5:1 Hiram The king of Tyre who supplied David and Solomon with cedar, carpenters, tradesmen, and sailors for various building projects (2 Sam 5:11; 1 Kgs 5:1–12, 18; 7:13, 40, 45; 9:11–14, 27; 10:11–22; 1 Chr 14:1; 2 Chr 2:3, 11–12; 4:11; 8:2, 18; 9:10, 21).

Hiram had always been a friend for David Describes a treaty relationship and not a personal one. See 2 Sam 5:11; 1 Chr 14:1.

5:2 to Hiram Messengers or a written contract relayed the conversation that follows. Compare 1 Kgs 5:1, 7–8, 12.

5:3 in view of the warfare Verses 3–6 suggests that David did not build the temple because he was still at war; however, 2 Sam 7:1 states that David wanted to build the temple because Yahweh had finally given him rest from his enemies.

5:5 Your son Solomon sees himself as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David (2 Sam 7:13) who will bring about a new era.

5:6 cedars for me from Lebanon Cedar wood from Lebanon was famed from as early as the third millennium bc until 300 bc.

you know Hiram demonstrates that he does know this when he counters Solomon’s offer in v. 9. Solomon may have hoped to gain knowledge about how the Sidonians cut their timber by sending his own laborers to help Hiram’s crew. Hiram suspects this and takes advantage of the situation (v. 9).

Sidonians Another name for the Phoenicians. The port of Sidon was used to transport lumber throughout the Mediterranean.

Phoenicians

5:7 Blessed be Yahweh this day Hiram’s use of the personal name Yahweh does not mean that he followed Yahweh. Those making a formal agreement in the ancient Near East often included the names of their respective deities.

5:8 cedars The Hebrew word used here, erez, refers to the Cedrus libani, a tree which can reach a height of 100 feet (30 meters).

the timber of cypresses The Hebrew word used here, berosh, refers to the Juniperus excels, a species of fir.

5:9 you shall meet my needs Hiram offers to have his own people cut and transport the lumber to the port Solomon chooses, after which Solomon’s workers will take over. In return, Hiram demands provisions for the royal house instead of the wage initially proposed by Solomon (1 Kings 5:6). He may be trying to maintain Lebanon’s monopoly on cedar production, since no one else knew how to cut timber like the Sidonians (v. 6).

5:11 specially prepared olive oil Describes the process by which fine olive oil was obtained.

year by year Solomon also gave Hiram 20 towns in Galilee once the temple and palace were complete (9:11–14).

5:12 as he promised to him This comment bridges the narrative about Solomon’s wisdom that began in 3:1–15 and the account of the temple’s construction and dedication (chs. 6–8).

Covenants in the Old Testament Table

peace The use of the Hebrew word shalom here suggests that this treaty was more than an exchange of timber for food. Other verses provide more detail about the relationship between Hiram and Solomon (vv. 18; 9:26–28; 10:11, 22).

5:13 conscripted a forced labor from all Israel This might indicate that Solomon conscripted 30,000 of his own people. However, 9:15–22 claims that Solomon did not enslave Israelites but drafted laborers from the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who remained in the land.

5:14 He sent them to Lebanon Solomon’s actions contradict the terms of the agreement (vv. 6–10).

Adoniram See 4:6. He first appears under David (2 Sam 20:24).

5:15 common laborers The Hebrew word used here, sabbal, refers to some kind of state service in Israel; a similar Hebrew term, sevel, is used in 1 Kings 11:28 (compare 12:1–4).

hill country Located in northern Israel, which contains stone to quarry—particularly limestone.

5:17 lay the foundation of the house This description matches 7:10–11.

the house Refers to the house or temple of Yahweh (vv. 3–5; 6:1–38; 7:13–51).

with hewn stones Laborers dressed or cut stones at the quarry, then transported them to the building site so that tools did not sound in the house during its construction (6:7).

5:18 the Gebalites Refers to skilled workers from the Phoenician port city of Gebal (also called Byblos; compare Josh 13:5; Ezek 27:9).