1 Kings 5
About 1 KingsWritten by AI
1 Kings tells how Israel's kingdom reached its height under Solomon and then split in two. It is history written by prophets' eyes: each king is weighed less by wealth or wars than by whether he was faithful to the LORD. The author is not named. Jewish tradition credits Jeremiah; many scholars think the books of Kings were completed during the exile in Babylon, drawing on royal records the text itself cites. 1 and 2 Kings were first one book.
The first half is Solomon: wisdom, wealth, and the temple, with God's presence filling it. Then Solomon's heart turns, and after his death the ten northern tribes break away. The second half follows two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah in the south, and slows down for the prophet Elijah's lonely stand against Baal in the days of Ahab and Jezebel.
Watch for the repeated verdicts, did right or did evil in the sight of the LORD, and for the prophets who keep speaking God's word to kings who often do not want to hear it.
Before you read 1 Kings 5Written by AI
Solomon makes a trade agreement with Hiram king of Tyre, who supplies cedar and cypress for the temple in exchange for food. Solomon also raises a huge labor force of conscripted workers. Notice how David's long hope of building a house for God is finally beginning, and at a cost in human labor that will matter later.
Preparations for the Temple
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:
“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”
Hiram’s Reply to Solomon
When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!” Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying:
“I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”
So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
Solomon’s Labor Force
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.