1 Kings 5
1WHEN Chiram king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in the room of his father David, because Chiram continued to love David all his days,
2therefore Solomon sent to Chiram saying,
3Thou knowest that my father could not build a house to the name of the Lord my God, on account of the wars with those around 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 round about. I have no adversary, nor any evil occurrence.
5Therefore I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God; as the Lord my God spoke to my father David, saying, Thy son, whom I will set on thy throne in thy stead, shall build the house to My name.
6Now therefore give orders, and let timber be cut for me from Lebanon; and behold my servants shall be with thy servants, and I will pay thee such hire for the service as thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that we have none skilled in hewing timber like the Sidonians.
7And when Chiram heard the words of Solomon he was exceedingly glad, and said, Blessed be God this day who hath given David a prudent son over this great people.
8Then he sent to Solomon saying, I have considered all that thou hast proposed to me, and I will execute all thy pleasure.
9With respect to the cedar, and fir timber, my servants shall bring it down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will send it in rafts to the place which thou shalt appoint, and land it there that thou mayst take it away. And thou wilt accomplish my pleasure in supplying my household with bread.
10So Chiram furnished Solomon with cedar and fir timber to his utmost wish.
11And Solomon gave Chiram, twenty thousand cores of wheat for his household, and twenty thousand baths of expressed oil. This Solomon gave to Chiram every year.
12And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom as he said to him. And there was peace between Chiram and Solomon and they made a league between them.
13And the king made a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.
14These he sent to Lebanon, ten thousand every month, by turns, so that they were one month at Lebanon, and two at home. And Adoniram was over this levy.
15And Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone, in the mountains,
16exclusive of the officers who superintended the works of Solomon, and who amounted to three thousand six hundred. And these workmen were three years preparing the stone and the timber.
17Now in the four hundred and fortieth year of the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, in the fourth year and second month of king Solomon’s reign over Israel, the king having given orders for bringing great costly stones for the foundation of the house, even hewn stones;
18and the men of Solomon and those of Chiram having hewn them, they began laying them.