1 Kings 5

1 Now when Hiram [the king of Tyre, a lover of David] king of Tyre heard that Solomon [the successor of David] had been anointed [appointed, set apart] king in his father’s place, he sent envoys [servants, ambassadors] to Solomon; for Hiram had always been [ever, a long-time] a friend [a close companion, a lover] of David. word study 2 And Solomon [the king of Israel, successor of David] relayed [sent, communicated] this message [saying, a word] to Hiram [the king of Tyre, a neighboring ruler]: word study 3 “As you are well aware [thou knowest], due to the wars [battles, conflicts] waged on all sides [from every direction, round about] against my father David, he could not build [construct, establish] a house [temple, sanctuary] for the Name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Eternal One] his God [Elohim, the supreme Deity] until the LORD [the Almighty, the Sovereign] had put his enemies [adversaries, foes] under his feet [in subjection, under control]. word study 4 But now the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] my God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] has given me rest [peace, shalom] on every side [all around, surrounding me], and there is no adversary [enemy, opponent] or crisis [evil occurrence, trouble]. word study 5 So behold [look and see], I plan [intend, purpose] to build a house [temple, sanctuary] for the Name [reputation, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] my God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], according to what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said to my father David: ‘I will put your son [heir, successor] on your throne [seat of authority] in your place, and he will build the house [sanctuary, dwelling place] for My Name [reputation, character].’ word study 6 Now therefore, order that cedars [trees renowned for their strength and durability] of Lebanon [a region known for its lush forests] be cut down for me [to be harvested and prepared]. My servants will be with your servants [working together in cooperation], and I will pay your servants whatever wages [compensation, payment for their labor] you set [determine, appoint], for you know that there are none among us as skilled [expert, proficient] in logging [the art of cutting and preparing timber] as the Sidonians [inhabitants of Sidon, a city recognized for its skilled craftsmen].” word study 7 When Hiram received Solomon’s [message from the king, words of wisdom] message, he rejoiced greatly [exceedingly, with joy] and said, “Blessed be the LORD [Yehovah] this day [at this time, now]! He has given David [the beloved king, a wise leader] a wise [intelligent, discerning] son over this great [numerous, mighty] people [nation, community]!” word study 8 Then Hiram sent a reply [in response, as an answer] to Solomon, saying: “I have received [heard, understood] your message; I will do [accomplish, fulfill] all you desire [wish, request] regarding the cedar [timber of cedar] and cypress [fir, evergreen] timber [wood, trees]. word study 9 My servants [workers, laborers] will haul the logs [timber, wood] from Lebanon [a mountainous region] to the Sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water], and I will float them as rafts [in floats, as a flotilla] by sea to the place you specify [appoint, designate]. There I will separate the logs [untie, discharge them], and you can take them away [receive, remove them]. And in exchange [as a trade, in return], you can meet my needs [accomplish my desire, fulfill my request] by providing my household [family, royal court] with food [sustenance, provisions].” word study 10 So Hiram [gave, arranged for] provided Solomon with all [every, everything] the cedar [timber of cedar] and cypress [fir] timber [trees, logs] he wanted [desired, needed], word study 11 and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors [measures, or about 100,000 bushels] of wheat [grain, food] as food [provision, sustenance] for his household [family, people], as well as [or twenty] 20,000 baths [cors, measures] of pure [clear, beaten] olive oil [anointing oil]. word study 12 And the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] gave Solomon [as he had promised him] wisdom [insight, discernment, and understanding], as He had promised him [in a covenant agreement]. There was peace [harmony, tranquility, and friendship] between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made [established, confirmed] a treaty [covenant, agreement, or pact]. word study 13 Then King Solomon [the ruler of Israel, a wise leader] conscripted [raised, gathered] a labor force [a group of workers, a levy] of 30,000 men [a large number, a multitude] from all Israel [the entire nation, every tribe]. word study 14 He sent them to Lebanon [a mountainous region] in monthly shifts [by courses, in rotation] of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month [a month at a time] in Lebanon and two months [a period of rest] at home [in their own house]. And Adoniram [in charge, overseer] was in charge of the forced labor [men subject to taskwork, levy]. word study 15 Solomon [the king of peace, son of David] had 70,000 porters [men who bare burdens, laborers] and 80,000 stonecutters [hewers, workers in stone] in the mountains [hilly country, elevated areas], word study 16 not including his 3,300 [three thousand three hundred] foremen [chief officers, overseers] who supervised [ruled over, were in charge of] the workers [people that wrought in the work, laborers]. word study 17 And the king [ruler, monarch] commanded them to quarry [cut out, extract] large, costly [expensive, precious] stones [hewed stones, wrought stone] to lay the foundation [base, underlying structure] of the temple [house, place of worship] with dressed [squared, smoothed] stones [precious stone, hewn stones]. word study 18 So Solomon’s [and Hiram’s skilled] and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites [men from Gebal/Byblos city], quarried [hewed, cut] the stone and prepared [fashioned, got ready] the timber [wood] and stone for the construction [building] of the temple [house]. word study