Solomon & The Temple

For he had all the country which was beyond the river, from Thaphsa to Gazan, and all the kings of those countries: and he had peace on every side round about.

And Juda, and Israel, dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle.

And the foresaid governors of the king fed them; and they furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon's table, with great care, in their time.

They brought barley also, and straw for the horses and beasts, to the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them.

And God gave to Solomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, as the sand that is on the sea shore.

And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians;

And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda, the sons of Mahol, and he was renowned in all nations round about.

Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five.

And he treated about trees, from the cedar that is in Libanus, unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David's friend.

Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

Thou knowest the will of David, my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about; and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.

Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.

Give orders, therefore, that thy servants cut me down cedar trees, out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask: for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people.

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast desired of me; and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and fir trees.

My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I will put them together in floats, on the sea, and convey them to the place, which thou shalt signify to me, and will land them there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries to furnish food for my household.

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.

And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram every year.

And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a league together.

And king Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men.

And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month, by turns, so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy.