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The Histories · Old Testament

1 Kings 5

1 Kings 5: workers and supplies for the temple

General context

Hiram king of Tyre sends servants to Solomon after hearing of his accession. Solomon explains his intention to build the Lord's house, contrasting David's wars with the rest he now enjoys and recalling the promise about David's son. Hiram agrees to supply cedar and fir timber, transported by sea, in exchange for food for his household. The kings make an agreement. Solomon raises a levy of thirty thousand men from Israel for rotating service in Lebanon, alongside burden bearers, stonecutters and supervisors. Builders prepare timber and dressed stone for the house.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 5:1, 1 Kings 5:2, 1 Kings 5:3, 1 Kings 5:4, 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 5:6, 1 Kings 5:7, 1 Kings 5:8, 1 Kings 5:9, 1 Kings 5:10, 1 Kings 5:11, 1 Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 5:13, 1 Kings 5:14, 1 Kings 5:15, 1 Kings 5:16, 1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 5:18

1 Kings 5 (KJV)

1And 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.

2And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3Thou 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.

4But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5And, 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.

6Now 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9My 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.

10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11And 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.

12And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

13And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14And 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.

15And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16Beside 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.

17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

Hiram's friendship with David is stated at the opening. The explanation that warfare prevented David from building comes in Solomon's message to Hiram. The Israelite levy serves in groups of ten thousand, with one month in Lebanon and two months at home, under Adoniram. The separate counts of burden bearers, stonecutters and supervisors should not be silently merged into that thirty-thousand levy. The chapter specifies food and timber exchanged, without supplying modern prices or labor conditions beyond its own notices.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 5:1, 1 Kings 5:2, 1 Kings 5:3, 1 Kings 5:4, 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 5:6, 1 Kings 5:8, 1 Kings 5:9, 1 Kings 5:10, 1 Kings 5:11, 1 Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 5:13, 1 Kings 5:14, 1 Kings 5:15, 1 Kings 5:16, 1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 5:18

Literary context

The promised house becomes a project of messages, agreements, supplies and labor. Hiram's praise for David's wise son is followed by the narrator's statement that the Lord gives Solomon wisdom and that the kings have peace. The closing lists direct attention to the workers and materials needed before the temple itself appears in the next chapter.

Cited passages: 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 5:6, 1 Kings 5:7, 1 Kings 5:8, 1 Kings 5:9, 1 Kings 5:10, 1 Kings 5:11, 1 Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 5:13, 1 Kings 5:14, 1 Kings 5:15, 1 Kings 5:16, 1 Kings 5:17, 1 Kings 5:18

Key moments

  1. Solomon states his purpose (1 Kings 5:5). Solomon links his plan to build the house with the word spoken to David.
  2. Timber promised (1 Kings 5:8). Hiram agrees to provide cedar and fir timber.
  3. Transport and exchange arranged (1 Kings 5:9). Hiram describes sea transport and asks for food for his household.
  4. Peace and agreement (1 Kings 5:12). The narrator connects Solomon's wisdom with peace and agreement between the kings.
  5. Rotating labor (1 Kings 5:14). Ten thousand men at a time serve in Lebanon, then spend two months at home.
  6. Materials prepared (1 Kings 5:18). The builders prepare timber and stones for the house.

For reflection

How do the negotiated supplies and the workers' rotation change the way you picture Solomon's building project?

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