1 Kings5

King Hiram of Tyre, a friend of David, sent envoys to Solomon upon his ascension. Solomon requested cedar and fir timber from Hiram for building the Temple, explaining that his father David could not due to wars, but he now had peace. Hiram agreed, praising the Lord for Solomon's wisdom, and a trade agreement was established for materials in exchange for provisions. Solomon then organized a vast workforce of Israelites and foreigners to prepare timber and stones for the Temple's foundation.

Alliance with Hiram of Tyre

1
Hiram king of Tzor sent his servants to Shlomo, because he had heard that they had anointed him king in his father's place, and Hiram had always loved David. ​
2
Shlomo returned this message to Hiram:
3
"You know that David my father wasn't able to build a house for the name of ADONAI his God, because of the wars that beset him from every side, until ADONAI put his enemies under the soles of my feet. ​
4
But now ADONAI my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor calamity. ​
5
So now I intend to build a house for the name of ADONAI my God, in keeping with what ADONAI said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, will be the one to build the house for my name.' ​
6
Therefore, order your people to cut down cedar trees from the L'vanon for me. My servants will be with your servants. I will pay your servants according to everything you say; for you know that we have no one among us as skilled in felling trees as the Tzidonim." ​
7
When Hiram heard Shlomo's message, he was very happy and said, "Blessed be ADONAI today, who has given David a wise son to rule this great people." ​
8
Then Hiram sent Shlomo this message: "I have heard the message you sent me, and I will do everything you want concerning cedar logs and cypress logs.
9
My servants will bring them down from the L'vanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to whatever place you tell me and will have them broken up there, and you will receive them. You will compensate me by providing food for my household." ​
10
So Hiram gave Shlomo all the cedar logs and cypress logs he wanted;
11
and Shlomo gave Hiram 100,000 bushels of wheat as food for his household and a thousand gallons of oil from pressed olives - this is what Shlomo gave Hiram each year. ​
12
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. ​

Organization of the Temple Workforce

13
King Shlomo conscripted 30,000 men from all Isra'el for forced labor. ​
14
He sent them to the L'vanon in monthly relays of 10,000; they would stay a month in the L'vanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. ​
15
Shlomo had 70,000 men to carry loads and another 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, ​
16
besides Shlomo's 3,300 supervisors who were in charge of the people doing the work.
17
The king gave orders; and they quarried large stones, expensive stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stone. ​
18
Shlomo's and Hiram's builders, along with the men from G'val, worked the stones and prepared the timber and stones for building the house. ​

Study Notes for 1 Kings 5

Verse 1

Hiram, king of the powerful Phoenician city-state of Tyre, maintained a long-standing political and economic alliance with the Davidic dynasty, recognizing Solomon's succession immediately upon hearing the news.

Verse 3

Solomon justifies the delay in building the Temple by citing David’s constant warfare. This contrasts the previous era of conquest with Solomon's current era of peace, which God required for the construction of His permanent dwelling.

Verse 4

The 'rest on every side' signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to establish David’s kingdom securely, allowing Solomon to focus on domestic and religious infrastructure instead of defense.

Verse 5

Solomon frames the Temple construction not as a personal ambition but as the fulfillment of the divine covenant promise made to David (2 Sam 7:13), establishing the theological necessity of the project.

Verse 6

Solomon recognizes the superior skill of the Phoenicians (referred to as Sidonians, Tyre’s neighbors) in forestry, logging, and large-scale maritime transport, necessitating this international cooperation.

Verse 7

Hiram's praise of the LORD (Yahweh) is both a diplomatic courtesy and a testament to the international reputation of Solomon’s God-given wisdom, which enabled this successful negotiation.

Verse 9

This verse details the highly efficient logistics: the logs would be brought down from the mountains to the sea and then towed in large rafts ('floats') along the Mediterranean coast to a port near Jerusalem (likely Joppa).

Verse 11

The payment in wheat and oil demonstrates the economic exchange: agricultural Israel had limited timber and expertise, while coastal Tyre lacked agricultural land, making this trade mutually beneficial.

Verse 12

The LORD’s gift of wisdom (promised in 1 Kgs 3) is immediately validated by the successful conclusion of the treaty ('league') with Hiram, securing vital resources and peace.

Verse 13

The 'levy' (*mas*) refers to compulsory labor (corvée). While earlier kings used this on conquered populations, Solomon extended this obligation to all Israel, a policy that later caused significant resentment and rebellion (1 Kgs 12).

Verse 14

The rotation system (one month on, two months off) was designed to manage the strain of the forced labor on the Israelite economy, ensuring that conscripts could still tend to their farms for most of the year.

Verse 15

The 70,000 bearers and 80,000 hewers were likely drawn primarily from the Amorites, Hittites, and other non-Israelite populations residing in the kingdom, who were subject to heavier labor demands than the Israelites.

Verse 17

The use of 'great stones' and 'costly stones' emphasizes the eternal quality of the Temple foundation, demonstrating the commitment to building a permanent structure worthy of God’s dwelling place.

Verse 18

The final preparation involved collaboration between Israelite and Phoenician craftsmen, ensuring that the stones were perfectly squared and ready for immediate placement according to the precise architectural plans.

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