful relations with neighboring states. The peace between Hiram, the king of Tyre, and Solomon is particularly noteworthy. Tyre was a powerful Phoenician city known for its maritime trade and expertise in shipbuilding, glassmaking, and the production of purple dye.

The league or treaty mentioned in the verse reflects the strategic alliance between Israel and Tyre. This alliance had both political and economic implications. It provided Solomon with access to the Mediterranean Sea and its trade routes, as well as the skilled labor and materials necessary for his ambitious building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. In return, Hiram benefited from Solomon's patronage and the stability that came with a strong alliance with Israel.

In summary, 1 Kings 5:12 encapsulates the divine favor bestowed upon Solomon, manifested in his wisdom and the peaceful international relations that allowed for a mutually beneficial treaty with Hiram of Tyre. This alliance was instrumental in the economic and structural advancements of Solomon's reign, which were a direct result of the wisdom granted to him by God. The verse underscores the interplay between divine promises, astute leadership, and international diplomacy in the context of ancient Near Eastern geopolitics.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8010
   There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁלֹמֹה
   Transliteration: Shᵉlômôh
   Pronunciation: shel-o-mo'
   Description: from שָׁלוֹם; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor; Solomon.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2451
   There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חׇכְמָה
   Transliteration: chokmâh
   Pronunciation: khok-maw'
   Description: from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7965
   There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלוֹם
   Transliteration: shâlôwm
   Pronunciation: shaw-lome'
   Description: or שָׁלֹם; from שָׁלַם; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace; [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2438
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חִירָם
   Transliteration: Chîyrâm
   Pronunciation: khee-rawm'
   Description: or חִירוֹםlemma חִירֹם missing vav, corrected to חִירוֹם; another form of חוּרָם; Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians; Hiram, Huram.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8147
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
   Transliteration: shᵉnayim
   Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
   Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1285
    There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּרִית
    Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
    Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
    Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.