^aHiram 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 always been a friend of David. 2 Then ^aSolomon sent word to Hiram, saying, 3 “You know that ^aDavid my father could not build a house (temple) for the Name (Presence) of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. 2+@Sam 7:4ff; 1+@Chr 22:8 4 But now that ^athe LORD my God has given me rest from war on every side, there is neither adversary nor misfortune confronting me. 5 Behold, ^aI intend to build a house (temple) to the Name of the LORD my God, just as the LORD said to my father David: ‘Your son whom I will put on your throne in your place shall build the house for My Name and Presence.’ 6 So now, command that they cut ^acedar trees from Lebanon for me, and my servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the men of Sidon.”

7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son to be king over this great people.” 8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you sent to me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean sea, and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea ^ato the place (port) that you direct me; then I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then ^byou shall ¹return the favor by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired, 11 and ^aSolomon gave Hiram 20,000 ¹kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of pure olive oil. Solomon gave all these to Hiram each year. 12 ^aThe LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

13 ^aKing Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men. 14 He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. ^aAdoniram was in charge of the forced laborers. 15 ^aSolomon had 70,000 burden bearers (transporters) and 80,000 stonemasons in the hill country of Judah, 16 ^abesides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work. 17 ^aThe king gave orders, and they quarried great ¹stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and ^athe men of ¹Gebal cut and chiseled the stones, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house (temple) .

^1aNow 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 a friend of David. 2 Then ^aSolomon sent word to Hiram, saying, 3 “You know that ^aDavid my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now ^athe LORD my God has secured me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor ¹misfortune. 5 So behold, ^aI ¹intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, just as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’ 6 Now then, issue orders that they cut ^acedars from Lebanon for me, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants in accordance with all that you say, for you yourself know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he greatly rejoiced; and he said, “Blessed be the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.” 8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you sent me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and juniper timber. 9 My servants will bring the timbers down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea ^ato the place where you ¹direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you will carry them away. Then ^byou shall do what I wish, by giving food to my household.” 10 So ¹Hiram ²gave Solomon all that he wished of the cedar and juniper timber. 11 ^aSolomon then gave ¹Hiram ²twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and ³twenty kors of pure oil; this is what Solomon would give Hiram year by year. 12 And ^athe LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He ¹promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

13 Now ^aKing Solomon ¹conscripted forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men. 14 Then he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they were in Lebanon for a month, and two months at home. And ^aAdoniram was in charge of the forced laborers. 15 Now ^aSolomon had seventy thousand porters, and eighty thousand stonemasons in the mountains, 16 ^abesides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the ¹project and ruled over the people who were doing the work. 17 Then ^athe king issued orders, and they quarried large stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and ¹Hiram’s builders and ^athe Gebalites ²cut the stones, and they prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.