1 Kings 5
Covenant with Hiram King of Tyre
51,aThen Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for bHiram had 2always been one who loved David. 2And aSolomon sent word to Hiram, saying, 3“You know that aDavid my father was unable to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet. 4“But now aYahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor 1calamity. 5“So behold, aI 1intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ 6“So now, command that they cut for me acedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
7Now it happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad and said, “Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” 8So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me; I will do 1what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber. 9“My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea ato the place where you 1direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then byou shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.” 10So 1Hiram 2gave Solomon 3as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber. 11aSolomon then gave Hiram 120,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 220 kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 12aNow Yahweh gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He 1promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.
13And aKing Solomon raised up forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers 1numbered 30,000 men. 14And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in 1shifts; they were in Lebanon a month and two months at home. And aAdoniram was over the forced laborers. 15And aSolomon had 70,000 1who carried loads, and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountains, 16abesides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the 1project and who 2ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17Then athe king commanded, and they quarried great stones, precious stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18So Solomon’s builders and 1Hiram’s builders and athe Gebalites 2carved them out, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.