A House for the Father's Name
Hiram of Tyre, who loved David, sends timber and craftsmen for the house of our Father's name; Solomon sends wheat and oil in return, and the two kings make a treaty. To quarry and haul it all, Solomon conscripts tens of thousands of Israelites in rotating shifts.
5 1Hiram king of Tyre heard Solomon had been anointed king after his father, and sent him servants, for Hiram had always loved David. 2And Solomon sent this message to Hiram: 3You know David my father could not build a house for our Father's name, because wars surrounded him on every side, until our Father put his enemies under the soles of his feet. 4But now my Father has given me rest on every side; no adversary, no calamity.
5I intend to build a house for my Father's name, as our Father promised my father David: "Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, will build the house for my name."
6So have cedars cut for me from Lebanon. My servants will work with yours; I'll pay whatever wages you set, since you know none of us cuts timber like the Sidonians.
7Hearing Solomon's words, Hiram rejoiced greatly and said, "The LORD be praised today, who gave David a wise son over this great people." 8Hiram sent word to Solomon: "I heard your message; I'll do all you want with cedar and cypress timber. 9My servants will bring logs down from Lebanon to the sea, then I'll float them as rafts by sea to the place you appoint, break them apart there, and you'll carry them off. You'll meet my need by providing food for my household."
10So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired, 11Solomon gave Hiram about 120,000 bushels of wheat for his household and about 120 bushels of pressed oil, year after year. 12Our Father gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised. Peace held between Hiram and Solomon, and the two made a treaty.
13King Solomon raised a labor force out of all Israel, and the levy numbered 30,000 men. 14He sent 10,000 to Lebanon monthly in shifts—a month there, two months home. Adoniram oversaw the labor force. 15Solomon had 70,000 who carried loads and 80,000 who quarried stone in the hill country, 16besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who supervised the work and directed the people who did it. 17At the king's command they quarried great, costly stones to lay the house's foundation with cut stone. 18Solomon's, Hiram's, and Gebal's builders shaped and prepared timber and stone to build the house.
