Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple

5 Now aHiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, bfor Hiram had always loved David. 2 Then cSolomon sent to Hiram, saying:

3 dYou know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God ebecause of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put 1his foes under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God has given me frest 2on every side; there is neither adversary nor 3evil occurrence.

5 gAnd behold, 4I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, has the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.”

6 Now therefore, command that they cut down icedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.

7 So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said,

Blessed be the Lord this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!

8 Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying:

I have considered the message which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs.

9 My servants shall bring them down jfrom Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire kby giving food for my household.

10 Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and cypress logs according to all his desire. 11 lAnd Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand 5kors of wheat as food for his household, and 6twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.

12 So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, mas He had promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

13 Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; nAdoniram was in charge of the labor force. 15 oSolomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, 16 besides three thousand 7three hundred from the pchiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. 17 And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and qhewn stones, to lay the foundation of the 8temple. 18 So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the 9temple.